College Admissions Then vs Now

Let's be real, if we applied today we wouldn't be accepted 🙃 #comedy #college #thenvsnow
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Thanks for being here! We’re Kim and Penn Holderness of The Holderness Family. We create original music, song parodies, and skits to poke fun of ourselves, the world we live in, and (hopefully) make you laugh.
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[@thewoodsman4157]

Today they don’t want kids who can play the Cello… they want kids who built their Cello 😅.

[@marina_nanana]

Build it then go viral for playing at a professional level and hold a concert to raise money to build a school in rural India

[@es330td]

after researching the best way to grow the trees from which the wood was sustainably harvested.

[@sarah-phillips]

But only ONE cello? And only ONE type of instrument? "Maybe" pile for sure.

[@pheonix2284]

From their bare hands, no power tools, and rope staples and tape 😂

[@whoisj]

cello? they'd better be a whole orchestra....

[@juliescott4473]

I mean, to be fair, my parents in the 90s were like "we didn't even go to college and we're a VP at a major corporation and a sales manager pulling down 6 figures, this seems like a scam maybe? Why don't you just get a job and go to community college?" College didn't used to be a requirement to hold the most basic of office jobs but now I see listings for data entry that require a Bachelor's and 5 years experience, it's literally insane.

[@ggjr61]

This! I remember when entire IT departments didn’t have one employee with a degree including senior staff. In the early two thousands corporate leaders started demanding that only people with degrees be hired and the next thing I heard the woman running the print area at Staples had a degree. A job that used to be filled with a high school graduate and sometimes a high school student.

[@kylerichard1285]

and the entry level job requires 10 years experience

[@kristinathomas5890]

Your parents knew better than the rest of ours, and if everyone was as wise as yours we actually wouldn't be in this mess. Even 20 years ago when I graduated with a Bachelor's after being raised thinking that was all I needed (and that EVERYONE needs to go to college), it turned out to be nearly worthless. Mine made it so I could earn barely a living wage as a nanny. Whoop-de-do. I didn't go to school to be a nanny. And the reason why is that most adults ages 25+ had a Bachelor's degree (which had not been true in the generation before mine) so having one didn't make you special. It made you bare minimum qualified for the most basic entry level career jobs, and not even be able to get a job if your desired field was already full. I actually wanted to be a teacher. There were very few teacher jobs because the field was full of older teachers and there was a Recession so hiring was slow. Maybe if I had more college degrees I would win out on one of the VERY few spots. Now the world population is bigger, it's easier to get loans, or get scholarships if you're a minority or immigrant, so you're up against WAY more applicants. If you don't have special qualifications for beating the competition, or if you don't know what career you're studying for and have enough life/work experience to know you'll stick with that plan, just go to trade school! Or start work right away at bottom entry level, or volunteer (while you're young enough many of you can afford that) and get experience! College is expensive and in a lot of majors you have to spend half a year or more in unpaid internships, so you may as well just work and volunteer now to find out where it takes you. Then if you find out you need a degree for the career you're working your way into, you know you'll actually use the degree, plus you will have something else to put on your application.

[@beththecatlover]

@@kristinathomas5890 thanks for telling the truth. If I had to do it over, I'd go to trade school and skip the almost lifelong debt.

[@missyyy-]

My Dad made it seem like college was a necessity so I got an associates degree (in 2002) which isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on now & my husband drives a commercial truck making well into a six figure income for going to trade school while I struggle to compete with high school students for entry level jobs now because I took 4 years off from office work bc of burnout. 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@brittanyplante5089]

I have worked in Admissions for over a decade and the number of applicants that come through our office is astounding. It's difficult when you have to send a deny letter.

[@holdernessfamilylaughs]

Honestly, you have the hardest job. Sending hugs.

[@cheyennepulsipher5448]

I feel this too!! I also work in Admissions

[@RainbowSunshineRain]

Why do you think the number rose so high?

[@cheyennepulsipher5448]

@@RainbowSunshineRain at least for the institution I work for, our online division expanded by A LOT during COVID when everyone was remote/online. We're the only 4 year institution that's grown in enrollment in the state (and apps have skyrocketed). Other than that, I wish I knew!

[@nicolekrenzler2673]

Student loans aren't hard enough to get, plus the old 'people with a 4 year degree will earn more' bs. Not enough people are looking to go into the trades.

[@juliescott4473]

Also, if your kid is handy at all or enjoys crafts, SEND THEM TO A TRADE SCHOOL. There is a huge shortage of trades workers, like electricians, which are in huge demand, and the jobs pay incredibly well without getting stuck with tens of thousands in student loans.

[@juzoli]

There is also a big shortage of scientists, engineers, doctors and a bunch of professions which requires higher degree. But you are not sending them anywhere, only advising them at best. What they love to do is important, and if they are bad behind a desk but like physically building things, they are indeed better off with trade school, even if the average wage is worse.

[@ggjr61]

@@juzolibut most who go to college don’t become scientists, engineers or doctors. Of those who actually get engineering degrees in the US I know many who haven’t been able to get a job in their field while companies are bring in engineers from outside the country on employment visas. As far as the number of doctors are concerned before encouraging students to go into medicine there needs to be an increase in spots in medical school and an increase in residency slots.

