<p>For some reason, after dinner tonight I was compelled to find copies of my daughter's applications and read through her essays as well as the parent ones. </p>
<p>It was a good experience...the re-reading as well as this entire process. I am amazed at how much time our entire family (including the sibling who came along on so many school visits) has invested in it over the past six months or so. Amazed how everything got distilled down to just a few pages that can be read in just a few minutes. I really enjoyed reading some of my daughter's descriptions of herself —strengths and weaknesses.</p>
<p>The kids have a "post your essays here" thread. I wonder how many parents would be up for a similar thread some time down the line...with edits to protect identity, of course.</p>
<p>Hmm… interesting thought, but so terribly personal don’t you think? </p>
<p>I’ve also been tempted to go back and re-read the essays… looking for things maybe I should or should not have said, or if maybe I should have helped him edit his essay or provided input. Second guessing before the clock strikes 12…</p>
<p>I will share my answer to the request to describe your parenting philosphy in a motto. I may have written a rather lengthy motto, but here it goes:</p>
<p>Give them boundaries and consequences;they will learn responsibility.
Show them love and support; they will be confident and independent.
Teach them to be altruistic; they will learn humility.
Give them experiences; they will love life.</p>
<p>Tx for sharing Ranabona! Very poetic. For others interested in sharing, I think one way to do it without tying it to a screen name is if people send them to me via PM and I could bulk post. Right now, my CC mailbox is nearly full but with M10 upon us, I think I can start clearing it out soon…</p>
<p>Ranabona - don’t take it personally. Easier said than done. Your thoughts were beautiful - and I am sure your D is a remarkable young person. This is a tough time for some. Character building, maybe?</p>
<p>Sevendad, if you don’t want to delete the messages in your mailbox, go to the bottom and select them all (i.e. check all the boxes) then download as text. They’ll compile themselves into a single, sequential .rtf file. That’s what I had to do when I couldn’t keep up - lol!</p>
<p>I would not post a parent essay online. Many users seem to look to posted essays as examples to follow. The best parent essay is unique and personal.</p>
<p>Ranabona - Your parent essay message was lovely - and congratulations on your child’s first choice acceptance!</p>
<p>We have been so fortunate to have had a really great day, admissions wise, with 3 for 3 right now, with 1 offering a merit scholarship - still awaiting word from 1 more, but the first choice acceptance was learned at breakfast - thank goodness it was good news as my daughter is in the middle of trimester exams, and if it it had been bad, I can’t imagine how she would have been able to get through today’s exams in one piece…</p>
<p>I too wanted to reread her applications/essays today, just to review what the admissions officers read, but she has deleted them - too bad!</p>
<p>I agree with Periwinkle about not openly sharing, even anonymously, full parent essays as there is such a good chance of them being misused. Suffice to say, though, that mine focused on personal responsibility. </p>
<p>This day has been a huge relief & I feel so lucky - my older daughter, a current senior, is in to the college of her dreams, and my younger daughter is in to the school of her dreams - so happy this stage of the journey is complete - phew!</p>
<p>Thanks, Mayhew. I’m happy for you that life is good in your home right now. With all of the incredibly bright kids out there, we are also feeling very fortunate today!</p>