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In the mid-twentieth century, the United States began to change from an aristocracy to a meritocracy – where people could become successful based on ability, rather than money or social position. In response to this, students, parents, and employers became obsessed with test scores and college rankings. Nowadays, it’s pretty normal for teenagers to take college preparatory tests like the SAT multiple times during their junior and senior years, just to demonstrate their academic potential to colleges. But there’s a high cost. Parents spend thousands of dollars on expensive tutors and preparation classes every year, hoping this will help their kids win a ticket to an Ivy League school. Students, meanwhile, pay the price with all the added stress. The key message here is: The pressure to achieve early is affecting young people’s mental health. The test preparation industry generates nearly $1 billion every year, with some tutors – like New York-based Anthony-James Green – charging up to $

In the mid-twentieth century, the United States began to change from an aristocracy to a meritocracy – where people could become successful based on ability, rather than money or social position. In response to this, students, parents, and employers became obsessed with test scores and college rankings. Nowadays, it’s pretty normal for teenagers to take college preparatory tests like the SAT multiple times during their junior and senior years, just to demonstrate their academic potential to colleges. But there’s a high cost. Parents spend thousands of dollars on expensive tutors and preparatio