<p>Ricegal -</p>
<p>All of the transcripts and rec were requested from the high school in November, including a couple safeties But the list is still changing !!! Now she doesn't want to apply to the safeties, because she's running out of time !!!</p>
<p>Today's the day - I just woke her up and told he everything has to be laid out on the kitchen table. So far, I haven't gotten angry or yelled, but I am about at that point. </p>
<p>Good luck to all of you !!!!</p>
<p>The Common App (for the last two schools) is in progress in the next room as I write this. My S has been doing applications since late August, and he's only applying to six places! Like other parents on this thread, I finish things on deadline, too. We'll get through this somehow, and--like childbirth--it will be just a faint memory someday.</p>
<p>Thank you all for responding. I'm very happy we're not the only family in this mess. As for the advice to start with the safeties, he did just the opposite, and I find myself nagging about getting the safety schools in because he is shooting VERY high. I was having panic attacks about him being one of those kids who doesn't get into any of the schools he applied to and had to go the "late admission" route. Also, the way our school operates, you can't throw a couple of extra safeties in at the last minute. For 1/1 deadlines, they insist that kids get their "packages" - transcript cards, etc., - for the schools they intend to apply to in to the g/c by 12/2 so they can guarantee delivery by 1/1. So we're stuck with the schools we chose back in early December. For my son, the essays are the killer. He's quite good in math and science, but even homework essays (anything longer than a paragraph) torture him. I wish there were good schools that don't require essays. One good thing our school does is during the last month of school in Junior year, the English/composition classes have their kids practice writing college essays. We actually got 2 usable essays for the common application out of it. Unfortunately, that doesn't help with the supplemental "why do you want to go to our school" essays.</p>
<p>List of schools that have deadlines 1/15 or later. They are good safety schools.</p>
<p>hallomar:
What about the following strategy (my daughter is trying it now). Start with doing one safety that requires essentially nothing for admission (she chose our state school but could pick any of the letters offering to wave essay, application fee and give answer in a week). Application took 20 minutes. Maybe it is not a real safety because my daughter is not really ready to go there. But we discussed the issue, it's her choice. Now she is free to go for the reaches. If she has time she can apply to a better safety (common app + a short supplement) or to add an even simpler supplement and an essay (identical to the prompt in the supplement of one of her reaches) to her current safety to qualify for honors college. Either doable in couple hours. </p>
<p>Now a question to everyone: OK, we all heard stories about the kids who didn't get to any school even though they applied to all or most schools on their initial list. Does anyone have a story about kids not applying to all or most schools on their list because they missed Jan 1 deadline? What happened? </p>
<p>And what to do in such a situation? To send whatever is ready to all schools on your list between 10 PM and midnight on Jan 1 with two-line answers to the remaining questions? Or to send all the remaining applications late? To make a new list of schools with later deadlines and focus on them (new recs, transcripts, contacts, interviews, supplements) or to try to improve your chances in schools you applied to even if you only applied to a few reaches? If there is still a chance for a campus visit or an interview?</p>
<p>Hallomar,
A friend's son was invited to apply to MIT, but he stalled with the essays. He did apply to GA Tech, without need for recoms and the essays. He was a happy camper, lots of privileges, good job afterwards, etc.</p>
<p>Looking at the list of schools with jan. 15 deadlines is tempting, but S is actually on his LAST application (YIPPEE!!!!), and one of the ones he finished today is his REAL safety. I don't think I have the stomach to dredge up new colleges, and I don't think he has anything left in him to plow through another couple of applications. We've told him that on New Year's Eve, we're going to break a bottle of champagne over his head (just joking - don't call DYFS). Good luck to all of you with procrastinators.</p>
<p>Well, my d has (finallly) submitted 3 apps. I think she still has 3 - 4 more to go, and she did apply to 2 true safeties. Hopefully tomorrow 2 more apps will be done !!!! This is agonizing. </p>
<p>citymom : I have been telling my d the joke about the guy who asks G-d - Why didn't I ever win the lottery ? I prayed for it every night....And G-d says - You never bought the ticket. </p>
