Anonymous
Post 02/18/2026 15:42     Subject: Re:Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Kid enjoyed writing all the essays and discovering lesser known schools, especially SLACS, that would be a good fit for him. Otherwise, did not enjoy the process.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 13:10     Subject: Re:Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:Mine liked staying in a hotel and getting free breakfast. We rarely stay in hotels so it was a novelty. The rest of the process was just extra work.


ha! hotel breakfast was a highlight for my kid too.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 13:09     Subject: Re:Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some of the supplementals are more fun (e.g., those with a bunch of cute little open-ended questions, those with videos). A couple of colleges have pretty boring supplementals and we regret applying to those in retrospect.



Videos were hugely stressful and those cute non serious supplementals were an annoying time suck. I’m looking at you Elon asking kids for their playlist.

I like those because you can showcase your creativity and personality.

I don’t like the schools that ask why you choose your second major after asking why first major already (unless your two choices are very different).


but some kids find doing a video to be immensely stressful. not all kids are creative. if yours is, great, but that's not all kids. others may have talents in other areas.

Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 13:07     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What was it like for parents during the second kid's process or subsequent kids?


What do you mean what was it like? It's the same process, but with a different kid. My second kid didn't have much overlap in schools of interest, so had to do a lot over. wAnted different things, different academic interests etc. Needed more support than the first kid.

I kind of felt like I had to relearn things all over again. Things had changed some in the couple of years between. Plus I was surprised how much I forgot (blocked out?)



Forgetting happens even within weeks.
Kid: "This college is asking for X document"
Parent: WHAT college?
Kid: College 3, remember?
Parent: College 3, you applied there?
Kid: yeah, remember, you were right there when about to submit, then watching confetti fall?
Parent: No. Actually no do not remember that happening a month ago.
Funny how the brain works.


Well I was talking about the things I forgot between my two kids, but thank you, this is affirming! good to know it's not just my middle aged brain failing me.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 12:49     Subject: Re:Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some of the supplementals are more fun (e.g., those with a bunch of cute little open-ended questions, those with videos). A couple of colleges have pretty boring supplementals and we regret applying to those in retrospect.



Videos were hugely stressful and those cute non serious supplementals were an annoying time suck. I’m looking at you Elon asking kids for their playlist.

I like those because you can showcase your creativity and personality.

I don’t like the schools that ask why you choose your second major after asking why first major already (unless your two choices are very different).


No, that’s what poetry & interpretive dance are for.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 08:32     Subject: Re:Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some of the supplementals are more fun (e.g., those with a bunch of cute little open-ended questions, those with videos). A couple of colleges have pretty boring supplementals and we regret applying to those in retrospect.



Videos were hugely stressful and those cute non serious supplementals were an annoying time suck. I’m looking at you Elon asking kids for their playlist.

I like those because you can showcase your creativity and personality.

I don’t like the schools that ask why you choose your second major after asking why first major already (unless your two choices are very different).

Eh, not really.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 08:19     Subject: Re:Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some of the supplementals are more fun (e.g., those with a bunch of cute little open-ended questions, those with videos). A couple of colleges have pretty boring supplementals and we regret applying to those in retrospect.



Videos were hugely stressful and those cute non serious supplementals were an annoying time suck. I’m looking at you Elon asking kids for their playlist.

I like those because you can showcase your creativity and personality.

I don’t like the schools that ask why you choose your second major after asking why first major already (unless your two choices are very different).


I also like Georgetown’s first supplemental essay that asks you to elaborate on any special talents or skills you would like to highlight. We all have intangible talents/skills that are not listed formally on the resume, and those may be much more important in your life. Georgetown asks applicants to upload files for the other essays, but provides space to for them write this supplemental essay!
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 08:10     Subject: Re:Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Some of the supplementals are more fun (e.g., those with a bunch of cute little open-ended questions, those with videos). A couple of colleges have pretty boring supplementals and we regret applying to those in retrospect.



Videos were hugely stressful and those cute non serious supplementals were an annoying time suck. I’m looking at you Elon asking kids for their playlist.

I like those because you can showcase your creativity and personality.

I don’t like the schools that ask why you choose your second major after asking why first major already (unless your two choices are very different).
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 07:53     Subject: Re:Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:Some of the supplementals are more fun (e.g., those with a bunch of cute little open-ended questions, those with videos). A couple of colleges have pretty boring supplementals and we regret applying to those in retrospect.



Videos were hugely stressful and those cute non serious supplementals were an annoying time suck. I’m looking at you Elon asking kids for their playlist.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 07:47     Subject: Re:Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Mine liked staying in a hotel and getting free breakfast. We rarely stay in hotels so it was a novelty. The rest of the process was just extra work.
Anonymous
Post 02/15/2026 07:33     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Agony. I was incredibly anxious. Try to avoid that.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2026 23:24     Subject: Re:Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Some of the supplementals are more fun (e.g., those with a bunch of cute little open-ended questions, those with videos). A couple of colleges have pretty boring supplementals and we regret applying to those in retrospect.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2026 21:01     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Whole thing is a project. Details to attend to while not missing the big picture.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2026 07:52     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What was it like for parents during the second kid's process or subsequent kids?


What do you mean what was it like? It's the same process, but with a different kid. My second kid didn't have much overlap in schools of interest, so had to do a lot over. wAnted different things, different academic interests etc. Needed more support than the first kid.

I kind of felt like I had to relearn things all over again. Things had changed some in the couple of years between. Plus I was surprised how much I forgot (blocked out?)



Forgetting happens even within weeks.
Kid: "This college is asking for X document"
Parent: WHAT college?
Kid: College 3, remember?
Parent: College 3, you applied there?
Kid: yeah, remember, you were right there when about to submit, then watching confetti fall?
Parent: No. Actually no do not remember that happening a month ago.
Funny how the brain works.
Anonymous
Post 02/14/2026 00:12     Subject: Re:Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
No. The process was pretty miserable. We did get to walk through some empty campuses on our own which was sadly, the highlight (no tours or in-person admitted student days - pandemic).