[@juzoli]

@@ggjr61 So are there, or are there no jobs in that field? What you say is an oxymoron. Companies bring professionals in from abroad when they can’t find them domestically. If their engineering degree is real, they sure find a very well paying job. Of course they may need to move to a different city which they might not want to… Anyway, if you sum up everyone with a degree, they have higher average wage and better job security than any other group. This is especially true if you exclude some more useless degrees, and focus on STEM.

[@ashlinday4469]

@@juzoli people just really like hating on college degrees for no reason

[@juzoli]

@@ashlinday4469 There is a group of people who like to hate smarter people in general. Scientists, experts, college graduates in general…

[@catherined6960]

This is so accurate. In 1989, I got accepted to an Ivy League college with an 1140 SAT and a 3.93 GPA (back when 4.0 was the max), with my only extracurricular activity being volleyball. One of my roommates got 1530 on her SAT, and was a brilliant artist and concert pianist; the other two were multi-talented as well. I was SO in over my head and did not belong there but somehow survived and graduated with a 3.3 GPA. My roommates graduated magna cum laude and summa cum laude and became doctors and a lawyer. I did not. LOL

[@OctoPlaysPiano]

Haha that’s incredible 😂

[@ndutykevideos]

But you went there and graduate. That fact only is soo 👍👍👍👍

[@TheGreatLKHS]

I look forward to seeing the follow up video about how "chill" Kim will be in the college application process next year. Remember Mrs Holderness, "This is on camera " 😁

[@holdernessfamilylaughs]

I have a feeling that clip is going to haunt me

[@dreamingofpemberly]

Would love a Penn and Kim follow-up reaction video on their experience on the process.

[@sarah-phillips]

​@@holdernessfamilylaughs "Chill" means "Completely Hyperventilating Insane Looking Lunatic" folks, I shall be "chill" along with you next year.

[@kristylove418]

As a former admissions officer, now at Harvard with a MUCH easier job in financial aid (seriously 😂) I loved this- you were so spot on it made me wonder if you’ve got secret cameras set up in some of our offices…

[@lkjkhfggd]

How many admissions were you actually looking at? I always figured with 100k+ applications, a bot would look through and check for certain flags that would be an auto denial. This would reduce the amount of admissions that had to manually be looked at significantly.

[@kristylove418]

@@lkjkhfggd when I started- in 2001- I only had about 400 applications to read. Maybe because I did international students and that wasn’t the best year for them. When I left 15 years later, there were 4 of us reading international (1 person strictly for China) and we had about 3000 international applications total (my coworkers also read US students). My caseload was about 800 applicants. Most of us read about 500-600 cases.

[@lindah2148]

So accurate. My daughter had a 1570 on her SATs with a solid extracurricular portfolio and got more rejections/waitlist responses than she did acceptances. Crazy times.

[@derekhayter4879]

1570??? Damn, I had 1520 and only one school wanted me. That was 13 years ago. Maybe apply for a college is isn't in the US top 100.

[@zd8515]

@@derekhayter4879 The SAT is out of out of 1600 now, not 2400.

[@ganymedehedgehog371]

⁠​⁠@@derekhayter4879a 1520 in the old score system is really bad.

[@snopom]

@@zd8515 who said 2400

[@dihydrogen]

@@snopom 13 years ago the SAT was out of 2400

[@ruskrewed]

I saw the difference between me, my older sister and my niece. All three of us went to same state school, my sister in late 80s, me in 2000, my niece in 2010s - the vast difference in how hard (or not) it was for each to not only get into same school at those times but also graduate from said school (cause they kept adding more required classes) is crazy.

[@alexmedeiros_]

As a current freshman in college, here’s my tips: -Show interest in schools as early as possible -Try to meet the admissions officers in person so they remember your name -When it comes to extracurriculars focus on quality over quantity -Write your essays and supplementals on topics that are unique to you -If there’s an option to interview, then do it it shows more of your personality and you’re already ahead of so many other applicants that didn’t -If you put in 100% of your effort and be you everything usually works out

[@beththecatlover]

NOT always true. I know some whose efforts have been literally over the top, and still, they never went anywhere in their careers. Employers hire people they LIKE, not necessarily the most qualified. So personality counts as much as qualificiations. Good looks also help A LOT! It can often be the deciding factor.

[@kineticmeow9242]

Until you graduate. You’re expected to have 3-5 years in experience and be underpaid.

[@iswelt]

At what school can you meet the admissions officers that will review your application?? - Demonstrated only matters for some schools, and for those it does, not that much (except for Case Western) - the rest is valid - during your interview, convey the traits of the version of you best for that college

[@ganymedehedgehog371]

Meet the admissions officers? Maybe if your parents are buying your spot that makes sense but mere mortals can’t meet admissions officers.

[@AntaresSelket]

There was a time when College was for the wealthy, then it became for everyone and necessary for a good career, and now it's almost impossible and too expensive. With all the recent troubles concerning colleges I'm so glad I never went that route and just went to a trade school. It was faster, easier to pay off, and I had a fulfilling career. I would lose my mind over the colleges of today.

