Has college completely lost its way?

Lately, I've been reading more about what high school students are going through, and college admissions seems to dominate everything. Even the students in our program talk about how critical these 2-3 years of high school are for their future.

Because of this research, my social media feeds have become flooded with college prep ads. "Build the perfect passion project!" "Get your standout essay written by experts!" "Follow our proven checklist for admission success!"

Then I started reading the comments. One stuck with me: "These checklists and frameworks are destroying any remaining originality in students."

That hit hard because it's exactly what we're seeing happen.

The college prep industry has turned what should be a journey of self-discovery into a paint-by-numbers exercise. Students are being handed templates for "passion projects" that sound impressive but mean nothing to them personally. They're following step-by-step guides to manufacture experiences that look good on applications rather than pursuing what genuinely interests them.

But here's the irony: colleges are desperately trying to find authentic, original students. They want to see real curiosity, genuine problem-solving, and unique perspectives. Yet the very system designed to help students get into college is systematically eliminating these qualities.

When every student has a "passion project" that follows the same template, when essays are crafted by professionals rather than reflecting a student's actual voice, when extracurriculars are chosen from a predetermined list of "impressive" activities—where's the originality?

All of this is creating a generation of students who are incredibly good at following directions but have lost the ability to think for themselves. They can execute a checklist perfectly but struggle when asked to pursue their own ideas or solve problems they haven't seen before.

At Flintolabs, we've learned that the most powerful student projects come when we give them tools and step back. Yes, we provide frameworks for thinking about problems and building solutions. But the ideas, the passion, the direction—that has to come from them.

Maybe instead of more checklists, students need more space to be genuinely curious. Maybe instead of manufacturing passion projects, they need permission to explore what actually interests them, even if it doesn't look "college-ready."

Because authentic beats artificial every single time. And it removes a whole lot of anxiety!

-Janani

Registration Deadline: February 22, 2026 Competition

Format: Virtual, Global

What: The world's largest virtual entrepreneurship competition for high school students, inspiring participants to create innovative "blue ocean" businesses that solve problems never solved before

Who: High school students globally (over 12,700 participants in 2025 from 163+ countries)

Focus: Using Blue Ocean Strategy principles to see possibilities where others see boundaries, create solutions using systematic frameworks, and build businesses that make the world better

Prizes: Thousands in cash prizes plus invaluable feedback from experienced entrepreneurs and business professionals

Perfect for: Students ready to think beyond traditional boundaries and create genuinely innovative business concepts

💸 The Financial Reality Check

Over the last 40 years, college tuition has risen at more than double the pace of inflation. A degree that once cost a few thousand dollars now demands tens or even hundreds of thousands. Meanwhile, the product itself hasn't fundamentally changed.

Even when students "do everything right," working part-time, applying for grants, and choosing affordable schools, they can still graduate carrying loans that delay buying homes, starting families, or saving for retirement. That's not opportunity, it's a trap designed to benefit institutions, not students.

The promise of higher education has become a bait-and-switch where learning is treated as a luxury commodity priced for exclusivity rather than a pathway to opportunity.

Read about the unjustifiable cost of college

🎯 When Education Forgets Its Purpose

For centuries, higher education evolved with clear purpose: medieval universities trained clergy, the Renaissance expanded knowledge, the Industrial Age brought practical subjects. Each transformation answered one question: What does society need?

But somewhere along the way, that clarity got lost. Colleges are still teaching the same curriculum they did a decade ago, acting like the world hasn't fundamentally changed.

Now it's become a performance where students race to establish nonprofits they'll abandon after applications, and everyone follows rigid rules from college counselors. For the first time in higher education's long history, institutions seem to have stopped asking what society actually needs.

The result? Students paying record amounts to prepare for a world that no longer exists.

Read why higher education has lost the plot

This week, we're highlighting Khadija from Texas, creator of "Hypocats" - an AI-powered platform that solves a real problem many pet lovers face: finding the perfect hypoallergenic cat breed without triggering allergies.

Recognizing that cat lovers often struggle with overwhelming and conflicting information about hypoallergenic breeds, Khadija built a comprehensive solution. Hypocats features an interactive quiz that considers lifestyle, living situation, and specific allergy triggers, then provides AI-powered recommendations tailored to individual needs. Her platform includes detailed breed profiles complete with care tips and realistic expectations - taking the guesswork out of finding an ideal hypoallergenic companion.

Here is a comment from an user of Khadija’s app:

“As someone who loves cats but unfortunately deals with allergies, I honestly had no idea something like this even existed - and I’m blown away! Hypocats is exactly what people like me have been waiting for. I’ve spent so much time Googling “hypoallergenic cat breeds,” only to get overwhelmed with mixed info and uncertainty about what would actually work for me. Khadija, this app is GENIUS. The interactive quiz is such a smart feature - it actually considers your allergy triggers and lifestyle, which makes it feel super personal. I already discovered a couple of breeds I had no idea were allergy-friendly! The breed profiles and care tips are a really nice touch too. I can already tell this will save me a ton of research and help me avoid months of sneezing and itchy eyes. Seriously, thank you for creating Hypocats - it’s going to help so many people find their perfect feline friend without the allergy drama. Big love from a cat lover who finally has hope!”

This is exactly what real innovation looks like: identifying genuine problems, building practical solutions, and using AI as a tool to create value rather than just consume content.

Check out Khadija's Hypocats app

Flintolabs helps high schoolers develop AI fluency while building their own startup ideas - because the future belongs to those who can create it, not just study it.

The next cohort starts October 4. Spots are filling up quickly!

Sign up today to reserve your spot →

Our program has 5-star rating with reviews from both students and parents. If you have questions that you want to discuss before signing up, email us at [email protected].

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