<p>I wonder if anyone out there is in our situation, wherein S is so sick of filling out forms and writing essays that he cannot bring himself to apply for extraneous merit scholarships. Did prod him into doing one for a state-sponsored scholarship, and he's done a couple of college-sponsored ones, but he seems so weary that it now hardly seems worth it. I know there are a lot of kids out there still moved to do all kinds of apps, but it's not happening here!</p>
<p>I know exactly how he feels. I have had like hardly any homework to do for the past few weeks plenty of time to fill out these scholarships I have been looking at but I am so burned out from the ones I have done, I cant bring myself to type another essay.</p>
<p>I hear you,too. My D is so overwhelmed with homework from all her AP classes. She's fighting a cold and trying to make it to track practice. She's already been accepted to her ED school. Now, she's been nominated for the Presidential Scholarship that has six essays. I don't have the heart to push her to do all the others in our pile. She's trying to work on them but sometimes it feels physically impossible!</p>
<p>We are in the same boat. I hope she gets a surge of energy/inspiration, but I sympathize with her situation. I have to admit I look at the applications and the topics and go "yuck!" myself.</p>
<p>Burlmom, I know exactly what you mean. The number of hours of sleep S gets is sometimes ridiculous, and his involvement in all the EC's, TWO plays going on at the same time, church stuff, homework, end of term projects, papers, etc, all compounded by the fact that he really hates to talk about himself or recount list of stuff he's done, have made it too much. I am suggesting no more, and think it will have been enough. What will be will be. Your daughter will be in my thoughts for good health! Illness does tend to make it seem impossible.</p>
<p>Money is a great motivator. We are not eligible for need-based aid, but S has gotten over $20,000 from 6 scholarships, most of which just meant recycling an essay. We'd have to earn almost $40,000 to clear that much after taxes.</p>
<p>Same story here; I've been helping S with the applications (especially the online ones) and suggesting ways to recycle essays. We both are hating the idea of asking his poor teachers for more recommendations, even though they are mostly recycling their letters, too. In fact, we decided not to have S apply to a particular scholarship in our state because the teachers' recommendation letters would have to be completely redone in order to touch on four distinct criteria about S. We thought that was asking too much of the teachers at this point.</p>
<p>Kids get tired. That's reality. As a result of being burned out, they may have to take out loans or go to a more affordable college. Their energy level now may help them decide that colleges are looking wonderful that that are more afforable than are their dream schools.</p>
<p>Money may be a great motivator, but it's not their money. They know college is paid for. We offered to give them half of whatever they won and that helped with some, but others were way too burned out. Last semester of senior year after applications are done and with all the senior activities going on is a lousy time to be asking them to fill out yet more forms.</p>
<p>I also feel that asking yet more techers for recommendations is probably what puts us off the most.</p>
<p>It is tiresome. I don't know if this is helpful but when my son dug his heels in and decided to write several essays and ask for teacher recommendations the day before a package had to be mailed (Really ... he planned to do this), I asked his guidance counselor to step in and give him a push. Then I asked a scout leader. And I asked his mentor. They all spoke to him and encouraged him, at least. The guidance counselor gave him deadlines and demands. It helped TREMENDOUSLY along with a very very patient teacher who stayed late to write a letter of recommendation for him.</p>
<p>I just can't stand the idea of going to my teachers for more letters.</p>
<p>That's what they're there for, Lindsay, to support and help you. Ask them! Come back and tell us what happened.</p>
<p>All my kids' teachers save the rec letters in a network file at the school. Yes, occasionally something needs to be added, but it isn't as much work as doing them the first time. I'm in nearly the same position as Nedad. Two kids got a total of $32,000 this way....with my federal and state taxes, I'd have to earn nearly twice that to clear $32Gs. Kids thought it was well worth it!</p>
<p>I don't doubt for a minute that my S's teachers would write more letters, or get theirs from past files, revising when necessary. The real problem is with his energy level. And there is so little time just now, when so many things need attention. I would say that if a student does have the energy to do the apps, surely he/she should see if the teachers will write letters.</p>
<p>And many congrats to those of you whose kids have been so diligent!</p>
<p>No reason to avoid asking teachers again.</p>
<p>Most teachers keep copies of the letters that they wrote. All they need to do is to print them out. Most letters are "To Whom it May Concern." I have been on scholarship committees. We don't give students' points for having the name of the scholarship program on the teacher's letter. We knew that teachers in private schools and affluent school districts had the workloads to allow them to do this.</p>
<p>We were interested in the content of the letter, and a well written recommendation letter can be used for a variety of scholarships and colleges.</p>
<p>"We don't give students' points for having the name of the scholarship program on the teacher's letter. We knew that teachers in private schools and affluent school districts had the workloads to allow them to do this."</p>
<p>Thanks NSM, I was worried about this aspect of it. In the future will tell S to just have the print it out generically and not worry about a proper salutation or personalization. Still, I won't have him ask a teacher to completely redo a rec just to meet the criteria of a new scholarship.</p>
<p>We're burned out here, too. My son seems tired all of the time lately. It has been difficut to tackle the scholarship essays after the applications were finally done. And many times it is the very kids whose schedules are full with AP classes, jobs and ECs that need to do this additional work. There has to be a better way!</p>
<p>I also feel bad imposing on the same teachers again and again. Maybe they deserve a little gift in addition to a thank you note?</p>
<p>My D hit a slump in December fighting the admissions apps deadlines, then when we thought it was over with her guidance counselor recommended her for several corporate scholarships. This may not work for everyone, but here are some things we did: Unless specifically forbidden by the rules I filled in the factual part (name, SSN, scores, honors, awards, activities) of the applications and let her focus on the essays. After the admissions and school scholarship process in the Fall, she had several essays, and she could usually find one to adapt for a specific scholarship program. Some (e.g., Papa John) require the students to fill out the entire applications, so I couldn't help out on those.</p>
<p>That I am. I suppose if we were fabulously upper-middle class and had just enough in the bank to not get Fin. Aid. but not be able to comfortably afford $40k a year, then I would keep it going. However, because I've been accepted to a school I absolutely love (which happens to guarantee 100% of need met), I'm perfectly ready to accept the handful of loans I could be graduating with. At the very least, I have this.</p>
<p>I'm not completely giving up. I'm filling out all of the scholarships for which I'm eligible that the counselors announce, especially if a student from my school or county is guaranteed to win. I'm not going to exhaust myself doing scholarship applications that only have one or two winners from the entire country-- life is too busy and fun at the moment. My school also has a bit of scholarships that don't require application-- the teachers choose privately.</p>
<p>momofthree - </p>
<p>I can vouch about being burned out. In my case it isn't about scholarships, but I think in reference to your post, it still applies. I recently got offers for honors programs at 2 of the schools where I've been accepted. I was really excited...until I saw they required additional essays. I cringed at the thought of having to go through that all over again. The topics weren't ANYTHING related to what I've already written, so there was no chance for "recycling". I did post elsewhere for advice and was motivated by the replies to atleast try...so I did ONE. Honestly, I think it was definitely not my best work.</p>