Applications are due Jan 1 and DC is still procrastinating

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD was accepted early to what I thought was her safety school (Alabama). But the accepted kids communicate (via fb maybe) and DD really likes the girls she messaging with. The group is excited about 'Bama, picking suitemates and discussing sororities. I think she may forego finishing up her apps as planned. I'm disappointed because I think there are other schools that she could get into that are better fits for her. But it's her life at this point. Roll Tide!

There is a broader potential lesson in this for future applicants. If your child going into the process believes X school is a safety and not where he/she wants to go, think twice before applying early to that school. We didn't have to content with the power of Facebook/psychological bonding with future classmates in the fall when we were applying to colleges. I can see there are different strategic choices to make as to whether to apply early to a first choice school harder to get into a or middle of the pack school of interest to the child (I'm assuming here that the student is not applying anywhere binding ED or this discussion just doesn't apply), but I can see there are risks for some kids these days in applying successfully to the safeties (or even the middle of the pack schools) before the really desired schools. Not true for all kids -- we know some children who applied safety first and never waivered in their view of their schools as safeties -- so it depends on the student and schools involved.

I don't see the problem in the girl falling in love with the school that had been her safety. If she really feels attached to the place, thats what you want, right? As for not applying early to safeties, for some kids the psychological boost of having an acceptance early on is really important. Don't try to game the system. Students should apply where they want to apply, and make sure they have a feasible backup plan. All the other stuff (rankings, "competitiveness") is just noise.

[Anonymous]

You explain to your child that if he doesn't get into college that the week after he graduates, he will be hoofing around town to find a job and will be expected to find a job, even if it is flipping burgers at McDonald's and pay rent to you and either contribute money to the grocery bill or buy his own food until he either makes enough money to move out or gets into college next year. If he makes money, he can consider enrolling for a class or two at the local community college to apply those credits and grades towards his application for college next year.

I know someone who did this to their child (about 15 years ago) and the kid missed the deadlines and didn't go to college. He worked a year washing dishes in a cheap restaurant with long and late hours and HATED it. In the Spring, he enrolled in community college and took a couple of courses and did well. He used those courses to figure out what he wanted to major in. He applied for early admission the next year and he got into his first choice college the next year. His parents gave him his "room & board" money back as an allowance during his college years so he had spending money through college. He's very successful now. It was a very good cure for laziness and apathy and his parents did not have to helicopter in and force him to do his applications. He's learned his lesson and he doesn't procrastinate much anymore.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

LOL...I had just read this thread and switched to FB and found a link to this article.

Hopefully knowing that your child's thesis is probably going to be better than all of these will cheer you up!

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/12/31/lolmythesis_tumblr_college_students_summarize_their_thesis_in_one_sentence.html

[Anonymous]

Not OP but my DCs apps are officially done! Now for the waiting....

[Anonymous]

Congrats! My DCs done for 1/1 deadline, but have 4 more in Jan

[Anonymous]

Well done!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP~ we are all invested now in the outcome. On Jan 2 you have to post and let us know if it all got done!

It all got done. Frankly I don't think the main essay was that good, but it's done! What a huge relief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Congrats! My DCs done for 1/1 deadline, but have 4 more in Jan

Are the 4 due in jan on the common ap? Why not just send them now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congrats! My DCs done for 1/1 deadline, but have 4 more in Jan

Are the 4 due in jan on the common ap? Why not just send them now?

Probably require supplemental essays. All off my DCs apps required 1-2 additional essays with surprisingly little overlap between them all. It was A LOT of essay writing.

[Anonymous]

Yep, DDs last 3 apps require 4 different short essays each. I don't know how they'll get done but I'm not asking about them again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because kids are less prejudiced and see the bigger picture.

All is see is humidity. Not that life is a dream here in D.C. during the summer, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Congrats! My DCs done for 1/1 deadline, but have 4 more in Jan

Are the 4 due in jan on the common ap? Why not just send them now?

Yeah, this whole idea tnat the common app takes care of everything is a myth.

[Anonymous]

That the Common App makes applying to college easier is a myth.

[Anonymous]

A distortion but not a myth. Supplemental essays are lot easier than a hodgepodge of separate applications.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A distortion but not a myth. Supplemental essays are lot easier than a hodgepodge of separate applications.

Disagree. My DC applied to Georgetown which is not on the common app. The G'town main application took 10-15 minutes. Supplemental essays on all the apps took about a day each with the creating, writing and editing process.