[@DavinDesborough]

I think this goes double today. We are very short on skilled trades people. Kids (and parents) need to realize that you can have a great career in the trades. They will be way better off than someone who went to college and racked up a ton of debt for a degree that isn't helping them in the job market.

[@lucycat4305]

My sons are 20 and 23 and have skilled labor jobs. My 23 yo cleared 6 figures the past 2 years and his brother is right behind him. No college. No debt. Our 22 yo daughter has been working for a major retail outlet since she was 17 and now is in a leadership position making 50,000. No college or debt. College doesn't set you apart anymore. If you are smart enough and hardworking enough, you do not need college unless you're going for a medical, law or engineering degree, with a few other exceptions.

[@gaellegoutain1286]

@@lucycat4305 My son went to trade school for airplane maintenance. He got a job right after graduation. He's 26 and just bought his first house.

[@lucycat4305]

@@gaellegoutain1286 That's awesome... good for him! I love hearing things like this. Our 20 yo just got approved for a 250K loan for a home he wants to use as an investment property. He also has about 40K in his 529 that he didn't use for college and can use on as a downpayment. Meanwhile, most of his friends are still in college, will graduate with debt and have no idea what they want to do when they graduate in 2 years. My son does have fun going to visit them on the weekends, though!

[@valeriekreda579]

@@lucycat4305 college is a gateway for a lot more white-collar jobs than medical, law or engineering. I'm not saying it's right, but that's just the truth. Skilled labor jobs don't require a college degree.

[@barbshircel9154]

My oldest is a freshman at the Univ of Minnesota. He was the top of his class but at orientation for the College of Science and Engineering, they said "look around this room. We had so many applicants this year that the average grade point average of all the students accepted in CSE is 3.9. Understand that you will now be in classes with everyone as smart as you. Expect B's and possibly C's in your first semesters and that will be OK." That is crazy, it isn't Harvard, but so competitive at the bigger schools. Who wants to be in classes with all top students? Eeek. I think he will have a super hard time if he doesn't get A's in all his classes. I keep reminding him to do his best and that we don't expect perfect grades. (We never expected that, but he was driven.) I am not looking forward to the whole application process again next year for my 2nd. I wish you all luck. It is tough and expensive to get into the good schools. ❤

[@es330td]

When I started engineering at UT-Austin in 1989 the dean told us "Look right and look left." One of the three of you might graduate with a degree in engineering. I did not.

[@mabriff]

I went to Purdue in the mid-90s and it was the same. Highly competitive universities are a wake up call to kids who "breezed" through HS, and it took me the first year to adjust to my new reality that I was NOT the smartest student in the room for most of my classes. But in the end, we all learn from each other's questions and ideas, so it is sometimes a good thing to be humbled and I know I did better because of it.

[@-Cece]

Word on campus is "B"s and "C"s get degrees!

[@galamander_1327]

​@@es330tdI heard the same spiel at a competitive state university. At the time, I didn't know 1/4 of the students wouldn't finish undergrad, not for lack of hard work or smarts, but because it was too godsdamn expensive.

[@FifthAveAtFive]

I was barely in the top 30% of my high school and i had over a 3.8 gpa because my hs was extremely focused on academics and you were shunned for not getting into a highly competitive four year college, private was preferred. I still regret not doing more AP classes even though i was very busy with extracurriculars. I got in to a school where I was suddenly below average. It took me getting out of pre-med and into a department I loved for my grades to reflect my abilities. Sure I failed two classes my freshman year, but I actually learned how to study more effectively when I retook them instead of barely studying and getting As/Bs with minimal effort like I did in HS. Now I am so grateful for my undergrad experience because it forced me to learn more about myself, I met my lifelong friends, and that crucible made classes easier in grad school.

[@jenniferlundquist9475]

Let me tell you the difference even in a decade. My oldest is 30, youngest is 20. My youngest, who gets great grades, both got great grades, kind of like your video implied. To make things worse, she applied after that first year of covid made those seniors decide to take a gap year so they ended up taking the spots her freshman year would be taking. It worked out though. Although she ended up not getting into any of the schools she tried to for her freshman year and ended up in community college vs settling into just any school she could get, it was perfect because it saved us a whole lot of money and allowed her to get even better grades and continue to work on those side gigs you were talking about. She ended up in her dream school and is there now. My husband wouldn’t have thought of paying for this school had she not gone to community college first so extra bonus…lol.

[@DanielChannel89]

Community College is where it's at. Unless you have money or a really good scholarship, there's not really any great reason to pay University prices for basics. I'm convinced the only reasons people do it are a) they assume community college gives a bad education (definitely not necessarily true) and b) they assume that the university experience will be far superior. I tell people whenever I can - I legitimately did more of the typical "university experience" stuff (including hanging out with new friends, going to parties, etc.) when I was at community college than I did after I transferred to a university. And I joined a fraternity at my university. It depends on a lot of factors - where you go, do you put yourself out there, do you join a group of some kind that you can be involved in - but communiy college can be a great experience and save you a boatload of money.

