Any newbie parents reading to get tips on next year - really look hard at the requirements and due dates for schools on your list.
^this!
I underestimated the difficulty of 5 EA apps and 5 RD apps (plus a couple honors apps) for DS20. He has managed his heavy course load and time consuming sport and even testing (though he didn’t do much prep) last year and this year with relative ease and zero parental involvement much less nagging. But these essays for the applications and the related parts of applying have been really hard! I have never gotten involved or monitored his grades and such but I felt I had to step in to “remind” him of the deadlines. At times it has been very stressful because of his procrastination. I think what happened is that he usually has so much to do that he really didn’t have much time before the last minute. Also he hated writing about himself so he would choose to do other work etc. instead of college essays.
I cannot wait until he gets through with 2 more applications today or tomorrow and then later one more honors app. I’m going to have a party or something.
Agree! There is so much talk about the common app essay that I didn’t realize exactly how many other essays there would be! I thought one good one, some cut and paste and he’d be done. I was so wrong!
@holychild For portraits we picked a few poses and no extra large pictures. Got Cyber Weekend deals so it wasn’t too expensive (~$200). Also got simple cap/gown package and yearbook only. Lot of upselling going on - no thank you.
DH and I are working on the fundraising committee for senior night. Lots of work and I’m not sure DS is even interested in going to prom or the after party. Having fun though with other 2020 parents some of whom we’ve known since kindergarten.
For all those still working on applications, good luck. Wishing you all the best and a Happy New Year.
@SCgirl1 I would take it even one step further. If I had another kid, I would try to convince them to quit as many ECs for their senior year (including a sport that will not be continued in college). My D20 did participate in HS swim/dive this year, and is currently still in gymnastics, but we had her cut back on her course rigor so that she would have some extra time for applications and friends.
Once gymnastics is done (soon!), she will coast for the rest of senior year. She was 9/9 in acceptances in EA, although she was not going after any highly ranked schools. No RDs were planned. These kids put themselves through the wringer for 3+ years and deserve a break.
As one really smart paid counselor once said, applying for colleges will require nearly the same effort and time as your most challenging AP class. With more consequences. Be prepared.
Didn’t believe it until it was all over. Lol.
Good luck parents and students. There is light at the end of the tunnel !
Mine hit a wall a few weeks back, total application burn out. Luckily she is done with all her apps (applied EA for all) and just needs to write one more honors college essay.
Anyone else encouraging their kids to try to smell the roses and not push so hard next semester? D20 is a straight A kid (at a school that does GPA deductions if you get an A-). I told her honestly B+ and even B’s were okay next semester. I want her to enjoy some of her senior year and not be burning the candle at both ends. At some point, they deserve a bit of a break.
I’ve actually always tried to get my girls to smell the roses and not get too tied up in presenting the best possible app. More to have the best possible high school experience. I’m very un-CC that way. I haven’t even stressed my D20 to not worry about her (also very un-CC) test scores because there would be a ton of schools that would love to have her regardless.
@MBNC1755 I’ve totally encouraged DS to try to pump the breaks some. Of my 3 DCs he’s the busiest working on schoolwork, music, and research. For example, over the break he’s worked at the lab each day, except Christmas including Saturday. It’s really just his personality. I totally appreciate it on some level, but when he’s overly stressed due to deadlines it’s a bit too much. There’ve been days this school year where he’s not gone to bed or been up when I get up for work @ 4:30a. I’ve counseled him on pacing himself now and in college as it could impact his health. He agrees but TBH, he’ll need to figure out balance for himself. I do believe he is enjoying his Senior year though as he’s doing the things that he’s passionate about.
DS is still working on his last RD application, many small essays that definitely are taking longer time to write about, but he is almost done.
He has been pretty cool during this whole process, no acceptances yet (9 RDs and 1 deferred EA).
We went to see several movies together which is very nice and he continues his early morning swimming practices over the break. He will have a very busy first three months of 2020 (lots of swim meets, modelUN activities), so the chill won’t come till late March, right before prom and soon graduation.
I want time to slow down. 2020 already?! Wow!??
Hi, popping in from the 2019 thread (I have a D19 and a S16). I just read a hint I wish I knew about last year at this time. Go to Target or Wal-Mart or any of the numerous party stores this week and buy 2020 New Years decorations that are now on clearance Many of them will be perfect for your grad parties come May/June.
Wishing you all the best during this momentous year. Next year at this time you will have college freshmen who have just completed their first semester.
Jumping back into this thread after taking the holidays off. S20 decided on the University of Denver, and we put the deposit down. Quick question, is there reason to reach out to the schools he applied to RD and let them know he’s decided to go elsewhere?
We are doing our grad party in early May (graduation is Memorial Day weekend) and decided to rent space in an old church that is converted into an event center. Waffle bar, with fruit, and donuts.
It’s nice to have these big decisions behind us. Now we are trying to plan a grad trip to Europe. Ugh!!
@roper1313 They can withdraw their apps (and should) if 100% certain they will not attend. Now if enough merit or aid might shift things? Go ahead and wait but if nothing will change his mind? Go ahead and pull the apps.
@ITBgirl Some schools have a link in portal. Otherwise, an email to their direct AO is a good start. They. should be able to guide a student on how to withdraw their application. Again I would only pull an app after they know for certain that no matter what they will not be attending that school.
The “swag” has started to arrive. DC got a fee things from CWRU. Was really hoping for a T-Shirt but she got a few other things. I think it is really nice. I am sure if she goes to the admitted student day then she could get one.
@holychild We got the CWRU swag today as well. D20 smiled and said: “Now I want to go there!..”. She followed that up with: “…for grad school.” We looked at CWRU for both my kids, and it’s probably my favorite school of any we looked at…which was a lot.
She followed that up with: “…for grad school.” We looked at CWRU for both my kids, and it’s probably my favorite school of any we looked at…which was a lot.