How are your kids dating with apps, school work, ECs?

[Anonymous]

I don’t even have a senior, but she’s swallowed in homework/studying, EC commitments, she has no down time except weekends…how are your kids able to do it all? What have they done to make it manageable?

[Anonymous]

*dealing with apps. Apologies. Not “dating”

[Anonymous]

I just finished with my second kid through this process - its really helpful to have a lot done the summer before senior year - at least the common app essay and the college list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t even have a senior, but she’s swallowed in homework/studying, EC commitments, she has no down time except weekends…how are your kids able to do it all? What have they done to make it manageable?

They no longer have free time on weekends!

But seriously, this is why people recommend spreading the work out by working on the college list junior year, writing the personal statement the summer before senior year, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just finished with my second kid through this process - its really helpful to have a lot done the summer before senior year - at least the common app essay and the college list.

Yup. My kid filled out the common app, got the common app essay done, researched schools and finalized the application list, and developed a timeline/plan for applications during the summer. He also started the supplements for his ED school and got far enough along on them that he was able to revise/repurpose some of that work for other Nov. 1 apps. October was really, really busy, so he took advantage of a long weekend to knock out and submit three applications. That was a huge relief and allowed him to spend the last couple of weeks refining essays for the ED school.

You also have to know your kid. Mine is pretty organized and motivated, but I still asked him regularly what he needed to get done and when he planned to do it, really just to prompt his planning. He seemed to appreciate that, but I know lots of kids would not.

He will get his remaining applications done before he gets his ED decision in mid-December so that they are ready to go in the likely event that he doesn’t get in. The last thing you want to do is have to write essays when you’re disappointed about your first choice.

[Anonymous]

As others have said, doing as much as you can during the summer before senior year is important.

For the fall, DC dialed back on a major EC to free up time for supplemental essays and to build in some pure downtime with no commitments.

Late in the summer, we talked with DC about his list of schools and culled two reach schools that would have also been financial reaches as well. Seemed like wasted energy to deal with extra supplemental essays for schools that seemed highly unlikely. He seemed relieved.

One piece of advice from another senior parent - don't do any college visits in the fall. Better to wait to see where you get in and can afford before making extra trips.

At this stage, 8 EA applications completed and one RD application left to do - and that's nearly done ahead of a Dec. 1 deadline.

Now DC can focus on a few honors and scholarship applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just finished with my second kid through this process - its really helpful to have a lot done the summer before senior year - at least the common app essay and the college list.

Yup. My kid filled out the common app, got the common app essay done, researched schools and finalized the application list, and developed a timeline/plan for applications during the summer. He also started the supplements for his ED school and got far enough along on them that he was able to revise/repurpose some of that work for other Nov. 1 apps. October was really, really busy, so he took advantage of a long weekend to knock out and submit three applications. That was a huge relief and allowed him to spend the last couple of weeks refining essays for the ED school.

You also have to know your kid. Mine is pretty organized and motivated, but I still asked him regularly what he needed to get done and when he planned to do it, really just to prompt his planning. He seemed to appreciate that, but I know lots of kids would not.

He will get his remaining applications done before he gets his ED decision in mid-December so that they are ready to go in the likely event that he doesn’t get in. The last thing you want to do is have to write essays when you’re disappointed about your first choice.

Does school work lessen senior year? How many hours a night of homework does he have? How in the world can kids spend so much time on applications? I hope teachers are understanding in 12th. It’s all perplexing to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just finished with my second kid through this process - its really helpful to have a lot done the summer before senior year - at least the common app essay and the college list.

Yup. My kid filled out the common app, got the common app essay done, researched schools and finalized the application list, and developed a timeline/plan for applications during the summer. He also started the supplements for his ED school and got far enough along on them that he was able to revise/repurpose some of that work for other Nov. 1 apps. October was really, really busy, so he took advantage of a long weekend to knock out and submit three applications. That was a huge relief and allowed him to spend the last couple of weeks refining essays for the ED school.

You also have to know your kid. Mine is pretty organized and motivated, but I still asked him regularly what he needed to get done and when he planned to do it, really just to prompt his planning. He seemed to appreciate that, but I know lots of kids would not.

