Flaunting scores, acceptances adds unnecessary competition

On some recent Thursday mornings, a buzz has spread from room to room on campuses. Some students wore wide, unchecked grins, while others carried the heavy burden of failure.

What exactly are they so emotional about? On those mornings, SAT scores have come out. 

If you were not one of the extraordinarily lucky students to receive their scores that morning, perhaps that day does not stand out. Maybe it was one of the days in December after seniors heard back from their early admissions applications. But by merely being present on campus, you are bound to hear about so-and-so’s 2400 or “that kid” who was accepted early to Harvard.

That we live in a grade-paranoid and college-obsessed community is common knowledge. Not only SAT scores, but college admissions, GPAs and even scores on the most recent tests or quizzes all get their fair share of discussion time.

Posting scores and news from colleges on social networking now seems commonplace. Classmates who barely know each other compare scores on a normal basis.

My question is: is it socially acceptable to publicly share what was once considered personal information?

Judging by the conversation around campus, a few too many students seem to think this grade sharing and — more often that not — grade flaunting is more than OK. It often feels like it is hard to avoid hearing about the latest batch of results, whether you want to or not.

What does flaunting one’s success actually bring, other than a small confidence boost at the expense of others’ self-esteem? While it is understandable to want to celebrate an achievement that you have undoubtedly worked hard for, is it necessary to make this information public and spur heated competition between students?

Facebook and other social media sites are free to be whatever their owner wants them to be, but no good ever seems to come out of posting a celebratory “I got into <insert Ivy League college here>!” or “Finally 2400!” status. This sort of public score-sharing just makes people feel incredibly uncomfortable. As exciting as these successes may be, quietly sharing your victories with your close friends and family seems like it would be enough in itself.

And does Saratoga, of all places, need any extra competition between students? A healthy dose of competitiveness is always good in a school setting, but hearing about someone else’s excitement at being accepted into their dream school while you just got a lovely rejection email does not add to the mental health of the campus.

Of course, this, like anything else, is a matter of personal taste and not something that is in anyone’s power to control. But as the workload continues to rain down on everyone and stress levels rise, think twice about whether or not you choose to flaunt those 2400s or early acceptances into Harvard.