The perceived age of an actor or actress is important, not just for the viewer's entertainment but for the overall success of a TV show or movie. Fundamentally, age is not just a number — it’s a commodity. The younger you look, the more likely you are to be successful in Hollywood.

A better depiction of college applications in the media would be showing a sincere reason for the character’s choice of school and a more personalized college search. If producers lead with characters’ genuine motivations rather than sticking with the tried and true big-name school, it will give way to a diversity of acceptances and more realistic representations on what college is truly like.