What can I do if my child is having a health crisis during college app time?

[Anonymous]

Is there anything that can be done if child is having serious health issues at end of junior year just as it’s time for SATs, AP tests, college essays, college visits? Anything parents should consider or consultant to talk to about how to think about the process? Or a way to let colleges know in app process?

[Anonymous]

If your kid isn’t well you’d defer enrolling for a year.

[Anonymous]

My kid didn't do any of those things until the summer before senior year and fall of senior year. You still have time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid isn’t well you’d defer enrolling for a year.

+1. Admissions season is grueling. You explain away bad sophomore grades impacted by a health crisis. Most schools are TO, but a college isn’t going to lwant a kid who has an ongoing health crisis that makes them too ill to apply. And you don’t want a kid dealing with illness to have to deal with the stress. your kid healthy and apply during a gap year. Explain in the common app extra section when they do that they didn’t apply on time because of a health crisis.

[Anonymous]

Do the applications for them?

[Anonymous]

Community college

[Anonymous]

Gap year

[Anonymous]

Health first. There’s always some kind of college a kid can get into off cycle or start at before transfering. Or gap year.

My kid had a lot of mental health issues, took SAT once with little prep (but could have skipped and applied TO), didn’t take AP tests because he wasn’t in a good place, and did Common app one weekend October of senior year. Didn’t apply anywhere with supplemental essays.

Kid actually got in everywhere and ended up with surprisingly good options. Best of all he is doing much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Health first. There’s always some kind of college a kid can get into off cycle or start at before transfering. Or gap year.

My kid had a lot of mental health issues, took SAT once with little prep (but could have skipped and applied TO), didn’t take AP tests because he wasn’t in a good place, and did Common app one weekend October of senior year. Didn’t apply anywhere with supplemental essays.

Kid actually got in everywhere and ended up with surprisingly good options. Best of all he is doing much better.

My point is really that so much of it is optional or can be dealt with later.

[Anonymous]

My DC didn’t even start until August of Senior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Health first. There’s always some kind of college a kid can get into off cycle or start at before transfering. Or gap year.

My kid had a lot of mental health issues, took SAT once with little prep (but could have skipped and applied TO), didn’t take AP tests because he wasn’t in a good place, and did Common app one weekend October of senior year. Didn’t apply anywhere with supplemental essays.

Kid actually got in everywhere and ended up with surprisingly good options. Best of all he is doing much better.

My point is really that so much of it is optional or can be dealt with later.

I agree. (And I'm someone who would typically encourage juniors to start thinking about the process now. It's OK to set aside college applications until the student is feeling better. And if that requires waiting for a gap year, that's fine, too.)

[Anonymous]

Wait a year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Health first. There’s always some kind of college a kid can get into off cycle or start at before transfering. Or gap year.

My kid had a lot of mental health issues, took SAT once with little prep (but could have skipped and applied TO), didn’t take AP tests because he wasn’t in a good place, and did Common app one weekend October of senior year. Didn’t apply anywhere with supplemental essays.

Kid actually got in everywhere and ended up with surprisingly good options. Best of all he is doing much better.

My point is really that so much of it is optional or can be dealt with later.

I agree. (And I'm someone who would typically encourage juniors to start thinking about the process now. It's OK to set aside college applications until the student is feeling better. And if that requires waiting for a gap year, that's fine, too.)

This. SAT can be taken fall of senior year (if kid is healthy) not even needed at most schools, AP tests aren't needed. Save visits for when kid is healthy or after acceptance. Help kid in the fall with apps

[Anonymous]

We’ve just been there and pulled through. DC as a top student couldn’t engage in college application process. They didn’t do any school visits, did ACT in Oct, missed ED and EA, crammed all applications during the winter break and a couple in January. The results were of course not ideal but still very good. Given no hooks and needs of FA I consider ourselves very lucky.

[Anonymous]

Health comes first.

Also, finish his applications yourself or pay someone to do it.