[@vivafamilia7867]

That's our plan. My kiddo is all business and cares about the degree to move on with things.

[@kristinathomas5890]

If you have to get college degrees, community college is the best thing ever!!!! It's a lot more expensive than when I attended, but still a lot less than university.

[@WaiferThyme]

Who else thinks Kim has a secret stash of college brochures in her night stand 😂

[@michelehafey2607]

She uses them as bookmarks. 😂

[@merrilsimon9559]

​@@michelehafey2607And a spreadsheet with 16 variables that are color-coded.

[@claudiamiller7730]

“I’m not going to participate - this is her journey”…hahahaHAHA-hahaha. Best of luck with that, Kim. Love you guys!💕

[@Syracuseman77]

The teal and purple windbreaker is perfect. So very 90s!

[@CrossCultural-c7f]

Close your ears to the drama and panic high school counselors seem to like stirring up. Skip applying to 4 year university in senior year of high school. Instead, go to community college. Get used to the routine. Make sure one of your classes in 1st semester or 2 is an evening class where there are adults there who are juggling work & school to get some older students’ perspectives about life, studying. Then kick ass and make good grades. Apply to transfer to a 4 year university toward the end of your 2nd year. Transfer students are treated differently in the college admissions process because the transfer student has proven he/she can do the academic work. My daughter did this in 2018 - transferred from local community college with a >3.7 GPA. She had the better pick of dormitory rooms coming is as a junior. Parents saved lots of $. Graduated Magna cum laude with an undergraduate degree in STEM field.

[@trinaq]

I can't believe that Lola will be applying to colleges next year. Time certainly flies by so quickly!

[@holdernessfamilylaughs]

It really did fly by

[@cathgrl0785]

@@JasonShoots Yes, which means she will be 17 next year and applying for colleges to attend in 2025 at age 18.

[@jedikaren8112]

I went to a small, less than 3000 student college and loved it. Im pretty sure I was picked on based on where I lived (upper middle class area) so I could bring money into the college town. Still, big names arent that impressive 15 years later. Consider smaller colleges. They are less expensive, safer, and more personal. My teachers knew my name and could and DID work with me.

[@abby-ze6mz]

As a former admissions officer (from many years ago), I laughed very hard at this video.

[@FifthAveAtFive]

I went through this whole process in 2010 by myself because I’m a child of immigrants, my hs didn’t realize how much help first gen students would need, and I was embarrassed to ask for help. Instead I kept track of what I needed to do based on what my friends were doing during the application process. I did get accepted into every school I applied to and went to my first choice. Years later when our family friends’ kids were applying to college, my parents and I were their go to people for questions because we had already been through the process. I will say my parents were emotionally (and financially) supportive during the whole time and attended college info sessions with me for the out of state schools I was applying to then ultimately drove my across the country to move into college.

[@lulubaumgartner2077]

lol I love Pen and Kim’s acting. 😂

[@holdernessfamilylaughs]

Academy award winning...

[@lulubaumgartner2077]

😮 BEST DAY OF MY LIFE… THEY RESPONDED…!!!

[@jaycontrino]

Love this! Hilarious!!!!! I wish Admission Counselors still wore Members Only jackets and track suits! 😂🤣😂🤣

[@tinaperez7393]

Great eye! That Member's Only jacket is a critical "member" of their costume department! Tell's is EXACTLY what era they're in! 😂

[@melissaquinn1463]

We’re in the same spot. Our kid is a senior this year. Just got a reminder from the school to get those college applications in NOW ( it’s only September!) because the deadline is at the end of the month. Apparently your senior grades don’t matter and god help you if you messed up in the first three years of high school because maybe you didn’t know what you’d want to do with the rest of your life!

[@JessicaWarner-t4j]

IHATED that process in 2014. My mom was totally hands off when I applied, mostly because she was an absent parent 80% of the time. I'm impressed by my 17 year old self. I knew what I wanted and knew what had to get done via the internet and school counselors. The school I went to has a 30% acceptance rate; so If Lola wants it, she will do the work. :) You can take a breather momma.

[@graceaxisa4213]

Well done to you. Your strength and determination helped you get where you are today. A happy, beautiful life to you. Love from Australia 🩷

[@trang1031]

As a former college admission director, college counselor, an now an independent educational consultant, I approve this video! When I started my career, it was more like looking for reasons to accept the students. These days, I feel that those Ivies and highly selective SLACs look for reasons to reject the students. It’s become so unpredictable!

[@hemaccabe4292]

We'll be going through this in 3 years. I'm so glad we have so much to look forward to. Be strong!

[@kellycarpenter5617]

We went through this with our twins last year. It was exhausting and stressful, but they are both thriving at their colleges. It is important to have an open mind going through the process and trust that it will all work out for the best. My daughter is a freshman at UW Madison, and my son runs cross country and track at Denison University ❤

[@neals8752]

I remember being at college and looking up the standards to apply and wondering if I'd have gotten in if I applied then, and it hadn't even been 4 years since I applied, standards go up that fast sometimes. I'm glad I still have a solid decade before its my kids turn. :)

[@catboxcleaner3532]

Aw, Kim. Penn’s hold you to it: “This is on camera.” Excellent 90s flair.

