I'm finding this application process pretty stressful

[Anonymous]

I helped get my two kids through this process. It was a nightmare. A friend who I gave tips to suggested that I could do it as a career. The thought gave me hives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Omg 10:05, I'm so sorry.

My DD can be pretty mean verbally, to me, when I try to nudge her along. And it's nuts! She wanted me to look at some of her essays, and then is too busy to forward them to me. It's been 3 days. She's busy napping, or eating, or working out...omg.

I think part of the problem is there is a small to-do here, a small to-do there....like getting the letter of rec, or one college that wants an interview, and then there's the thank you email for the interview...just little one-off things, but they all add up. Overlay that with the essays (which I haven't seen except for one) and there's just a lot of unfinished, time-consuming crap.

I think I'm also stressed because this particular kid has been so difficult for so long; for my own sanity I need her to leave our house and grow up. Because I want her to fledge not just for her sake but also for my sake, I'm doubly invested on these apps getting done---so I can't "drop the rope" and let her sink or swim. I'd go nuts if she sank, and she stayed home and went to a junior college!

Well, for us, along came a pandemic and the kid is back home after getting her degree. All her friends are living with their parents too.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry I find this thread pretty pathetic. Yes our kids (I have a senior too) have a lot on their plate but I think they are in better shape than kids in a regular year. My kid lives in her PJs and has much more free time than she otherwise would. FWIW- She's taking 6 AP classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry I find this thread pretty pathetic. Yes our kids (I have a senior too) have a lot on their plate but I think they are in better shape than kids in a regular year. My kid lives in her PJs and has much more free time than she otherwise would. FWIW- She's taking 6 AP classes.

Well, no kidding that some kids have more time, and in a perfect world, they would use that time to be productive. Unfortunately, my senior isn't. That's why some of us are frustrated with our kids.

It's great that your daughter is doing well, but some seniors feel disconnected or overwhelmed without in person interaction, or even any expectation that they will be able to attend college in person next year. Not every kid is the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry I find this thread pretty pathetic. Yes our kids (I have a senior too) have a lot on their plate but I think they are in better shape than kids in a regular year. My kid lives in her PJs and has much more free time than she otherwise would. FWIW- She's taking 6 AP classes.

Well, no kidding that some kids have more time, and in a perfect world, they would use that time to be productive. Unfortunately, my senior isn't. That's why some of us are frustrated with our kids.

It's great that your daughter is doing well, but some seniors feel disconnected or overwhelmed without in person interaction, or even any expectation that they will be able to attend college in person next year. Not every kid is the same.

It's interesting you mention that, because my DD is saying why go to all this trouble (and potential expense) when she may just be taking classes from her dorm room next year. Last year when we were visiting colleges in the Fall, she was excited and envisioning herself at these schools. Now, not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry I find this thread pretty pathetic. Yes our kids (I have a senior too) have a lot on their plate but I think they are in better shape than kids in a regular year. My kid lives in her PJs and has much more free time than she otherwise would. FWIW- She's taking 6 AP classes.

Well, no kidding that some kids have more time, and in a perfect world, they would use that time to be productive. Unfortunately, my senior isn't. That's why some of us are frustrated with our kids.

It's great that your daughter is doing well, but some seniors feel disconnected or overwhelmed without in person interaction, or even any expectation that they will be able to attend college in person next year. Not every kid is the same.

It's interesting you mention that, because my DD is saying why go to all this trouble (and potential expense) when she may just be taking classes from her dorm room next year. Last year when we were visiting colleges in the Fall, she was excited and envisioning herself at these schools. Now, not so much.

Yes, it takes something away from the process, that's for sure. After a month of fighting with my son, we finally had a real conversation in which he admitted that he is having a hard getting interested or engaged in the application process because he isn't excited about more online learning next year. We are working through it. For some reason, boys don't talk with their friends about where they are applying (or at least my son's friends don't). When my nieces were applying to college, that's all they talked about.

I need something to get him excited, and virtual tours just aren't doing it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm sorry I find this thread pretty pathetic. Yes our kids (I have a senior too) have a lot on their plate but I think they are in better shape than kids in a regular year. My kid lives in her PJs and has much more free time than she otherwise would. FWIW- She's taking 6 AP classes.

Well, no kidding that some kids have more time, and in a perfect world, they would use that time to be productive. Unfortunately, my senior isn't. That's why some of us are frustrated with our kids.

It's great that your daughter is doing well, but some seniors feel disconnected or overwhelmed without in person interaction, or even any expectation that they will be able to attend college in person next year. Not every kid is the same.

It's interesting you mention that, because my DD is saying why go to all this trouble (and potential expense) when she may just be taking classes from her dorm room next year. Last year when we were visiting colleges in the Fall, she was excited and envisioning herself at these schools. Now, not so much.

Yes, it takes something away from the process, that's for sure. After a month of fighting with my son, we finally had a real conversation in which he admitted that he is having a hard getting interested or engaged in the application process because he isn't excited about more online learning next year. We are working through it. For some reason, boys don't talk with their friends about where they are applying (or at least my son's friends don't). When my nieces were applying to college, that's all they talked about.

I need something to get him excited, and virtual tours just aren't doing it.

For my kid, getting that first acceptance letter was huge. Even if it was a safety at the bottom of DCs list and not likely to be the final choice, it made a big difference in attitude. OP, maybe try and steer your DS toward even just one application to a safety with rolling admissions. It can't hurt, and it might increase his level of interest/excitement a little. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I wish that ED had been eliminated this year. Our DS cannot decide on his top school so, with the exception of a few early action (schools that won't notify until February), he'll apply regular decision.

I've heard so much about "strategy" and showing interest, etc., but, in the absence of meaningful on-campus visits, it is so hard to commit to one school.

In our house, this has added a new level of stress.