It’s not just my kid. DH looked at me the other night and said “maybe DD should take a gap year.” To be clear this kid is high stats and, until about a month ago, loved school. But the whole application process makes college seem like such a poor match for her. She is just a high-stats kid who wants to study math, travel, attend a few games, and explore different areas she might want to pursue in more depth. Colleges seem to want her to already have done all those things before she applies.

My kid is pretty much done with their apps. Just a few edits on the personal essay which they will finish this week. They know they are almost there.

And they have run out of steam. They still have to bring up their grades in one class (getting a C) and is involved in an activity that they spend about 2 to 4 hours almost everyday. And they work.

I told DC that after Christmas, things will go by very quickly. But, they are so done with HS and ready to move on.

Anonymous wrote:You guys need to help your kids out! Fall sports plus school plus 10+ early apps? Too much for 17 yo.

We helped. Helping isn’t a “handout”. Come on.
Both are thriving at T20.

Helped how, specifically? I’m happy to be a proofreader and offer suggestions m, but that’s the extent of it. Of course, my kid isn’t doing 10+ early apps. Maybe instead of helping them with all those apps, you should steer them towards a more manageable load in the first place.

You guys need to help your kids out! Fall sports plus school plus 10+ early apps? Too much for 17 yo.

We helped. Helping isn’t a “handout”. Come on.
Both are thriving at T20.

DD woke me up sobbing during the night last night. Too much stress even though half her applications are in. She had been a straight A student until this quarter where she is taking ridiculously hard classes. It will help when fall sports are over too. I hate that she is wishing away her senior year, but she is.

Yes—kid is v busy but also avoiding working on apps, I think because of anxiety. And he’s not an anxious kid at all—it’s just this. Going to make him stay home and crank them out this weekend.

Anonymous wrote:"Why School" by DC

Dear school,

I want to attend you because of the 10 cool reasons my mom found for me.

I promise when I get there, I will actually participate in these cool things. Even though I could not find an hour in my busy schedule to look them up for myself.

Sincerely,

DC

Story time!

When I was a kid we used a typewriter directly on the application.
I wrote a 3-line supplemental "essay" like this. My first sentence fit the first line exactly, so I made the next 2 lines match. It was essentially the essay above. It included the word "mother".

It was a safety/target school I didn't really like, and I had already been accepted to a more selective school EA, and later got scholarship offers to similar/less selective schools.

So it was a mutual success.

Anonymous wrote:This is why my high stats kid chose all middle of the road schools for STEM. Didn’t want to feel the pressure during the application process or in college. This is more advice for those applying in the future. It’s not worth the insanity to likely end up disappointed and feeling devalued. Most will turn out just fine no matter where they end up.

Even my kid’s safeties and in-state publics have supplementals. This isn’t a matter of pursuing “insanity.”

Mine has a nice list of safeties, targets and a few reaches, but each has multiple essays. They’re also not a stem major, so maybe their applications require more writing.

For my next child, I will recommend schools with none.

Yes we’re in the same boat….although my kid got a 1250. Once 11/1 passes it will be great. I’m looking forward to her “stress free” last 6 months at home.

It’s tough. Mine (mid-stats) is struggling to motivate for the supplementals. Gotta find a way to push through. Hang in there and good luck!

This is why my high stats kid chose all middle of the road schools for STEM. Didn’t want to feel the pressure during the application process or in college. This is more advice for those applying in the future. It’s not worth the insanity to likely end up disappointed and feeling devalued. Most will turn out just fine no matter where they end up.

Anonymous wrote:"Why School" by DC

Dear school,

I want to attend you because of the 10 cool reasons my mom found for me.

I promise when I get there, I will actually participate in these cool things. Even though I could not find an hour in my busy schedule to look them up for myself.

Sincerely,

DC

Sounds like the tour guides we had a two different schools, who essentially said they chose it because their moms told them to. These were two of the more competitive, high stats-type schools. The tour guides at the less selective schools had way more genuine enthusiasm for why they chose it. Just an observation.

Anonymous wrote:"Why School" by DC

Dear school,

I want to attend you because of the 10 cool reasons my mom found for me.

I promise when I get there, I will actually participate in these cool things. Even though I could not find an hour in my busy schedule to look them up for myself.

Sincerely,

DC

Exactly. Pathetic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Why School" by DC

Dear school,

I want to attend you because of the 10 cool reasons my mom found for me.

I promise when I get there, I will actually participate in these cool things. Even though I could not find an hour in my busy schedule to look them up for myself.

Sincerely,

DC

Helpful.

I honestly would let this kid in. Only honest essay out there.

Anonymous wrote:He’s struggling with the supplemental essays for 11/1 deadlines. Thank goodness we have a 4-day weekend coming up, he may not apply to some on his list if he can’t pull it together. Fall sports has really swallowed up his time. Is anyone else in the same boat. It’s hard watching him and he refuses to let me give him any tips or guidance

How many apps is he trying to submit by 11/1?