[@voiceojane]

I found my essay in my mementos a few years, and I immediately rejected me, lol!

[@Lily-wt3tu]

I’m a high school senior from Ukraine and this is so real😂

[@mabriff]

Young people like you will be vital to rebuilding your country and economy. I wish you all the best on your academic journey and hope you get all of the peace and prosperity you deserve in the years ahead. Slava Ukraini! 🇺🇸 ❤ 🇺🇦

[@Lily-wt3tu]

@@mabriff Героям Слава! Thank you so much, I can’t even describe how heartwarming this is to see coments like yours❤️

[@julieleffler2068]

Having just having gone through the application process with my daughter… it is brutal. Kim start with the non monitoring skill practice RIGHT now!!! It takes ALOT to allow them on this journey.

[@bschrank]

And yet, I and my college colleagues who graduated in the mid-70's quickly became successful doctors, researchers, lawyers, administrators, businessmen, educators, etc. with such lax admission standards.

[@adventureswithgnomie6553]

Lola will chart her own path at her own pace. Kim your job is hitting Target and IKEA when she's ready to move in the college dorm so she can create her own space.

[@stampinturtles]

Love the “s” on the chalk board. Drew those like a 1000x. Lol. I think this video hit the nail on the head, as always. Love you guys!

[@drschonify]

These must represent Ivy League or private universities. I work for a state university and we will take anyone who can get financial aid.

[@MihaelaFroehlich]

Neighbor kid just moved in to Western Washington University. She did not apply to any college. WWU sent her acceptance letter just based on her grades.

[@MihaelaFroehlich]

It is a bit reminiscent on housing boom when everyone got approved for mortgages. The "now" part of this skit only applies to top universities. And it is the common app that has made it easy for students to "over" apply.

[@hunterlawrence3573]

The top colleges got more competitive. The rest are struggling to fill their classes

[@christinab1288]

Doing this process right now and it really feels like this. What teenager really knows what they want to do that young, I guess like everyone of them

[@bradfirestone533]

This video should be sent to every college admissions office in this country to show how ridiculous they are. And there is way too much pressure being put on kids now.

[@MihaelaFroehlich]

Pretty sure they know but they have no other options because between grade inflation and the way education is approached as a college preparation they are dealing with candidates who are not the same as they were 20-30 years ago.

[@tericoe5116]

Wow things have changed since I graduated from Rutgers University in 1983. My parents had zero input on my admissions. I don't think my parents even knew my SAT score. Lol

[@lovetolovefairytales]

"who isn't curing deadly diseases in high school" -- (looks at her collection of YA material from 2008-2010) well according to 30 yr old women writing for thirteen year olds, this actually checks out. Seriously one of the books on my bedside shelf has a girl trying to cure hemophilia and she's literally got a DNA lab in her freaking bedroom.

[@michellem9444]

And can we talk about the price of college now vs then? I remember when my university was $999/semester, and we joked that it was on "blue light special". (FYi, if you get that joke, you are officially old! LOL) Speaking of which, don't forget to file your FAFSA in January! Can you tell my son is going through the same stuff? He has his first official college tour next month, and I just know I"m going to be sobbing the whole time! LOL

[@gwenschott]

Then there's the applicant side of things ... Then: "I finally filled out the application to XYZ University. It only took me 4 days without sleep to fill everything out by hand, and another two days to write the essay. Now I get to start my application to ZYX University, which I also have to fill out by hand. Their essay requirements are totally different, so I'll have to start a new essay from scratch. Hopefully I'll have time to complete the applications to the three other schools I'm applying to." Now: "I filled out my Common Application online and selected 247 schools to send it to. I can't believe I spent an entire night doing that!! It took soooo long!"

[@MihaelaFroehlich]

Truth! Also, some schools are sending acceptance letters to all students with certain GPAs. You actually don't have to apply to get into college.

[@cathgrl0785]

When I filled out the paperwork to take the ACT in the mid 1980s, I told the company to send the results to two colleges in my state. I did well on the ACT and had a decent but not great GPA. Both colleges sent me applications half-filled out and essays were not required if I used that method of applying. I got my acceptance letter in late October. Today, I wouldn't attend there because I wouldn't be able to afford it.

[@rachelcrossen8136]

Exactly which is why they apply to a ridiculous number of schools

[@gordonsgrl1]

Plus getting recs from teachers meant they had to hand write letters individually as well. Then either you collected it back or relied on them to mail. My niece’s school asked her 10 questions at end of junior year (what she thought she did well etc) this was distributed to the teachers to help them write recs. This was a school with 60 in the class. The mechanics of applying were much harder in 80s but competition much lower with fewer applicants than today

[@JGinCa]

"...her journey..." yea, for about 5 minutes. Then you'll toss out lines like, "...you might want to consider..." and "...here's an idea..." and "...did you notice..." :)

[@machtmer]

Yeah…the whole normative social hegemony that is that “literally every single 18yo *simply MUST* attend four-year college in order “to be ‘anything in life’” really needs to end. That’s how we got the student debt crisis, and the answer isn’t the populist “free college for all”. (FYI, not conservative; I’m just a pragmatist who likes to get things done.)

