Effects of the College Admission Process on Adolescent Development

Abstract

By definition, adolescence begins with the onset of puberty (often starting earlier now) and ends when adult responsibilities are assumed (often starting later). This is a very long period of enormous change and rapid growth, physically, socially, sexually, cognitively, emotionally, motivationally, and morally. Adolescents are moving from dependence to independence, from childhood and into adulthood, from parent-protected to self-regulated. Managing this stage requires balance and time for it to evolve. It is neither desirable to rush children into adulthood, nor to slow the pace and protect them from demands. However, this balance is often thrown out of whack by aspects of the college process. It can trigger regressions back through the previous developmental stages, thus creating its own kind of psychosocial crisis. In this article, the author discusses the effects of the college admission process on adolescent development. Suggestions on how to help adolescents navigate the college admission process are presented.