Silicon Valley's Palo Alto school district is in crisis. The suicide rate for teenagers there is four to five times the national average. This tragic statistic has made the city a symbol of the pressure kids live under in affluent communities to get into elite colleges, to excel at everything, to succeed at all costs. This week, as high school seniors and their families gather around computers racing to finish their college applications, we ask whether the obsession with getting into the best colleges is hurting kids more than helping them, and what schools, parents and students can do lessen the stress.
Academic Success: Are Teenagers Paying Too High a Price?
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Guests:
- Suniya Luthar - Arizona State University
- Julie Lythcott-Haims - Stanford University (formerly) - @DeanJulie
- Gwyeth Smith, Jr. - independent college counselor
- Carolyn Walworth - Palo Alto High School