[@ecto78]

I couldn't agree more, and I say this as someone with a college degree who was made to think that was what I "had" to do. Nope. We need all kinds of people working to make this world work.

[@machtmer]

@@ecto78 yep. And not to sound elitist (tbh I hold a Masters and ABD, so I’m intentionally careful about this), but university absolutely is not the best place for every single 18yo. It really is okay for kids to grow up and enter the trades (and frankly a good electrician or plumber can earn more than many tenured professors).

[@rejoyce318]

Congressional laws that enabled loans to students at predatory interest rates and eliminated the Guaranteed Student Loan Program in 2010 were major factors in creating our student debt crisis. I had a GSL in the (cough!) Reagan years, and even though loan interest rates were higher, so were the interest rates on savings accounts that barely register above 0% today. www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/what-is-federally-guaranteed-student-loan.html

[@machtmer]

@@rejoyce318 well yes. And if we want to talk policy, ending those predatory loan policies are an actually-meaningful way of reducing the debt crisis. There are others as well, including improving access to Pell grants and work study. But, FCFA is really not the way to do it, because (even if it could get through the legislative and budgetary process, yeah right) it has the unintended consequence of placing academia under government control in manner that would likely upend faculty tenure that itself preserves the independent research enterprise.

[@rejoyce318]

@@machtmer 100% that vocational education is vital, including the ability to graduate from one's local HS as a licensed or certified professional in addition to the HS diploma. I saw those programs become eliminated as the teacher in that field retired (cosmetology, auto repair, welding, etc.), as high-stakes state testing became the national obsession.

[@allisoncolwell5604]

Pen’s hair. 😂 Sorry this bay a great video just could not stop looking at it.

[@Avery_4272]

Just to give a composer credit shout-out: "Wind Beneath My Wings" = music by Jeff Silbar and lyrics by Larry Henley. Written in 1982.

[@catgrrl42]

It's us this year :). Daughter was disappointed to learn that her HS college counselor seemed to love me because I was already having her do all the stuff the counselor recommends to students. Essay [mostly] complete during summer - check. Spreadsheet to track scholarship applications - check, letters of rec lined up - check, etc etc.

[@lisabelcher1509]

Im sooo happy I found your channel. You have HONESTLY fast became my favorite internet family. You guys are so funny. Such a beautiful family sending all my love and prayers. ❤️🙏

[@sarah-phillips]

Frick - THIS! This is the new existential crisis. College applications are friggin bonkers and there's zero rhyme or reason as to who gets in where. I went to a college night just yesterday with my junior and got the feeling that there's a school for everyone but still all the nerves that the kids might not get in (the line for UCLA went out the door). And we literally just joked that we would not get in to any of the schools we applied to today. Sigh. Hang in there. My husband said it will all work out. Darn his logical thinking.

[@rachelcrossen8136]

There is absolutely a college for everyone. All of my kids went to or are currently in college. They applied for 2-5 schools only. I feel there is more hype about it then necessary. The Common App actually makes it fairly painless.

[@montecarlo4294]

Beautifully done! Y'all NAILED this!! That is the college admission process to a tee

[@graceaxisa4213]

Absolutely hilarious! I love all the various scenarios described, both from the past and the present. So creative! 😅

[@myhappygecko2895]

We have to do that next year also so I am looking forward to lots of dropping your kid at college or having your kid at college videos 🤣

[@holdernessfamilylaughs]

I am going to be a wreck 😆

[@prata1019]

You do realize, for Harvard, having a single A- on your entire transcript and a 1500 SAT automatically puts you in the bottom quarter of applicants...

[@arturoherrera1386]

The S in "Stay Sweet" on the chalkboard is a great 90s touch.

[@purpleslog]

My aunt spent 30 years as an emissions counselor had a state school that did undergrad and graduate type stuff. She had a high school diploma and only a high school diploma.

[@lisam8044]

I've heard from professors and admissions staff at the university I work at that there are so many scholarships that are out there and go un used some of the applications have to be filed weird but 10 months earlier than the application to university so there's a tid bit for everyone!

[@VeganMonkey122375]

LOVE Y’ALL so much! My husband and I are exactly your ages and went to UNC-Chapel Hill. Our twin 10th grade daughters in this district (Chapel Hill Carrboro) are WAY better students than we ever were and I don’t think they have a chance in this day and age. You are amazing I can feel the love for your Lola’s venturing through this with this video ❤

[@lucycat4305]

The value of a college degree has gone down significantly. EVERYONE goes to college now. It does NOT set you apart. It tells a corporate HR person that you follow the herd and don't take risks. For most, it's an expensive piece of paper ensuring decades of debt and a life as a corporate slave.

