What an ancient Chinese philosopher can teach us about Americans' obsession with college rankings

"From my former life as a college counselor to my current one as a psychology professor, I've spent more than two decades working with Asian American families, the demographic group that often finds itself at the center of college admissions debates. I listen as they grapple with questions of race, social status and who makes it in the U.S. and why. I've also seen firsthand, both inside and outside of the research lab, how some students' never-ending quest for achievement takes a toll on their mental health."

"Americans' frenzy over college admissions may be a relatively modern affliction, but striving for status is timeless and universal, and it can benefit from the wisdom of ancient texts. This is why, in my team's research with Asian American families, we bring the Chinese philosopher Laozi into the conversation. Through the Daodejing, one of the central texts of Daoism, Laozi offers perspectives from a tumultuous period of status-striving in Chinese history - and shifts our focus from comparison and competition to contentment."

"In interviews with Asian American parents, children and teens over the past 10 years, I hear echoes of what sociologists Jennifer Lee and Min Zhou call the "Asian American success frame": success defined by elite educational credentials, graduate degrees and select occupations. Their research shows how the success frame is endorsed by Asian Americans"

College admissions season annually sparks debates about race, wealth, and institutional rankings while raising personal questions about achievement and mental health costs. A psychology professor with two decades of experience working with Asian American families observes how relentless pursuit of status and elite credentials takes a psychological toll on students. The research team incorporates Laozi's Daodejing, a foundational Daoist text from a historically status-driven period in China, to reframe success conversations. The "Asian American success frame" defines achievement through elite educational credentials, advanced degrees, and prestigious occupations. This framework, while culturally endorsed, often prioritizes comparison and competition over contentment and wellbeing.

Read at The Conversation