- My son is making use of to 17 schools, and the applying course of is inflicting us each stress.
- My husband and I are proofreading his essays and filling out the FAFSA for him.
- My son is staying up late to get all of it achieved, however I am making an attempt to verify he stays wholesome.
I knew this time would come; I simply did not know I might dread it a lot.
My solely little one is now a high-school senior. To say these previous few months have been powerful could be an understatement — the acute and particular ache of my oncoming empty-nest standing however.
As we barrel towards the tip of 2023, the hellscape that’s the college-application course of is upon our household. My son has determined to use to 17 colleges. It is a big quantity, however he is excited about a extremely aggressive area — movie — and desires to solid a large web.
The method is actually far more streamlined than after I utilized to schools many years in the past — no handwriting, manuscripts, typewriters, or stamps concerned. However simply because it is digital doesn’t suggest it is simpler.
Navigating this course of has been tough
Frustrations are working excessive in my home. My usually mild-mannered, cheerful younger man is at occasions cranky, exhausted, and fairly stressed. I am proper there with him.
In idea, the Widespread App lessens the burden of making use of to a number of universities. He is submitted his transcript, his letters of advice, and his common essay by way of the web site. These, in flip, are electronically despatched to every college the place he’ll apply.
However his give attention to a fine-arts main means he additionally has to submit separate portfolios with downloadable examples of his artistic work, plus supplemental essays. Some colleges ask for as many as 5 additional submissions, all with completely different prompts.
He already has a full and complex college load. He is an Worldwide Baccalaureate candidate, so on high of juggling faculty functions, he is engaged on service tasks and superior physics homework.
Most evenings he is working away at his desk till simply earlier than midnight. A number of occasions I’ve come into his room within the morning and realized he was too drained the night time earlier than to trouble turning off the lights.
We have now essential choices to make
He has his “security” and “stretch” colleges within the combine, however then we’ve to strategize submission deadlines. Ought to he pursue early motion for a greater likelihood of getting advantage scholarships? Ought to we fall again on common resolution to present him a bit of extra time and respiratory room to organize all these utility supplies?
The strain cooker of choices is sufficient to make anybody’s head spin, particularly a 17-year-old who’s nonetheless sharpening his executive-functioning abilities.
I’ve types and functions to fill out too
I’ve added the Free Utility for Federal Pupil Help and the Faculty Scholarship Service Profile, or the CSS, to our to-do record. My husband and I simply began getting our monetary types collectively to fill them out.
We’re additionally studying by way of and making ideas on our son’s essays — two dozen thus far.
We’re all making an attempt to remain on high of deadlines whereas doing our greatest to maintain our household’s collective sanity intact.
Whereas the to-do record is daunting, I am cheering my son on
I hold encouraging my child, cheering him on, making an attempt to make sure he is consuming effectively, and steering him towards spending what time he can along with his buddies. That is his first huge and tremendously essential transition towards maturity, however I do know I want to assist him discover some stability as effectively.
Fortunately, we have gotten some nice recommendation from his college’s faculty counselor. Our buddies who’ve been by way of the method earlier than are additionally splendidly supportive.
As intense and emotional as making use of to varsity is, I do know this may all be price it ultimately. He’ll land the place he is alleged to, and he’ll bloom the place he is planted, regardless of which college he chooses. We have simply acquired to hold on, dig in, and keep centered a bit longer.
As his mother, I hope this course of is educating him a easy truth: Nothing worthwhile is ever straightforward.
