<p>Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately, it does sound like my daughter may be more stressed (and less independent) than others at this point - that is definitely her personality (my next kid is much more easy going about things, so hopefully in three years when she is a senior, things will be calmer). I did have her start on this early (in order to try to get as much done as possible over summer break), so I do like the idea of her trying to finish early, so it isn’t continuing to hang over her head. </p>
<p>And also to the person who posted about when we applied, having to type our essays - My mom recently told me my now PhD-professor sister was such a poor typist, she stapled paragraphs of her essay together because she could only manage to produce a paragraph without typos (& did not want to ask anyone to help her). My mom decided not to say a word because my sister’s senior year was also a bit stressful. My sister got accepted to the schools she applied, but my mom still laughs when she thinks of the stapled together paragraphs - said my sister’s essays probably stood out from the rest - LOL.</p>
<p>One of the biggest stressors of Senior year is emotional, not workload. I still remember my very independent, self-sufficient, mature daughter laying on the floor kicking her feet and pounding her hands just like a 2-year old’s temper tantrum while my younger daughter and I looked on and laughed. I know that might not have been the best response but we were in such shock at seeing this and it did look very funny. As another poster said, this is their first major decision and it is a judgment on all they have worked for. Every decision they make this year; where to apply, what to write, when to send it, to visit or not, etc. becomes monumental to a 17 or 18 year old. We can’t give them definitive answers because we don’t have them - will the college like this or that better, should I do this or that, etc. </p>
<p>Put all this insecurity and unknown answers together with all the other Seniors in their school and they feed on each other until they get into a frenzy. Thoughts in their mind include, “If Jane applies her grades/scores/ECs are better than mine and this college will only take one of us but Jane’s my best friend (or not) and I’m awful for feeling this way but I really want to go to the same school.” or “Emily has all her essays done and her applications are almost ready to be sent and I don’t even know where I’m going to send my applications yet and I haven’t finished my essays, I’m so far behind!” All we have to do while our kid is thinking that is say, “So how’s that essay going?” and they’ll explode.</p>
<p>Each kid is different but generally speaking, pretend your Senior is a toddler discovering his/her own identity and wanting to pull away from parents, family, and friends while being scared to death to do so because that’s how they feel; totally lost and alone, excited and fearful at the same time, uncharted territory for them. Even the most secure or easy going kid will lose it this year many times, a gentle, soothing voice is really all we can give, just like when they were toddlers.</p>
<p>Okay, now I’m starting to cry, better stop.</p>
<p>My lovely dd turned into such a witch. Anytime we asked her if something was done she would get so witchy. The best way to describe them is they have lots of angst. </p>
<p>She did all the applications for college and essays. We helped by making sure she had all the information she needed about us. We also read her essays and gave feedback but we did not monkey with the essay no matter how much I wanted to. </p>
<p>DD’s senior year was not that lighter until spring and not by much. </p>
<p>I think if your dd weathers this year fine she will be better prepared to college. It like a right of passage.</p>