<p>The point being that I am frustrated with all the well-meaning and reassuring adults, who blithely tell my child - "Don't worry - There's a college for everyone. You'll go somewhere next Fall." My comment is - Not if you don't actually submit the application !!! Even a safety requires some effort !</p>
<p>my D hit submit on her last app on Thursday. She finally got around to recording her music CD for arts supplemental on Wednesday and those are going off in today's mail. (and although she left it to the last minute, the CD turned out beautifully) SHE has been incredibly relaxed about the whole process, I'm the one grinding my teeth -- and gearing up for PROFILE and FAFSA.</p>
<p>If it makes you feel any better, I'm working with a girl over break who had done nearly nothing on her applications--and she's another very high achiever with multiple, deep interests and accomplishments. Three weeks ago we filled out all the applications and got her materials into her school. Now, I'm on my second day of sitting with her for three-four hours at a time and mentoring her to produce. Her parents have had to back out; I was hired to come in and make this happen, reducing the pressure on the family. She got her common app essay done yesterday and four applications out. Two more today, the last tomorrow! (Then we work together to complete all her back work at school.)</p>
<p>It's hell for families and kids!</p>
<p>so, how much of her OWN applications does she actually do?</p>
<p>Guess if you have a cushion, you don't have to do the work yourself</p>
<p>I was wondering the same thing "very high achiever" need "hired help" for college applications? Unless parents are first generation immigrants or don't speak english, or she spends all her time studying for the 'high achieve'.</p>
<p>"If it makes you feel any better"</p>
<p>Guess it doesn't!</p>
<p>Actually I am somewhat stunned by the outburst of replies to 2incollege. There was a recent topic about parents helping their kids. And nobody seemed upset about PROFESSIONAL editor editing her son's essay (I felt it was strange, by the way). Now the difference is not necessarily in the amount of help (maybe these were couple meetings earlier and two or three sessions now, which is not more than the amount of time invested by average parents eager to edit essays and type info into the forms). I simply see a family issue when parents cannot communicate with their child productively (or are not educated enough to edit the essays).</p>
<p>^Actually, the same people that got upset over that thread are getting upsetting here.
What I think is that eventually people will not post the truth or somewhat close to the truth. If anyone don't want to be lectured, don't post the truth. Only PC correct statements are welcome. Boring to read the same old same old.</p>
<p>It's the 29th and still waiting on my son. Finished 2 apps, but hasn't hit "submit" yet. Has 2 more due on Jan 1st. Then, one due on the 7th and one on the 10th. I'm going to suggest that he submit the first 2 today just to relieve my anxiety!</p>
<p>I like that plan, ricegal. It will feel really good for him to get the joy of clicking that "submit" button and knowing those are totally finished. My son should have one, possibly two, submitted later today. I don't want him counting on the Common App site working at all on the 1st. He would like to get done by tomorrow and then just relax and enjoy the rest of his quickly passing break.</p>
<p>This thread is a nice companion to the Writer's Block one over in the College Esays section...</p>
<p>Ricegal:</p>
<p>This is what I REALLY want to discuss now! I am trying to stick to the computer before interfering big time.
It is 29th and still waiting on my daughter. NOT A SINGLE app is submitted. Has 10 or so due Jan 1. Saw 2 essays (excellent), know that one more exists but not as a final version. Saw 10 or so versions of Resume near the printer, concluded that it also exists. Heard groans about common app lines, concluded this is in the works. Waiting till 6 PM to demand to put EVERYTHING on the table. Desperately need support from parents of REAL procrastinators (those who submit all apps three days before the deadline are not)</p>
<p>DD has been working non-stop this week. Today is the first day that she does not have to work since school is out. DD finished all her essays on her last application. Today she is going to spend sometime cleaning up other essays. She plans to submit either today or tomorrow because she has a party to go on the 31st( good motivation). The best part is her essay writing is getting much better as she has accumulated more experience writing essays by now. But this is a super reachy school, the essay is only one part of the equation. So the real question is did she screw up on the rest of her match/slight reach/safety applications. She'll find out in April.</p>
<p>Citymom, lots of sympathy coming your way! Kudos to her for getting her safety done first. It sounds like she is feeling the pressure and working hard.</p>