While talking to a graduated senior about her friends’ big college decisions, she reveals to me that one friend had chosen her school solely based on an aesthetic video seen on TikTok. While baffling, this isn’t uncommon.
According to a 2022 survey by Sallie Mae, “Nearly 30% of students said social media content influenced their college choice.”
Generation Z’s is known for having an obsession with fitting into an “aesthetic” but this ideology has been extended so far into reaching into undergraduate school choices.Choosing a school based on surface level factors such as social media’s presumed “prestige,” campus beauty and traditions rather than necessary components such as resources, programs and if it is the right fit can make or break the overall college experience. The fantasized image can be easily shattered when students attend the college and realize it doesn’t fit their superficial wants.
According to NCES, “about 1 in 3 college students transfer institutions, often citing poor fit or unmet expectations.”
This problem can be sourced to social media. These platforms are already known for highlighting only the perfectly cut scenes of life and ignoring anything undesirable. Unfortunately, manipulated media can skew people into believing things that are truly unrealistic.
“A 2023 Pew study found that 54% of Gen Z relies on social media for major life decisions—more than any previous generation.”
There is no difference when promoting colleges by romanticizing schools instead of showcasing the true student’s experience. The TikTok trend “A day in my life as a student at __” emphasizes the “perfect” lives students have at certain colleges. These videos of course lack any mention of academic work load or financial aid, tough subjects that don’t fit the “perfect” college experience. Instead, they promote an ideal life given by attending these schools.
In addition, students who focus on aesthetics lack priority in economic affordability. Choosing the “prettier” school over the one that is best fit for the student. Ignoring the practical choice can lead to excessive debt for the rest of an individual’s life.
In fact, “Americans owe about $1.6 trillion in student loans as of June 2024 – 42% more than what they owed a decade earlier,” Pewresearch reports.
While factors such as location and Greek life can affect important aspects of a college experience, people allow FOMO [fear of missing out] to drive their decision making. Schools like University of Miami, Tulane University and University of Los Angeles hold social clout on platforms advertising an “aesthetic” lifestyle to those who attend. This strategy is successful because of the students who unintentionally advertise the college to others by posting the campus way of life. Students become obsessed with being a part of the school rather than actually benefiting from a degree through the institution.
While researching schools from social media is a convenient way to discover possible dream colleges, it is important to remember that what people post is only a snippet of real life. Instead, talk to current students to find out if these “pretty” schools are right for you.
