The Nervous Student
Regardless of their background or the space they occupy on the academic or extracurricular spectrum, many students believe they’re not “good enough” for their desired colleges. NACAC and EAB’s 2023 Counselor Perspective survey found that anxiety/mental health concerns were among students’ most frequently voiced challenges during the college admissions process.
The fear that they won’t be admitted can be paralyzing and, in some cases, prevent them from even applying. In partnership with Joon, an adolescent mental health provider, Appily surveyed 6,330 high school students about the impact of mental health on their college decision-making process.
The report found that nearly 60% of high schoolers feel anxious most days, and 28% “reported that mental health concerns are a reason they may choose not to attend college.”
This is why I homed in on Match’s “no rejection” philosophy. On the platform, students are notified only when colleges say “yes,” so they never receive a rejection letter. When I read this, I was flooded with memories of the countless times I’d consoled students who were certain their dreams were over because their dream school denied them.
Of course, that was never the case, but that can be hard to understand when you’re 17 and heartbroken. With Match, there’s only cause for celebration.
The Middle 50% and Cost-Conscious Students
I often think of my students, like River, who could never make the honor roll no matter how hard they tried.
Those students often worried me the most, but on Match, 88% of students receive at least one offer.* Odds are, River will, too.
And for my low-income and other cost-conscious students, like Thalia, who relied heavily on need and merit aid to make college affordable, 90% of Match offers include a scholarship.**
Such certainty expands college access by taking a school from unreachable to attainable.
The Busy and Career-Oriented Students
For my busy students, like Asa, who had little time or energy left for college applications between classes, homework, club meetings, band, track, and a part-time job, the Match profile takes only 30 minutes. Asa could complete it during his lunch period.
As one counselor said, “The Match profile is designed for Gen Z.” It’s simple, straightforward, and streamlined, focusing only on the information colleges need in order to decide if they and the student align.
In the Counselor Perspective survey, counselors listed an inability to afford college and skepticism about whether college is worth the investment as two of the top three reasons why students don’t attend college after high school. Affordability concerns were also prevalent in EAB’s insight paper on Gen Z’s evolving enrollment journey.
For my budding entrepreneurs, brand influencers, and other career-oriented students, like Jacelyn, who kept a discerning eye on the rising cost of college and questioned whether the investment was worth it, Match offers include tailored program recommendations that can put students on the path to economic mobility upon earning a bachelor’s degree. These innovations make the case for ROI much stronger.
The Imposter Syndrome Student
Feelings of inferiority and unbelonging can lead to undermatching for incredibly capable students from underrepresented backgrounds. One student surveyed in the Appily and Joon Health report shared the following response: “Impostor syndrome (also often referenced as imposter syndrome) is the most stressful thing. I don’t want to ‘be a disappointment’ and go to a school that isn’t held in high regard, but I’m also scared that if I go to an elite school, I won’t be on the same level as everyone else there.”
The Match profile allows students like Zara to present their authentic selves and be accepted by universities that value what they’ll bring to campus. It’s a burden lifted for students who often feel as though they’re carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.
The 11th Hour Student
Then there were my students, like Dane, who, due to an inefficient aid package, a lack of excitement about their acceptances, or a decision to move in a different direction, found themselves frantically searching for additional options as the May 1 enrollment deadline approached. Match provides these students a lifeline by extending admission offers into June, allowing them more time to adjust if their circumstances change.