Dream School: A Journey to Higher Ed | WGCU PBS Documentary on College Admissions

For years, six high school students work hard to earn a seat at America’s top colleges. Will it be enough? This program is the inspiring journey of a diverse group of bright and ambitious high school students working to get admitted into America’s top colleges. Reported by Sandra Viktorova.

Sandra followed the students as they worked to earn a seat at their schools of choice — and talked to education experts — to shine some light on this high stress world, and the various factors that come into play when it comes to college admissions in today’s world.

Presented by WGCU Public Media. Distributed by NETA.

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Dream School: A Journey to Higher Ed | WGCU PBS Documentary on College Admissions
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[jazzyj]

What's sad about this is that none of this matters by the time you turn 30.

I went to a small university after high school for two years, decided to go back home then went back to school a few years later and graduated with my associates degree. I still was able to maintain a position at one of the world's oldest investment banks.

All this pressure isn't worth it. They should be chasing happiness, not stress and pressure. Teenagers shouldn't be going through this stuff; panic attacks, and all that crap. It's sad. 😢

[JoyFay]

In my opinion, Nailah dropped out because she doesn’t have a constant and supportive family/network. Sometimes parents use not having the knowledge or education as an excuse for not doing research to gain the skills needed to support their children.
Serena and Venus Williams Dad knew nothing about Tennis but he learned, then taught his children.

[angelasoWA]

“If the power goes out, that’s ok I’ll light a candle”….❤

[bmmwtuq]

Every parent who has a high school student should take the time to watch this documentary and every high school student should too.

[Sashas]

Smart kids will succeed no matter where they are.

[Andre-mifk]

As a Johns Hopkins alumni, Abby let me tell you, you are in the PERFECT place for medicine. I did engineering there and you will be just fine. Community is there for you. Much success to you girl!

[whoscares]

As a therapist whom works with kids and adults..every kid I see now is one of these children…high achieving, super anxious, super structured…that wasn’t the case 10 years ago.

[hollyingraham]

Nailah’s story broke my heart. She needed more support.

[voulathomacos-lagonas]

Education should NOT BE a luxury but a right

[kingzaire]

Kids can’t be kids anymore. Next week my 2yr old starts her volunteer gig at the local daycare during the day. Afterwards it’s crew practice.

[rujiajingshenchangcun]

My son is graduating this year in the class of 2024. I still remember the night when he got admission to his dream school and how much stress disappeared.

[andrewgonzales]

I used to spend more than 50 hours on schoolwork and classes in high school and eventually got into UCLA, the best school to that I was accepted. That's more hours than I put into my full-time job, now.

[deliriousjellyphish]

I’m the same age as the people in this documentary. I got into my dream school, but with the toll it took on me I’m not sure how worth it that was.

[greble]

Where I work—mostly engineers—no one gives a damn where you went school. What matters is can you deliver your projects, do you communicate well, do you work well with others, do you have integrity?

I was thinking about Steven Spielberg. He got rejected by one of the most prestigious film schools in the world, USC, so he went to Cal State Long Beach instead. It’s such a pity, because he might have had a successful career as a director and producer if only USC had accepted him…

Chasing after elite schools is pure vanity. And, the elite schools seem to be competing with one another to see who can reject the most students. This, too, is pure vanity. They aren’t improving their institutions by rejecting greater numbers of qualified students; it’s about bragging rights over their peers.

[mischa]

My daughter’s school had some college visits. One of admission personnels who visited them said that average time he spends on reading college application doc of a single applicant is like 7 minutes due to so many applications they have to go through these days. When I heard that I thought being accepted by those popular /prestigious colleges is like a lottery. Lottery among so many almost equally qualified candidates. Given that, emotionally overinvesting in one so called “ dream college” does not make sense at all. Important thing is, like those kids who got over initial disappointment, kids have to find themselves, stay enthusiastic about academic fields they want to pursue no matter where they go. They are the ones who choose and build their career and life.

[maryannokafor]

This documentary miraculously found me. I’m a current high school senior who’s enrolled in the IB program. I sacrificed a lot in other to gain admission into UPenn, which I deem as my “dream school”. Getting rejected was pretty humbling as I balled my eyes out for 3 days. But regarding the field I want to pursue, which is nursing, I believe I’m gonna do great regardless where I end up! This doc was definitely a reminder that we shouldn’t tie our worth to these college admissions process and I definitely learned a lot during the whole process. It’s hard to accept the rejection but I definitely believe rejection is redirection and we’ll all end up where we were meant to be

[kimbridge]

I didn’t care for Abby’s mother, but Abby had a realistic perspective.

[petenrita]

Lots of Mom and Dad in these applications

[parler]

Just enjoy your youth. Do not stress over the college racket.

[erpollock]

I'm glad one girl is happy to land at Johns Hopkins, better suited to her medical ambitions. I went to Hopkins on a merit fellowship and it was perfect for me - intellectual, challenging, and a wonderful library and campus. Happy Ending for Eileen - and that's just the beginning.