[@alisonf6478]

You definitely have a thing against college, huh? 😂 (I’m a community college professor of Photography. I kind of like learning and college ❤)

[@lucycat4305]

@@alisonf6478 😂"College professor of Photography". Thank you for proving my point. Leave it to a professor to believe that you don't learn outside of brick and mortar institutions. I travelled the country while my friends were in college "learning" how to become debt slaves. None of them have any better jobs or better lifestyles than me and my husband.

[@rachelcrossen8136]

And yet so many jobs require a college degree to even get an interview.

[@austinjones3856]

Not necessarily. I’m 27, and I worked on a cruise ship as a restaurant steward just last year. Before that, I worked many jobs in retail and as a vendor. Now I work as a warehouse delivery service partner. NONE of these jobs require college degrees of any kind. The cruise job only required that you complete a week long safety training course that was like a mini college, but it was all paid for, and I was in no debt whatsoever. I make $19.90 at my job right now, and even more when I work overtime. This proves that college is not all all necessary for young people these days.

[@Machtyn]

So colleges are now pulling the same thing companies are? "You need to have 10 years of experience in [insert subject] for this entry level position." Oh, and we're only going to pay you intern levels at salary.

[@jakeholt1572]

It’s even better when you go to NCSU engineering and they make you apply again your Sophomore year to the major that you already got accepted for

[@miahuffman7811]

!!??!?!!!

[@miahuffman7811]

That’s like the Seinfeld episode: you can take a reservation but can’t hold a reservation

[@kynn23]

@@miahuffman7811 They'll be admitted to their major in 5-10 minutes.

[@darlouthia5153]

Ok Kim … in a year we’ll see to totally chill version of this journey !

[@millietansillmakes1953]

*deep breaths* It's my son's journey. I'm not freaking out. Are you freaking out?? 😂

[@julieharden2433]

I can't wait for the "move in day" video and decorating the dorm room.

[@laurabuckles7961]

We're in for some comedy gold this next year. Prayers for Lola.

[@stephanieking2116]

Just had this conversation 5 minutes ago with my junior. Ugh, what a process!

[@sammybowden9440]

Kim, you need to be involved. I am 10 years out of this game for my boys but I actively called offices of schools they were accepted and put offers against each other to get more free money. It worked. Don't be afraid to ask for money and tell schools what the other offers are. And my son was no top 10% student, he was an A/B student with a decent SAT. God bless this new journey you are about to embark on!

[@Fox-Mann-Fam]

Holy crap this is so accurate. We also have a high school senior and this whole this is terrifying. I know young people from the last few years who had SIGNIFICANTLY higher grades than me who did not get into the ginormous state college I attended (first choice and favorite).

[@beverlyweber4122]

Helpful tip: Take classes at the local community college FIRST! Do it in high school if possible, and definitely take some of those Gen Ed classes during the summer PRIOR to starting regular university. The numbers of TRANSFER students is a whole other metric. And community college is so much less expensive and easier to do, trust me. You'll cut both your stress level and your dollar amount by half or more...!

[@mabely1636]

I mean, he's got two arms. Funny.

[@kristenbrissey8437]

I only applied to 1 college when I was graduating from high school 😂. I was pretty sure I'd get in, and I did. My oldest is 8, and I'm not looking forward to the process when he eventually gets there!

[@dawnf.1703]

“I’m going to be totally chill about the whole thing” - Kim..... Fast forward one year, Kim was in fact not totally chill about the whole thing. 😂

[@WildflowersCreations]

This hits a little different for me, but it is very true about applying to colleges now. I was in Special Ed from an early age and when I applied to colleges I could possibly get loans for in 1997 I was rejected from all of them because that quota was already filled. I was able to go to our local community 2 year college, but getting into a 4 year college never happened even with my 3.24 gpa and working since I was 14.

[@movieguythethird2777]

Why is this so true 😂

[@whoisj]

I loved the "this is on camera" part. I felt that so hard. 😂

[@tomo9126]

And then when your youngest chooses a 6 year program and you've only planned on 2 kids x 4 years. That's fun too.

[@sosouthern615]

Kim…I ❤ you…you have no chill… 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤷🏾‍♀️

[@mariapapadopoulos3640]

I can see Penn makimg a new video next year and using the clip with Kim saying shes not going to assist

[@Yeomen1986]

Applicants are actually dwindling down compared to recent years. We are actally in the process of loosing up to 25% of our universities over the next 10 years. More people are applying to prestigious colleges and honestly its because grade inflation. When half your graduating class has a 4.0, its no longer competitive. So now you do have to cure cancer to get into college because everyone has the same grade.

[@EricDaMAJ]

So many children racing for lifelong debt - and often degrees that are worthless. I did it too. All I had to do was 7 years in the Army paying 50% of my salary to get out from under it - 90% during the 3 years I deployed. Modern college is a scam.

[@emilyviehland3544]

Penn's hair in the past scenes was epic! 😁 It has become so easy to apply to many schools, that it is harder to get into the ones that you want. That change started in the mid 90's: all of my friends applied to 3-6 schools, but 4 years later, my sister was at the low end with 5 applications; many of her friends applied to a dozen schools. I have 6 kids. The first graduated from college 2 years ago. The second is going the slow and steady route, working part-time and doing community college part-time, with the intention of getting first a bachelor's and then a master's after his associate's. I have 2 college sophomores, in 2 different schools. And I have 2 kids in elementary school. This doesn't get better the more times you do it!!!

