No Mercy / No Malice: High Anxiety

Admissions Stress

The college admissions process is a significant source of stress for families, often beginning years before students even set foot on campus. George Hahn shares his personal experience, describing a college tour with his son as a moment filled with anxiety rather than excitement. He highlights the immense pressure and unnecessary stress that the admissions process imposes on families, likening it to a "flaming bag of shit" 1.

The college admissions process has kicked off two years before he sets foot on a campus and it's already a flaming bag of shit.

--- George Hahn

This stress is compounded by the perception of higher education as a corrupt industry, second only to poverty in terms of preventable stress in U.S. households 1.

   

Process Criticisms

Criticism of the college admissions process centers on issues of transparency and fairness. George Hahn argues that higher education institutions often operate like businesses, prioritizing financial gain over educational missions. He points out that many faculty and administrators are more focused on increasing compensation while reducing accountability 2.

My problem with higher education is that we're whores who aren't transparent about being whores.

--- George Hahn

Hahn suggests that eliminating legacy admissions and adopting a more transparent, equitable approach could alleviate some of the stress and inequality inherent in the current system 2.