<p>I am interested in what other parents wish they'd have known when their child was going through the college search/selection and application process. By the very fact that you are on this forum, you are parents who have taken an active role in your child's college pursuits. If you have one or more kids already in college, What did you learn from this process?? What would have made your life less stressful during this time? If you have other kids coming up through the ranks, what will you do differently? What experiences were the most important learning experience?? If you are just going through this the first time, what information/knowledge do you feel will help you the most?</p>
<p>See the thread on "If I could give 3 pieces of advice..."</p>
<p>Last yr several parents said that everything would work out for the best. I tried to believe it. They were right. We took our son out to dinner after his first Jazz band performance. He told us "he couldn't imagine being anyplace else his school is the best place to be", he is very happy. He is also working very hard and learning lots.</p>
<p>I ditto what lamom said. It all works out one way or another. DS had 7 applications and all were in the number 1 spot (except for the safety) at one point or another in the application process. To this day, I'm not sure why he picked the school he picked...BUT he LOVES it there, and is learning quite a bit. He has a great group of friends, lots of interesting things to do, wonderful teachers. I only hope it works out as well for dd!!</p>
<p>I didn't discover this forum until S had applied. However, I now find myself talking to a nephew about his EA choice, his essay topic. I explained difference between ED and EA to his parents. Strongly encouraged him to explore more schools (after hearing topic and scores). Gained a real appreciation for the process and the variety of colleges appropriate for different students.</p>
<p>Armed with today's knowledge, the one thing I might have done differently was have D apply to a decent safety school with rolling admissions in order to bag an acceptance letter early in the process. The most stressful thing for D was the long depressing stretch from the EA rejection in mid-December to the many acceptances in April. Having been mightily stung once, she convinced herself she was going to get rejected everywhere. Having an acceptance in hand would have helped dispel that.</p>
<p>I would have placed self-addressed stamped postal cards in EACH and EVERY thing that was sent to the colleges. I put them in some of the applications recommendations and envelopes, but thought that I didn't need to for some of the teachers sending things. Ha! It took several months (past deadlines) for some of the teachers to resend recommendations that they said they had sent, but that never showed up. I would have known much earlier, and daughter would have been able to get those forms sent.</p>
<p>Well since I learn something new seemingly every day, I'll just use today's mindbender of a realization. In the 9th grade I should have started charting D's courseload and potential SATII testing dates . D is a junior and already, by a combination of our poor prior planning and her actual choice of subjects, she has been hampered in taking the SATIIs in her 2 chosen major fields. We'll figure it out (probably a lot of difficult self-study and humble prayer), but darn, I wish someone at D's school would have said something.</p>
<p>On another thread Carolyn wrote that her daughter said-- "Mom, I have the whole college thing totally under control. Don't worry about it!" I have learned to be leery of that.</p>