Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 13:39     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I loved it ALL. Every minute. Helping kid research, searching CDS, finding "majors" that kid might want to research. Listening to podcast, making notes.

Every single minute.


Did you have binders? Notebooks? Or files with notes? A friend said she did that for her twins. Double fun she said. Not so sure if call that fun.


Spreadsheets!
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 13:38     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:I loved it ALL. Every minute. Helping kid research, searching CDS, finding "majors" that kid might want to research. Listening to podcast, making notes.

Every single minute.


Did you have binders? Notebooks? Or files with notes? A friend said she did that for her twins. Double fun she said. Not so sure if call that fun.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 13:22     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
We got lucky that DS’s school really makes the process simple and he got in ED1 to CMC, so life has been easy cruising since. I do have to tell him off about slacking now that he’s in college, though.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 13:21     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
I loved it ALL. Every minute. Helping kid research, searching CDS, finding "majors" that kid might want to research. Listening to podcast, making notes.

Every single minute.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 13:21     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:It was so much more miserable than I expected.



Ha! Same. I was absolutely floored when I saw the number of supplemental essays, short takes, etc. for the T1-25 schools- for the most part.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 12:41     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
The number of deferrals from target schools is so disheartening. These are schools where you are solidly in green check territory on the scattergrams, but these schools get more and more applications each year so the scattergrams aren’t predictive. Kids apply EA thinking they will get a decision earlier in the year, but many get deferrals to RD. It is crazy how many deferral to SEC schools my DC’s friends have received. Almost everyone is deferred. Then they ask for another supplement in the form of a LOCI. When does it end??
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 12:37     Subject: Re:Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Agree, it was awful. I think if your child gets in ED to their first choice then it is all ok. If not, it just sucks.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 12:34     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:The only positive was the college visits.
That’s all.


+1000
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 12:31     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
It was so much more miserable than I expected.

Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 12:29     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:No not at all. And neither did the parents. It’s not what we hoped or thought it would be like. The jumping through hoops to prove you are somehow more worthy or special to a university than others borders on the insane, the time it takes to write supplements, the agonizing on test or no tests, the fact that you are also dealing with teens who are striving to show their independence (a normal stage in their development) and they don’t want to be reminded or hounded or told what to do or share what they are doing. The whole applying to a good university that your kid should get into and probably won’t despite have great gpa and essays. It’s a horrible process.


This. It really created a lot of unnecessary stress and probably resentment between parents and child in the last few months we have them home. Wish we could focus on all the other things and enjoyed the time together.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 12:24     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
The only two positives my kid can identify were:

1) the feeling you get when accepted, especially with merit awards; and
2) the feeling of being done in early December when your ED is a yes, with merit.

The process itself was awful.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 12:19     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:DC1 (with ADHD) was traumatized.
DC2 (with mild ADHD) finished the process in ED. Way better experience!

DC1 had the possibility of getting in any school they wanted with their stats but procrastinated to the LAST MINUTE, only got in one tippy top school with super good luck, and it actually turned out to be a great fit. DC2 had less stellar stats but did better with the application, got in their ideal school in ED with no regrets. So glad it’s done!
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 12:18     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:The only positive was the college visits.
That’s all.


Same, the rest was awful.
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 12:08     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
DC1 (with ADHD) was traumatized.
DC2 (with mild ADHD) finished the process in ED. Way better experience!
Anonymous
Post 01/13/2026 12:08     Subject: Did your kid enjoy process of applying to colleges?
Anonymous wrote:Are college visits necessary before applying? Or wait to visit until accepted?


My kid did not visit any colleges before applying. But he graduated from HS in '22 and there were still plenty of pandemic restrictions. We started visiting after acceptances.