only three down... sigh...

<p>Six down.... two to go. To get this done I had to ground him the last weekend in October. I haven't bothered him since then, but I also know that he's made no progress towards writing essays for his other two schools. He's always complaining that he's far ahead of all his friends. The problem is, once these applications are done he has to start on scholarship apps. Most of his friends are very well off and would not even consider such a thing.</p>

<p>Two down, four to go (but 3 are to the UCs, which is a common application, so it's really like 2 down and 2 to go). I had to sit down last Sunday and write out a to-do list for D, with dates attached that stretches into December. But D was grateful because I think she was just overwhelmed with the details. She looked at the list, paled a little and then sighed with relief. Every application has at least 6 pieces (between the letters of rec, the essays, the money, the application, the test scores, the transcript, etc...) and every school wants it done a little differently and at a different time. This is my second time around and even I was feeling overwhelmed. It really makes me feel for those kids who don't have help organizing the process or for those parents who want to help but don't know how to or where to go. I mean, some people just are not as computer/Internet savvy as others or they don't have the time or foresight or whatever. </p>

<p>I've said it on CC before, but I think applying to college should be as easy as joining the military. A kid should be able to walk into a recruitment office and have someone help them get signed up, or in this case, apply.</p>

<p>At this time last year, my son had done his two EA applications and what was virtually an EA application to RPI. He got an acceptence from the latter right before Thanksgiving. They all went in hours before due. I kind of scheduled nagging time - to not more than once a week or so.</p>

<p>Haha mathmom</p>

<p>I love the scheduled nagging time. I was pretty bad for a short (few weeks) time period. It made me feel nuts when he wasn't working on apps. I was the crazy one.</p>

<p>S2 has had all six of his apps done for about three weeks, he actually had two of them in mid-Sept. He is accepted to three schools so far, time will tell for the rest of them. He doesn't worry about the others because is he happy with his current acceptances. I think he learned last year from S1 who painfully drug the application process out all fall. We still have more sons to get through this, lets just hope they learn from watching the older ones.</p>

<p>bethievt</p>

<p>Absolutely love the "cone of silence" reference....I guess I am in it now since S only talks to his mom about his med school application process. I called him today to see if had worked out an interview conflict (got an interview request on a day he was traveling to another) and when I suggested what to say to the admissions folks I was reminded that he learned to speak many years ago and that by early middle school had refined his telephone skills......how's that for a "please leave me alone dad?"........oh well....</p>

<p>At this time two years ago, my S had only one EA app complete, and he had just returned from his final overnight visits and on-campus interviews at a couple of campuses. He didn’t have a clue about the work ahead of him. He just kept plugging away. He made it. Usually at the last moments. I didn’t know he was behind, so I didn’t know to nag him. </p>

<p>For perspective, I’m reminded of how my H spent his senior Thanksgiving break many years ago. He was moving his Mom and his disabled brother into an apartment because his family was being evicted from their home after his father left them to fend for themselves. Later his father died of a heart attack. No college apps for H, he had a family to support. </p>

<p>By comparison, our S spending the Thanksgiving break completing college apps was a joyous occasion. There is time.</p>

<p>Good perspective, 3ks. When I was complaining about something recently my hubby said I should go to a funeral and get some perspective on my life.</p>

<p>eadad</p>

<p>That what my son called the quiet time waiting for the acceptances to roll in. It seemed absolutely endless to me. I should have been going to more funerals, I guess!</p>

<p>After nagging my way through the college app process with two highly motivated DDs, I was not looking forward to the process with baby of the family laid back S. Happily, he announced early in the school year that he wanted to apply to an ED school. While I think the school is a great match, this school was opposite of what he had been talking about for the last year so I was not encouraging him to apply early. I decided to stay out of it and figured he would never get the application done by Nov 1. Well, he did get it done on his own without any fights or nagging. Of course, he has not completed any other applications...</p>

<p>slow progress here...D pressed "submit" on her first app last night. Five more to go. Another one going out today, then concentrating on polishing the remaining essays. I swear the child has absolutely no sense of the clock ticking, she keeps telling me everything's under control, stop fretting mom..there's plenty of time... I think a teenager's sense of time is VERY different than our awareness of how quickly it slips by. She also needs to record a CD as an arts supplement, hasn't even chosen the repertoire or booked the accompanist....</p>

<p>I feel fortunate that her school has a college counselor that keeps on top of the kids, weekly apointments, checklists, interim deadlines, and regular update emails to parents...</p>

<p>OrchestraMom, I think many teenagers live much more in the moment that adults to, which overall is sometimes a good thing in terms of actually experiencing life in lieu of scheduling life and then reading the schedule. However, in terms of project management, aiyeeee! It's not just a seeming indifference to the clock ticking but not recognizing that things can go wrong. "What do you mean the accompanist isn't available...I asked two days in advance?!"</p>