Any parents of seniors want to commiserate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today is a middle of the week day off for MCPS. There are no practices. It's perfect for college essay writing.

Unless you are jewish and in a day of cessation of work.

I'm sure there is a teen exemption. Honestly OP can make it work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never seen my DD so stressed out and unhappy. I thought junior year was supposed to be the hardest but she never seemed like this last year. The stress of college apps on top of an unbelievable amount of homework in her senior year classes is too much. Can’t they take it a bit easier on them first quarter? It’s hard for me to watch.

First quarter is really bad for my DD -- in addition to class there are the marching band practices (10 hours per week) plus most Saturdays being taken up by Marching competitions. And this year, it is looking like the marching season will extend a few weeks (the band is really god and may add a national competition). She has not had time to complete her college essays. Most of the schools she is applying to are limited in the requirements, but she is not applying to her first choice ED because she does not have the time to get the second essay done before Nov 1. She is a good student -- 4.2 + GPA with 1400+ SAT's, taking 5 APs. But she can not manufacture time. Between now and thanksgiving, she most Sundays (two are allocated) to get caught up on work, and 1 Saturday, and three days off from school (where there may or may not be band practice).

She is happy for te band's success this year, and thinks this is a once in a lifetime experience where everything comes together with band -- literally the first VA band to win a BOA regional in more than 40 years). But, it is hard work. #proudfather.

Wait a minute, all she needs is on essay for the college of her dreams? For god’s sake, have her miss a freaking band practice! College is much more important!

Would you tell a football player to miss a game or practice? She takes band very seriously.

NP here. And YES. YES YES YES I would. Lovely that she takes band "very seriously."

Help her with her priorities. She does not have to be there for every single band practice, or even performance/ competition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never seen my DD so stressed out and unhappy. I thought junior year was supposed to be the hardest but she never seemed like this last year. The stress of college apps on top of an unbelievable amount of homework in her senior year classes is too much. Can’t they take it a bit easier on them first quarter? It’s hard for me to watch.

First quarter is really bad for my DD -- in addition to class there are the marching band practices (10 hours per week) plus most Saturdays being taken up by Marching competitions. And this year, it is looking like the marching season will extend a few weeks (the band is really god and may add a national competition). She has not had time to complete her college essays. Most of the schools she is applying to are limited in the requirements, but she is not applying to her first choice ED because she does not have the time to get the second essay done before Nov 1. She is a good student -- 4.2 + GPA with 1400+ SAT's, taking 5 APs. But she can not manufacture time. Between now and thanksgiving, she most Sundays (two are allocated) to get caught up on work, and 1 Saturday, and three days off from school (where there may or may not be band practice).

She is happy for te band's success this year, and thinks this is a once in a lifetime experience where everything comes together with band -- literally the first VA band to win a BOA regional in more than 40 years). But, it is hard work. #proudfather.

Wait a minute, all she needs is on essay for the college of her dreams? For god’s sake, have her miss a freaking band practice! College is much more important!

Would you tell a football player to miss a game or practice? She takes band very seriously.

Well, #1 this is high school and not her job. College is way more important than band. She should be applying to her first choice college. She still has plenty of time left before the Nov. 1 deadline. Maybe she should drop another college application in favor of her first choice. There must be some other reason instead of band practice. That’s lame. With her grades and SAT scores, she would most likely get in. How will she feel in 2 years when she’s realized she didn’t apply to her first choice of college because of....band? That would be a major regret in my opinion. Please help her make the right choice.

I agree with this. Not applying to her first choice school because of one essay seems very short-sighted. Encourage her to miss one band practice, or set aside one weekend evening, and get the essay done.

She does not have the time to write a good essay (her standards) -- it will take more than a missed practice or two. She would probably have to miss a competition, which is not acceptable to her. The school she is interest in (first choice) has ED1 due Nov 1., ED2 and RD due Jan 1. She is planning on applying ED2. Statistically, there is no difference in the acceptance rates ED1 & ED2. The only difference is she will not know if she gets in until Late Feb/Early March instead of Jan.

But, with the other schools she is applying to, she should have acceptances to "acceptable" schools by mid nov.

Her real problem is the busy fall (starting august) was predicted. She should have spent a few weeks in the summer getting ready.

