From perfect GPAs to Ivy League acceptance letters and abundant extracurriculars, characters on screen seem to glide through the college application process, all while balancing several romantic relationships and some serious personal drama. The media’s glossy depiction of the college application process disregards the late-night cramming, weekend shifts, and lunch meetings with teachers that make up real students’ lives. Protagonists in “Gilmore Girls” and “Never Have I Ever” are all living an idealistic illusion of a stressless senior year and college application season. As viewers, we can’t help but feel drawn to these characters who seem effortlessly intelligent, accomplished, and goal-oriented.

Many high schoolers dream of attending a top university, yet the reality of getting accepted is far more challenging than popular TV shows portray. In “Gilmore Girls,” the journey to a prestigious college appears deceptively easy, creating an illusion of guaranteed success for any hardworking or successful student. The protagonist Rory Gilmore is an overachiever who excels in academics and is involved in many extracurricular activities. Throughout her high school journey, she doesn’t encounter many struggles and ends up only applying to and getting accepted into her dream colleges: Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. However, “Gilmore Girls” fails to acknowledge the difficulties and complex feelings high schoolers often face during the admissions process. Real- life college admissions are often full of uncertainty and rejection. The reality is that even high achieving students may not be accepted to their top choices.

The media’s narrative of the college application process glorifies prestige. Time and again, TV shows and movies only mention the names of Ivy League or top 20 universities, as if attending one of these institutions is the only acceptable route to success. In “Never Have I Ever,” Devi, a smart and driven student, only applies to Ivy League schools. When college acceptances come out, she is left with only one waitlist and considers waiting another year to reapply to the Ivy Leagues if she is denied from that school. Devi’s story is a prime example of the media’s romanticization of prestigious schools. This unhealthy portrayal creates misguided beliefs among students, where one’s hard work in school becomes automatically pointless if denied admission to top universities.

However, the media is overlooking the thousands of other colleges all around the world that also provide quality education for students to pursue what they love. College admissions should be about finding a place where one can thrive, not simply aiming for the name that looks best on a bumper sticker.

Not only are there a wide range of excellent colleges, but some students may not realize that college is not the only suitable path after high school. While attending college can provide opportunities and a degree, high school graduates can also find joy and achievement through working, training, or pursuing other experiences. Additionally, some students choose to take a gap year and travel, volunteer, or work to help shape their goals and find their interests. It’s important to remember to embrace your own journey as there is more than one path to success.

For PHS students, the college admissions process can be much tougher and more stressful than what we see on screen. However, success isn’t defined by one decision, and the college journey should be a time for us to explore who we are and find where we belong.