Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?

[Anonymous]

Kid-
Definitely enjoyed the research process.
Somewhat enjoyed the application process.
Hated the waiting process.

Parent-
Enjoyed watching all of it - except the rejections.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, it's been awful and draining.

Yes. Once she was in at two safeties, and submitted the UC App, all in November, she was So. Done. With. It. At this point I doubt I could even get a LOCI out of her.

Same here. ⬆️

[Anonymous]

We enjoyed the visits even if they became somewhat predictable, they do provide some insight as we visited secular privates, Catholic privates and publics.

It was also important to visit the areas surrounding the schools. My DS ended up leaving the West Coast for the East Coast so he needed to be comfortable with the school and the location.

Of course, he didn’t enjoy the process, but didn’t hate it, either. I think he considered it more of an annoyance. The fact that he had a list of reaches, targets and safeties that were acceptable to him made it easier, plus an EA acceptance to one of his favorite schools.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not. Was thrilled to get into her top choice ED and be done with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did your kid enjoy the process? What aspects? Where did they end up? (Try to keep it positive)

He LOVED it. Also loves smashing his head against walls & slamming drawers shut on his fingers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did your kid enjoy the process? What aspects? Where did they end up? (Try to keep it positive)

He LOVED it. Also loves smashing his head against walls & slamming drawers shut on his fingers.

Agreed. Cold showers are top as well. Can’t wait until it’s over.

[Anonymous]

Hell no!

[Anonymous]

What was it like for parents during the second kid's process or subsequent kids?

[Anonymous]

We had fun on some of the visits. We always ate in the dining hall and that was often fun. Spouse is a foodie so their enthusiasm for reviewing food probably rubbed off. Also kid cared a lot about the quality of the food. We actually had some good meals and always enjoyed things like soft serve.

We tried to build in days for fun when visiting a new area, like taking a hike or checkng out the town. So the kid enjoyed that part.

And some of the campuses were quite pretty so the tours were not unenjoyable but also I wouldn't say super enjoyable either.

Did not seem to enjoy the actual process of aplplying, writing essays was probably the worst.

kid somehow didn't get stressed about any of it so that was a huge plus and probably unusual.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What was it like for parents during the second kid's process or subsequent kids?

Better bc second kid elected to ED and got in so done early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What was it like for parents during the second kid's process or subsequent kids?

What do you mean what was it like? It's the same process, but with a different kid. My second kid didn't have much overlap in schools of interest, so had to do a lot over. wAnted different things, different academic interests etc. Needed more support than the first kid.

I kind of felt like I had to relearn things all over again. Things had changed some in the couple of years between. Plus I was surprised how much I forgot (blocked out?)

[Anonymous]

Yes but we hired a consultant that he liked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No not at all. And neither did the parents. It’s not what we hoped or thought it would be like. The jumping through hoops to prove you are somehow more worthy or special to a university than others borders on the insane, the time it takes to write supplements, the agonizing on test or no tests, the fact that you are also dealing with teens who are striving to show their independence (a normal stage in their development) and they don’t want to be reminded or hounded or told what to do or share what they are doing. The whole applying to a good university that your kid should get into and probably won’t despite have great gpa and essays. It’s a horrible process.

This

+1
Horrible and quite unfair. Why unfair? The "holistic' review...holistic, my behind! They check gpa that's it. Of course they are entitled to it, but then don't advertise a "whole student application".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What was it like for parents during the second kid's process or subsequent kids?

It is the same—like the Groundhog Day movie. Seriously. The schools might change based on your kid’s stats, but it is awful every time. I am on my 4th kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What was it like for parents during the second kid's process or subsequent kids?

It is the same—like the Groundhog Day movie. Seriously. The schools might change based on your kid’s stats, but it is awful every time. I am on my 4th kid.

I am on my third and I agree with this. It’s just horrible in a new way!