Child seems so tired of school & the admissions process...

[Anonymous]

When I was a kid, junior year was the killer year and senior year was almost like a year off. You could ease up on your schedule and enjoy that last year - senior trip, senior skip day, prom. We all had senior slump but who cared?

Now kids have a boatload of AP exams to prepare for senior year. Senior year is the culmination of rigor across the board in all academic subjects. Their minds drift.....Senioritis is for real.

[Anonymous]

My DC was like this. He was on several wait lists so also worked really hard senior spring to keep grades up to report to the WL schools (DC got straight As but it made no difference on the WL). DC didn't want to do any admitted student days and picked a school. The tide started to turn at college orientation (which was in July), but it really wasn't until school started that DC was truly excited. It took less than a week for DC to love the college he ended up choosing. Now he's close to graduation and it will be hard to pry him away. In the end I think focusing on making the most of the present is the best advice. Enjoy the last few months of high school, and take each stage of life as it comes.

[Anonymous]

Maybe it hasn't hit yet, but my HS junior who seems on track with heavy AP courseload, taking SAT, a few college visits etc. doesn't seem overwhelmed/stressed yet. Just sort of plugs away and has plenty of time for other interests/down time. Hoping to keep it that way for senior year, are there any who have BTDT advice for how to spend junior summer to ease the stress in senior year? His current plan is to work on his essays and narrow down schools and take subject SATs as needed--but that doesn't seem like it will take that much time. He's aiming for--and seems to be at the median in scores/grades for--top public in-state schools (e.g. UVA, William & Mary) . I'm not sure if he's fully reckoned on whether he'll be happy with being far above the median in another public VA school if he doesn't get into UVA/W&M or if he'll need to look elsewhere for safeties. Listening to you all, I'm worried that he's in the calm before the storm and wondering if we can help him batten down the hatches a bit more this summer so our last year with him home is one we can all really enjoy.

[Anonymous]

Re: Admitted days, we did pull the responsibility card. It was a good thing because it moved DC off from the disappointment and into thinking about where and what was really wanted for the next years. I did feel saddest for DC when asked if all this was just to go through hell another 4 years. But you know what, DC now believes she/he is the happiest of all the friends even in 1st choices (and it's a happy group). School has surpassed all expectations and is a great fit. All this to say that this tiredness too shall pass and with resiliency, it really does work out. So if your kid didn't get their "dream" I hope it is also life changing in a great way for yours.

[Anonymous]

How much touring did you do before applying and how good an understanding does he have of the schools he is deciding between? It makes a difference in terms of how hard to push.

Admitted student days can be overwhelming and teaming with high school kids so you may or may not get an accurate picture.

Once he narrows down his schools give him a choice: he can attend a student day or just visit the school again on a random weekend if that works better for his schedule OR do a different kind of in depth research - skype with someone he knows (maybe someone from his high school who attends the college) at the college; talk to some local alumns. His choice how to handle but should do a little more investigating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe it hasn't hit yet, but my HS junior who seems on track with heavy AP courseload, taking SAT, a few college visits etc. doesn't seem overwhelmed/stressed yet. Just sort of plugs away and has plenty of time for other interests/down time. Hoping to keep it that way for senior year, are there any who have BTDT advice for how to spend junior summer to ease the stress in senior year? His current plan is to work on his essays and narrow down schools and take subject SATs as needed--but that doesn't seem like it will take that much time. He's aiming for--and seems to be at the median in scores/grades for--top public in-state schools (e.g. UVA, William & Mary) . I'm not sure if he's fully reckoned on whether he'll be happy with being far above the median in another public VA school if he doesn't get into UVA/W&M or if he'll need to look elsewhere for safeties. Listening to you all, I'm worried that he's in the calm before the storm and wondering if we can help him batten down the hatches a bit more this summer so our last year with him home is one we can all really enjoy.

Sadly most juniors intern, work, or volunteer all summer buffing up their college resume

[Anonymous]

Is he deciding between schools he really likes or schools that he feels kind of meh about. If it is the latter, I get that he doesn't want to go, but it probably becomes even more important to take a hard look. I have known kids whose choices changed pretty dramatically once on campus as an accepted student.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Raise your hand if your senior is tired & stressed...

