Reddit is different from other social media applications because of the unique and realistic insight provided by reddit users. Reddit thrives off of logical discussions, which many other social media outlets lack. In a way, reddit is a more mature and intelligent Instagram.
Reddit has a variety of topics, and each topic has it own discussion page referred to as a subreddit. For example, there's a subreddit called /nfl where all people focus on are national football games. One of my favorite subreddits is /woahdude where people talk about things that make them say "Woah dude." Recently, I discovered an important subreddit that would give me critical and forthright college advice: /chanceme.
/chanceme is exactly what it sounds like: "Hey guys. Can you guys look over my resume and tell me the chances I get into ____?". It's a great idea honestly. Because all the people on that subreddit page are students applying to college, there's a sense of solidarity. Most of the time, students are kind and willing to help others. However, there are times when the page can become harsh. Here's an example:
Link:
For those who didn't read the comments, this is what one of the replies said:
This actually isn't the rudest comment I've seen on this subreddit. I like how the person who commented told the person who posted not to lose hope. There is no ill-will involved here. The first sentence of the comment is maybe too honest, but maybe it's necessary to get the point across. But overall, this is a comment that could hurt someone's feelings.
(I recommend you guys scroll through this page to get a better understanding of what happens in /chanceme.)
One thing you'll notice when going through these posts is the extreme sarcasm in some of the comments. Look at this one:
The comments ooze with sarcasm, and I can't help but laugh every time I read them. Posts like these don't have much useful advice pertaining to college, but it puts a much needed smile on your face during the difficult and dire times before college applications are due.
In conclusion, I like /chanceme. Even though I cringe sometimes because of the toxicity of some comments, most comments are beneficial and empathetic. By reading /chanceme, I've come to realize how futile it is to have bitterness towards others and yourself because of academic standing. Some people are going to have better academic scores and better extra-curricular activities, and that's perfectly okay. At the end of the day, if you're happy at wherever college you end up at, then you've succeeded. Of course, going to a prestigious university is amazing, and I want to give major props to those that do. But even if you don't, it's going to be alright. I have to remind myself that not being accepted into my dream college isn't the end of the world. If anything, it's the start of a new adventure.
I'm glad I know about this subreddit now. I think "harsh" comments like the one here are needed if people are looking for genuine answers- positive and supporting comments might make people feel better, but they might also make people extremely overconfident.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your ending message. There are tons of people who don't go to the prestigious colleges and still end up being very successful, it's all about applying yourself at college. And if you hate your college, you can always transfer out.
People like you in the world make this world a better place. I agree that "harsh" comments are necessary sometimes, and hopefully, they're harsh in a way that motivates some users.
DeleteI've heard of reddit but never used it/don't really know what it is, so this blog post was an interesting way for me to become more familiar with some of its features. I also liked your discussion on how social media can become a platform to compare things college related, and how that can be kind of toxic but also can be supportive.
ReplyDeleteMy brother uses reddit, and I've never really understood how it works and why people like it so much until reading this. I remember you mentioning this subreddit to me, and I found it really interesting. To be completely honest, I don't know if I like the idea of people sharing their college app info and relying on other people in the same boat to play a game on if they'll get in or not, but I don't know, maybe it's fun to guess. But I believe you when you say it's lighthearted and I think everyone who is going through this process right now needs that feeling of solidarity. College apps can get sooooo stressful and competitive, so knowing that you're not the only person going through it is important. (PS i love the end of this blog post - so important to remember. :) )
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I really dislike /r/chanceme. The people doing the chancing are, by and large, unqualified high schoolers, and college admissions are so whacky that no one can really tell you what your chances actually are. Personally, I prefer /r/applyingtocollege, which I find to be more supportive, realistic, and fun. I really agree with the end of your post- it's important to remember that prestige isn't really that important, and if that's all you look at in a school, you're liable to end up somewhere you don't actually like. But ultimately, college is just another phase of our lives- and we'll most likely be happy wherever we go.
ReplyDeleteI have never used reddit before, but it sounds interesting. The one thing I've heard about reddit is that it's discussion-based which is pretty interesting and sets it apart from the other social media platforms. I find it pretty cool that there are subreddits for college (and pretty much anything). The ability to discuss with peers can be extremely helpful and a great tool to have access to.
ReplyDeleteI use Reddit a lot and love it. Like you say there's a lot of logical discussion on subreddits like askscience or askreddit. But then there's the other side of reddit I like that's just full of people spamming memes and stupid jokes around. I've never heard of this college subreddit though; it sounds helpful I might check it out next year.
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