[@swingkid1771]

I applied to 2 schools. Today kids apply to 50 schools. So it’s not like there are more applicants just more applications.

[@JasonPurdy]

Love the Members Only jacket! :)

[@miahuffman7811]

When we started last year, friends said help along the process, even scheduling classes bc can be overwhelming. Um yeah! We watched videos of how to make multiple class drafts that would be dropped into scheduling, researched the possible dorma bc it’s like gran turismo: total count down to the mome …. NOW! Click click click… what’d we get?

[@tinaperez7393]

This might not be the best decision for my career but I want to go to the "then" school. The staff and student body seem a whole lot better! 😂😮😩

[@mariacloud5317]

This had me laughing so hard! LOL this was hilarious.

[@valeriekreda579]

The sad thing is, most of what can be learned in college can also be learned through self-study. The internet has a massive amount of information. It's just that college is this high-priced gateway that is needed to get an actual job. I graduated college in 1996 back when everyone got in and I don't feel like I learned much of anything valuable in college at all. Anything I needed for the job I got I learned on the job. College didn't prepare me for it. Back in 1996 though, the internet wasn't a huge source of information. Now it is, but yet even more kids want to go to college. I don't know why college hasn't been deemed irrelevant at this point.

[@aspiringauthorerinrail2890]

I am so grateful I went to community college first, then transferred to a private school. (Partly because I changed my major before transferring.) when I went to apply in person for this private school that was being helped at the community college I was attending, I overheard someone being rejected because he didn’t have the best grades. It was alert hearing that conversation. 😬

[@ElizaLou75]

Started college in mid-80s, and this is so dead-on true!

[@Bluesbabesrv]

You know college isn’t the only option after high school. Tech school, community college….sure, but let’s explore other opinions! How about working on a cruise ship or even one of the teaching ships 🚢 😮 Ever consider the work abroad programs available in other countries 🌏 Our own US military is a great option 🇺🇸 if you have the correct constitution for that lifestyle. “Serve boldly with the Peace Corps” and it’s not just for the 20 something crowd, 18 years old with no upper age limit!

[@pamelanelson5594]

OMG. This is what we're doing right now. I'm going to go mental trying to pull my ADHD super-powered son through the re-enter-everything-a-million-times process and writing different "theory of your life" essays. My anxiety about not having had him do a thousand extracurriculars is real now that I see what these applications want. I'm worried that my IB/AP/Honors student won't get into any schools because he didn't do underwater basket weaving and wasn't good at sports. It's nuts!

[@clairebattersby6340]

Thank you for the laughs… right until the end! 😂

[@ToLoveIsToLive89]

Honestly, college is over rated. My oldest is planning to go to college, she is looking at smaller colleges though, University of Albany, and University of Kentucky. She has the grade point average and everything needed to go to an Ivy League school, which was her plan, until we started learning more about the admissions process etc. My boys are planning to attend trade school, not sure year about my youngest two yet.

[@caitlincunningham8354]

Lol😂Penn has it on record Kim...be totally chill ❤

[@elizabethquan4702]

Humble brag: I was totally chill.

[@a-muse6567]

We are in the midst of it right now, so I cannot wait until next year to see the multitude of content this will help you generate!

[@alexandraf.6921]

Current freshman in college. This is too damn good. That process was HELL.

[@IndigoIndustrial]

No-one will probably read this, but I missed out on a good university place after high school. Part of it was because I was in hospital a lot. I got through two undergrad degrees at an OK uni, then did a PhD at a top University, then left to work overseas as a scientist at a couple of well-known universities. The stress put on teenagers and young adults these days is enormous. It only takes a moderate issues at home to alter the trajectory of a person.

[@lydiadeere5668]

I mean he does have two arms 😂😂😂

[@TheLauren1113]

Facts. 😂. My friends and I all went to ivies and ivy competitors and there’s a 0% chance we would have gotten in today. The admissions rates for ivies were in the double digits. I had an SAT score that would be embarrassing to submit today, I had a handful of Bs. I had 1 extracurricular in my high school. I don’t even think I would have gotten into the local commuter school today!

[@lucycat4305]

Schools have significantly dumbed down their curriculums. Just because kids get good grades, does not mean they are any smarter than the kids who graduated with a C average 30 years ago. It just means that they are more obedient.

[@TheLauren1113]

@@lucycat4305 my kids’ grades are backed up with 5s on their AP tests. So I don’t think that’s always the case.

[@lucycat4305]

@@TheLauren1113 AP scores do not measure intelligence. AP scores measure your kid's ability at rote memorization on multiple choice questions. The fact that they care about something so artificial as "AP" scores, means they will make good corporate debt slaves.

[@TheLauren1113]

@@lucycat4305 whatever. Those are the metrics we have.

[@bruhmomenthdr7575]

@@lucycat4305 Spoken like someone who did bad on their AP tests