He will get his remaining applications done before he gets his ED decision in mid-December so that they are ready to go in the likely event that he doesn’t get in. The last thing you want to do is have to write essays when you’re disappointed about your first choice.

Does school work lessen senior year? How many hours a night of homework does he have? How in the world can kids spend so much time on applications? I hope teachers are understanding in 12th. It’s all perplexing to me.

No, school work doesn’t lessen; if anything, he has more this year than junior year. And his activities are even more intense because of leadership positions. He did most college-related stuff on weekends. And, again, getting a lot done in the summer was critical. I don’t know how he would have gotten it all done otherwise. Or, I guess, it would have been done but probably not nearly as well and with a lot more stress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:*dealing with apps. Apologies. Not “dating”

Made me chuckle though. ANd that's a good thing!

Classes have not been too bad. Teachers are trying to balance staying on track with not drowning seniors.
ECs not bad either. Scheduled herself as much of a break as possible. DD's ECs go in spurts or intense classes. For one, doing classes in Sept and Dec. For theatre, did not audition for fall play. Did have a competition though, but got that sorted. For volunteering, sticking w/ some, and taking a break from others. Will do more in Dec. For other stuff, still going, and it's manageable.

Apps were a slog. 8 schools early (1 rolling, 1 ED, 6 EA), lots of supplemental essays. Plus various artistic portfolios. Glad it's mostly done, except for a few updates and 1 essay.

1 acceptance w/ good money, so that's heartening.

Then the question will be, how much if anything does she do towards RD apps? Really hoping on the ED, but it's a Reach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just finished with my second kid through this process - its really helpful to have a lot done the summer before senior year - at least the common app essay and the college list.

Yup. My kid filled out the common app, got the common app essay done, researched schools and finalized the application list, and developed a timeline/plan for applications during the summer. He also started the supplements for his ED school and got far enough along on them that he was able to revise/repurpose some of that work for other Nov. 1 apps. October was really, really busy, so he took advantage of a long weekend to knock out and submit three applications. That was a huge relief and allowed him to spend the last couple of weeks refining essays for the ED school.

You also have to know your kid. Mine is pretty organized and motivated, but I still asked him regularly what he needed to get done and when he planned to do it, really just to prompt his planning. He seemed to appreciate that, but I know lots of kids would not.

He will get his remaining applications done before he gets his ED decision in mid-December so that they are ready to go in the likely event that he doesn’t get in. The last thing you want to do is have to write essays when you’re disappointed about your first choice.

Perhaps, but my older kid used this as motivation to do a great job on RD essays. Rejected SCEA, but several awesome admits RD. So, it can work out that way for some kids.

[Anonymous]

We did a lot of work on college exploration and list building junior year (and this past summer). Having safeties she actually likes and not shotgunning 20 reaches = reasonable college app load.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:*dealing with apps. Apologies. Not “dating”

Made me chuckle though. ANd that's a good thing!

Classes have not been too bad. Teachers are trying to balance staying on track with not drowning seniors.
ECs not bad either. Scheduled herself as much of a break as possible. DD's ECs go in spurts or intense classes. For one, doing classes in Sept and Dec. For theatre, did not audition for fall play. Did have a competition though, but got that sorted. For volunteering, sticking w/ some, and taking a break from others. Will do more in Dec. For other stuff, still going, and it's manageable.

Apps were a slog. 8 schools early (1 rolling, 1 ED, 6 EA), lots of supplemental essays. Plus various artistic portfolios. Glad it's mostly done, except for a few updates and 1 essay.

1 acceptance w/ good money, so that's heartening.

Then the question will be, how much if anything does she do towards RD apps? Really hoping on the ED, but it's a Reach.

Is your child in public school?

[Anonymous]

I got my kids to do outlines of essays over the summer so they could just fill them out more. And they each did a few.

[Anonymous]

My kid doesn't really date with apps but when he does it's usually Tinder, Bumble, Hinge in that order.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t even have a senior, but she’s swallowed in homework/studying, EC commitments, she has no down time except weekends…how are your kids able to do it all? What have they done to make it manageable?

Sneaky links and older men is what’s en vogue if you go to a school in a larger city