Oh, and for her, missing practice or school is a big deal. She wanted to go to school today (Yom Kippur), but we did not let her. She will be at band practice -- it starts near sundown.

Then you need to be parent and help her understand priorities.

[Anonymous]

I'm done commiserating with OP. I have a senior, but I do not make all of these excuses for him like OP.

I have a marching band student, he still has time for essays and other important stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today is a middle of the week day off for MCPS. There are no practices. It's perfect for college essay writing.

Unless you are jewish and in a day of cessation of work.

I'm sure there is a teen exemption. Honestly OP can make it work.

You know nothing about jewish law. Under jewish law, you are considered an adult at 13.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Today is a middle of the week day off for MCPS. There are no practices. It's perfect for college essay writing.

Unless you are jewish and in a day of cessation of work.

I'm sure there is a teen exemption. Honestly OP can make it work.

You know nothing about jewish law. Under jewish law, you are considered an adult at 13.

I know about real law and prioritizing.

Sorry OP's daughter will just end up at MCC, but at least she went to band and observed a religious day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm done commiserating with OP. I have a senior, but I do not make all of these excuses for him like OP.

I have a marching band student, he still has time for essays and other important stuff.

I am not OP, I am the parent with the kid in band. It takes time. And, as I said earlier, It will impact when she applies, not the likelihood of admissions.

[Anonymous]

Columbus Day holiday is coming up. She can work on the essay then.

The real issue sounds like she’s not sure if she wants to commit to this college so early and do early decision. Which is fine. But don’t use band as an excuse. Also, if band is so time consuming, when does she do homework?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm done commiserating with OP. I have a senior, but I do not make all of these excuses for him like OP.

I have a marching band student, he still has time for essays and other important stuff.

OP here. I am not the marching band parent!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm done commiserating with OP. I have a senior, but I do not make all of these excuses for him like OP.

I have a marching band student, he still has time for essays and other important stuff.

OP here. I am not the marching band parent!!!

Sorry that weirdo hijacked your thread.

[Anonymous]

Your kids didn't work on their essays and apps during summer? Who waits until September Senior year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Columbus Day holiday is coming up. She can work on the essay then.

The real issue sounds like she’s not sure if she wants to commit to this college so early and do early decision. Which is fine. But don’t use band as an excuse. Also, if band is so time consuming, when does she do homework?

More accurately, until mid September, her first choice had a relatively easy application and she would almost certainly be accepted. Then, at my insistence, we toured W&M, and she felt it really fit her. Statistically, ED1 and ED2 at W&M do not really differ in admissions. She is ok with it. She has a bunch of EA apps due in Nov 1, which she will get done. More on Dec 1, and W & M might be the only Jan 1 deadline.

[Anonymous]

Strongly encouraging (ok, let's face it...forcing) my twins to at least get a rough draft of their main college essay done over the summer was the best decision I ever made. That being said, nearly all colleges have supplemental essay or mini-essay requirements and we are still working on those so I can still commiserate with you OP!! We are working on nearly all apps going in EA with just a few RD. Applied to a few safety/rolling decision schools over the summer also helped.

School grades during Q1 will be the most significant because Q1 grades will also be submitted to colleges and that in itself is stressful for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kids didn't work on their essays and apps during summer? Who waits until September Senior year?

Well, I tried my best to explain, encourage and remind her that August was a great time to get a very strong draft of at least the CA essay done (you might have seen my thread from July asking how far along people's kids were on college apps). She agreed yet produced very little. And is absolutely paying the price for it now. Plus many supplemental essays. Plus scholarship application. Plus homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Strongly encouraging (ok, let's face it...forcing) my twins to at least get a rough draft of their main college essay done over the summer was the best decision I ever made. That being said, nearly all colleges have supplemental essay or mini-essay requirements and we are still working on those so I can still commiserate with you OP!! We are working on nearly all apps going in EA with just a few RD. Applied to a few safety/rolling decision schools over the summer also helped.

School grades during Q1 will be the most significant because Q1 grades will also be submitted to colleges and that in itself is stressful for kids.

I'm glad your kids listened to you! Yes, even with that done there are so many supplemental essays. Thank you for your commiseration and best wishes to your twins. May they all keep their perspective that this will be done in January and they will be fine in the end.