High School Seniors' College Choice Reveals Shift Focus from Experience to Image
A new trend in college admissions reveals, known as 'bed parties,' is gaining popularity among high school seniors. These events involve students staging elaborate displays of college merchandise to announce their college choices on social media platforms like Instagram. The trend is part of a broader shift where the emphasis on publicizing college decisions is influencing the decision-making process itself. Students are increasingly concerned with how their college choice will be perceived by others, rather than focusing solely on the academic, social, and financial fit of the institution. This phenomenon is partly attributed to the increased role of social media during the pandemic, which has amplified the performative aspect of college admissions. 
