Throughout the school year, Communications High School (CHS) students watch as the guidance counselors hang small flags alerting everyone where each senior got accepted into college. Students wait eagerly to see their peers’ results and what schools deemed a CHS senior worthy of admittance. This age-old tradition is one that many seniors have been looking forward to for four long years. However, there has been backlash questioning whether the flags are necessary.
Students opposing the tradition claim that they promote unhealthy competition and discourage students, but this stance fails to acknowledge the positivity that the tradition brings to the school environment. The admittance flags allow students to celebrate each other’s successes, provide underclassmen insight into colleges that accept CHS students and create an opportunity for peers to support one another.
The main controversy revolves around the emotional effects the flags have on seniors. Senior Aki Sykes of Tinton Falls claims the tradition provides the opportunity for students to celebrate each other’s accomplishments.
“I like it because we can all celebrate who got into where. Personally, I don’t care if someone gets into a better school than me, but I know other people are different,” said Sykes.
Senior Max O’Reilly of Asbury Park further adds to the positives of the CHS tradition.
“I think that CHS should celebrate its students because there’s a lot of talented people here in this grade,” said O’Reilly.
Many CHS seniors expressed similar opinions, supporting the continuation of CHS’s beloved college culture. These flags symbolize the hard work seniors have put in over the course of their high school career; not celebrating their achievements because of ego conflicts promotes an unsportsmanlike mentality.
Sophomore Sofie Grodman of Sea Bright believes the flags are a heartwarming addition to the school cafeteria.
“I think they’re a really nice touch. I love seeing where everyone gets in and it’s a huge accomplishment for the seniors,” said Grodman. “I think it brings the cafeteria to life a bit because some of the walls are boring white but then you add the colorful flags.”
Whether students view them while they walk around the cafeteria or observe them during lunch, the flags can be important for underclassmen to take note of. It gives them an idea of where students at CHS are getting into college. That information can prove to be helpful in the future when they start their own college application journeys.
Students are not the only people who love the flags. Computer Science Teacher Laura Gesin is among the college flag supporters.
“I was very ambivalent about them for the first 20 years that I saw them and I thought they might make other people feel bad if they didn’t get in. Then I got my own flags when I got into Rowan and Rider, and I realized it does make you really feel special,” Gesin said. “Seeing my accomplishment on the wall moved me to think it’s a great way to honor all the hard work that we’ve done. I was so touched that I saved the Rider one, and it’s framed in my office.”
The flags are not a method to brag about where one got into college. They are a small but meaningful gesture that honors the long study sessions, grueling supplemental essays and anxious waiting period that the seniors endured to achieve their acceptance. Taking this tradition away revokes a unique opportunity to allow the student body to celebrate and support each other.
Mrs Clev • Feb 12, 2025 at 9:49 am
Thank you Chrissy for eloquently explaining what my intentions were when I started this tradition with CHS’s first graduating class in 2004. It was meant to be a celebration, not a competition. I look forward to visiting soon to see the acceptance flags for Class of 2025!