Are We Preparing Students for College—or Just the College Experience?

Do Teens go to School just to have Fun?

Last month, one of my senior clients and I were talking about registering for the SAT on October 3, 2026. Her plan was to apply Early Action to college, and this SAT would be her last opportunity to increase her score before applying.

I asked, “Are you and your mom registered for the SAT? Next Friday is the last day to register.”

She responded, “Noooo. I have a band competition, so I’m going to take it later.”

I said, “You do understand you have two options: use your current SAT scores to apply, or forfeit the opportunity to apply Early Action.”

She responded, “We’ll apply Regular Decision.”

I explained, “Okay. Just understand that for some of your universities, you may not find out if you’ve been accepted until February or March.”

She looked at me and said, “Mrs. Shymika, I can’t miss band competition.”

I gave her the Gen Z stare and moved on.

But that conversation stayed with me.

Over the past two years, I have had countless conversations with students and parents where an extracurricular activity, social event, or other non-academic commitment became a higher priority than something directly connected to the student's college application.

I've heard stories about missed deadlines, missed opportunities, and students waiting too long to ask questions or take action.

And it made me wonder:

Have we reached a point where academics have become secondary to the “fun” part of high school?

To be clear, I am not saying extracurricular activities are bad. In fact, extracurricular involvement can be an important part of a student's high school experience and college application. Band, athletics, student organizations, volunteering, and other activities can help students develop leadership, teamwork, discipline, and confidence.

The problem occurs when the activity becomes more important than the academic goal.

There is a difference between being involved and losing sight of the purpose of school.

When Does the “Fun” Become the Priority?

For some students, the social and extracurricular aspects of school can become the experience they value most. The same mindset can sometimes continue into college.

I recently watched a TikTok conversation about “Texas moms” and the college experience. It got me thinking about how easily students can become consumed by campus life—attending every event, participating in organizations, going to games, socializing, and trying to experience everything college has to offer.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying college.

But somewhere in the middle of the experience, students can lose sight of why they are there in the first place.

College is not simply a four-year social experience. It is an opportunity to gain knowledge, develop skills, explore a career path or passion, build professional relationships, and prepare for life after graduation.

The goal isn't to eliminate the fun.

The goal is to put the fun in its proper place.

Let's Put Academics Back on the Table

Yesterday, I presented a workshop to high school juniors called Academic Advising.

The purpose of the workshop was to help students understand what it means to be a successful student—not just how to get into college, but how to develop the academic habits and confidence they will need once they get there.

We discussed:

• Choosing the right courses: Should you take Advanced Placement courses, dual credit, or participate in an Early College program?

• Developing academic skills: How do you create a study routine? How do you ask for help? How do you become a stronger reader and writer?

• Understanding your GPA: Do you know how your GPA is calculated and how your grades affect your academic record?

• Understanding college admissions: What do colleges actually look at when evaluating your academic preparation?

These conversations matter because college readiness is more than completing an application.

It is preparing students to think, learn, make decisions, manage responsibilities, and advocate for themselves.

So, How Do We Get Back to the Point?

Maybe the answer isn't taking the fun out of school.

Maybe it's helping students understand the purpose behind the fun.

Go to the band competition. Play the sport. Join the club. Attend the football game. Go to the college event.

But also register for the SAT before the deadline.

Submit the college application.

Ask the question.

Meet with the academic advisor.

Study for the exam.

Apply for the scholarship.

Understand your financial aid offer.

And most importantly, remember why you're there.

School should be more than a place to have fun. It should be a place where students prepare for the life they want to live after the fun is over.

What do you think?

How can we help students enjoy their high school and college experiences while still keeping academics, career preparation, and their long-term goals a priority?