Anyone have any regrets doing ED?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps your family and student are more feeling another stage of the college application and admittance process? There is often a high about getting an acceptance and then about committing to a school. The buying family members the t-shirts and the this-crazy-process is over type of thing. Every senior goes through something similar at one point or another. It is all about the excitement and promises of what is ahead. And then ... it really hits some: what is exactly ahead? That is another stage completely.

At some point most rising college freshman switch from "I can't wait!" to "what the heck have I done" as in they wonder what it will be like? will they make friends? what if their classes are too hard? what if I miss home or my high school friends (or both)? Even if they don't admit these feelings those feelings are lurking.

I sometimes think that those who get in ED enter this stage sooner than the rest as they are simply on an accelerated path through the entire process. It can easily manifest as buyer's remorse.

That's a very interesting point. I think this situation does (at least in part) relate to how my daughter is feeling. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

[Anonymous]

Going through this wait for RD, tonight my kid snd I wished the ED had worked out. I’d say just be glad it did.

[Anonymous]

I know that would have been my son. He’s like me with the over-analyzing, comparing, and would have “what ifs”.

This is why he didn’t apply anywhere binding, only EA. And now waiting on RDs. It has been exciting and he has been courted, swag, etc.

ED was fairly anti-climatic for me.

[Anonymous]

My older child applied to 11 schools, was accepted or WL at all of them, and had a difficult time deciding. Could have been happy at many of them, and wasn't head over heels enough with any of them at the start of the process to commit to ED. (And now they're thriving at the one they eventually chose.)

My younger child, a current HS senior, applied to just one college, ED, as a recruited athlete and was offered a roster spot back in July but was officially accepted in December. For this kid, ED was a great option. We have visited the school a few times already and love the coach, the campus, and the vibe in the classrooms and the surrounding community. This kid has more anxiety and a less curated and impressive "resume" than kid #1, and watching their friends wait on more RD decisions right now, we are very glad that we've known for months and months where DC will be ending up. And they were offered substantial merit aid, too! ED is not the right choice for every kid, but it was a great option for this one.

[Anonymous]

My kid who went through all of this a few years back had some ED regrets as all the other students were stressing/going on about admissions. I think it's their first major decision so there's bound to be some 'buyer's remorse.' It kind of continued through the summer before leaving--I think it combined with anxiety about starting college, leaving hs friends/girlfriend etc. Made me wonder if he made the right choice.
That said, he's recently now graduated from college, absolutely loved his school and is doing well--so I think he made the right ED choice for him.

[Anonymous]

No regrets. Still thrilled. Right decision

[Anonymous]

Mine is thrilled. It was her first choice, and a reach for all school. And, being adhd, she is so glad not to have had to go through all the stress of the RD process. She did apply to others EA, so got a taste of multiple acceptances and scholarships. So no regrets. If others buzz about RD acceptances, we get excited for them and find more cool things about her school yo get excited about and maybe a little early dorm shopping.

[Anonymous]

My kid went through this a few years ago and actually PULLED the ED application (before decisions) at a T15 private and asked admissions to move it to the regular decision pool.

Ended up getting rejected or waitlisted at every school except one (a top T15 public) and was not excited about it at all. The stress level was crazy.... Got waitlisted in RD at the original ED school, wrote a LOCI and got in off the waitlist in mid May. Absolutely loves the school they are in! Definitely now thinking back it was a little dicey there and the grass is greener mindset could have changed the entire course of their life. There was a reason your student loved the ED school and there's no point in dwelling on negatives (all schools have them), it's all going to be great I'm sure!

[Anonymous]

The whole process is so stressful. Mine didn’t ED last year but he had a hard time deciding and it took me 6 months to get over one of the schools he turned down. Good luck to you and your child.

[Anonymous]

My kid was deferred from her ED Top 20 school. The waiting has been a slog. I know I would give anything to trade places with you, OP. And I’m guessing my kid would trade places with yours as well. Having this process be over would be such a relief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My DD chose a top 25 SLAC to ED to and was admitted. She has had kids at her school saying "congratulations, but it is a safety for me."

Wow! I can't believe kids would say things like that to each other! Incredibly rude! However, clearly your daughter made the right choice.

Well they ended up getting rejected so basically they got what they deserved.
-dp

[Anonymous]

I'm kind of curious about how RD would have gone, but DS is happy to be done with it. No regrets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps your family and student are more feeling another stage of the college application and admittance process? There is often a high about getting an acceptance and then about committing to a school. The buying family members the t-shirts and the this-crazy-process is over type of thing. Every senior goes through something similar at one point or another. It is all about the excitement and promises of what is ahead. And then ... it really hits some: what is exactly ahead? That is another stage completely.

At some point most rising college freshman switch from "I can't wait!" to "what the heck have I done" as in they wonder what it will be like? will they make friends? what if their classes are too hard? what if I miss home or my high school friends (or both)? Even if they don't admit these feelings those feelings are lurking.

I sometimes think that those who get in ED enter this stage sooner than the rest as they are simply on an accelerated path through the entire process. It can easily manifest as buyer's remorse.

NP. Love this post.

[Anonymous]

I think March/April can be hard for ED kids when they have friends going off to several admitted students weekend and choosing btw 2 or 3 or 4 great schools. Honors this vs full pay vs merit vs whatever.

But for many, they wouldn't have gotten the 2 or 3 or 4 primo schools. But they imagine they'd also have these options. We compare ourselves to the best, not the worst. You're better off than the kid with few good offers.

[Anonymous]

I went ED to the one and only school I looked at 30 or so years ago. I still absolutely remember feeling some anxiety when everyone's RDs came rolling in -- everything from, is this the right school? to just, where else could I have gotten in?
I've enjoyed going through the college search process now with DC. While I still think my ED choice was absolutely, positively the best option for me (I loved it then and still love it now), it has been fun seeing all of these other schools and imagining college life.