My junior sure is and it sucks. I almost wish all colleges demanded a gap year or community college. All you hear is that the kids are depressed, anxious, struggle on their own, have no common sense, adult critical thinking skills etc... once they start college - compared to years before. Everyone is so caught up in gpa, test scores, and the perfect blend of EC’s that they are forgetting to raise these kids to be happy independent adults. It is lost.

AGREE!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I was a kid, junior year was the killer year and senior year was almost like a year off. You could ease up on your schedule and enjoy that last year - senior trip, senior skip day, prom. We all had senior slump but who cared?

Now kids have a boatload of AP exams to prepare for senior year. Senior year is the culmination of rigor across the board in all academic subjects. Their minds drift.....Senioritis is for real.

But if your new college doesn't accept your AP, then most seniors don't bother even taking the test - or at least study too hard for it.

AP's are such a money making scam

[Anonymous]

My senior year was the only time in my life that I hated school. I was so tired. I had multiple ulcers from stress, and decided to not go straight to college, although I was at the top of my class. I had to take a break. That was in 1990. I've never regretted taking a break. I've really enjoyed where my life has gone, and realized that everyone doesn't have to follow the same prescription in life.

[Anonymous]

gap year if you can afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Raise your hand if your senior is tired & stressed...

My junior sure is and it sucks. I almost wish all colleges demanded a gap year or community college. All you hear is that the kids are depressed, anxious, struggle on their own, have no common sense, adult critical thinking skills etc... once they start college - compared to years before. Everyone is so caught up in gpa, test scores, and the perfect blend of EC’s that they are forgetting to raise these kids to be happy independent adults. It is lost.

AGREE!!!

I agree somewhat. But at lot of these pressures are filtering down from the college level because admissions compares students at schools and puts a high value on "taking the most strenuous schedule available" or "highest level of classes" or wording to that effect. I've heard it first hand at information sessions. They really need to limit APs if they want students arriving as better developed people and less burned out. A recent study (I know, I know) showed about 5 AP classes are great to show ability to perform at the college level but beyond that, no big difference in college ability or drop-out rates. Makes sense to me. Limit APs and let the kids have their high school years back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My senior year was the only time in my life that I hated school. I was so tired. I had multiple ulcers from stress, and decided to not go straight to college, although I was at the top of my class. I had to take a break. That was in 1990. I've never regretted taking a break. I've really enjoyed where my life has gone, and realized that everyone doesn't have to follow the same prescription in life.

Good for you. It is hard to not follow the school of fish. It takes a lot of grit and determination to follow your heart instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Raise your hand if your senior is tired & stressed...

My junior sure is and it sucks. I almost wish all colleges demanded a gap year or community college. All you hear is that the kids are depressed, anxious, struggle on their own, have no common sense, adult critical thinking skills etc... once they start college - compared to years before. Everyone is so caught up in gpa, test scores, and the perfect blend of EC’s that they are forgetting to raise these kids to be happy independent adults. It is lost.

AGREE!!!

I agree somewhat. But at lot of these pressures are filtering down from the college level because admissions compares students at schools and puts a high value on "taking the most strenuous schedule available" or "highest level of classes" or wording to that effect. I've heard it first hand at information sessions. They really need to limit APs if they want students arriving as better developed people and less burned out. A recent study (I know, I know) showed about 5 AP classes are great to show ability to perform at the college level but beyond that, no big difference in college ability or drop-out rates. Makes sense to me. Limit APs and let the kids have their high school years back.

But that is for the tippy top schools.

We are in private and thankfully they limit AP's to not start until Junior year and only 2 then and max 3 in senior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was a kid, junior year was the killer year and senior year was almost like a year off. You could ease up on your schedule and enjoy that last year - senior trip, senior skip day, prom. We all had senior slump but who cared?

Now kids have a boatload of AP exams to prepare for senior year. Senior year is the culmination of rigor across the board in all academic subjects. Their minds drift.....Senioritis is for real.

But if your new college doesn't accept your AP, then most seniors don't bother even taking the test - or at least study too hard for it.

AP's are such a money making scam

You've gone a semester or an entire year in a class. Might as well take the AP exam...