Coping with College Admissions

Chills.  Racing pulse.  Waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat.  These aren’t just the symptoms of cold and flu season, but can also be symptoms of college admissions season.

Whether your first child is going through the college admissions process or you’ve done this several times in the past, the college admissions process can be a high-tension and high-emotion time for students and parents alike.  After all, twelve (thirteen if you count Kindergarten) years of blood, sweat, toil, and tears culminating in a series of papers and deadlines is tough stuff!

So, how do you survive it all?  In my years of working with students and parents on the process, I’ve never been able to perfect the process, but have been able to pull together a few survival tips to make the process flow a little more smoothly

Plan Ahead

Pull out the calendar.  If you don’t have a family calendar, now’s a great time to implement one.  Script out every deadline, from final SAT test dates to essay deadlines, application deadlines, and scholarship deadlines.  And begin to work backwards from those deadlines.  Don’t do everything at the last minute, that’s just going to add to your stress.  Post the calendar on the fridge or in a place where everyone will see it, and review it once a week to make sure that you’re on target to accomplish everything within the timeframe you need (put this meeting on the calendar, too).  This means budgeting in time for things like rough drafts of essays and allowing wait time for teacher recommendations (as a former teacher, there’s nothing more frustrating than a great student who asks for a last-minute recommendation letter).  Don’t forget to plan for celebrations, too, for after you’ve hit those major milestones.

Organize

The system itself isn’t important, as long as you have systems to keep all of the applications, transcripts, and mile-high mounds of paperwork straight.  If folders work for you, then keep each college’s application in a separate folder.  If you prefer binders, go for it.  Keep a generic file for things like SAT scores, transcripts, and recommendation letters, which you’ll need for multiple schools.  Don’t fall into the easy pitfall of “I’ll put it away later” syndrome.  Before you know it, you’ll have a pile of papers that you don’t know how to sort through, plus it makes it tough to find that one paper you need to find quickly.  On the outside of your binder/folder, jot the name of the school, along with a checklist of items you need for the application.  As you compile these things, check them off as you file them. 

Talk to Your Child’s Counselor

Guidance counselors can be a great resource!  They know the college admissions process inside and out, and probably know your child’s strengths (and challenges) well.  Plus, they’re a great resource for scholarship information and details on the financial aid application process (we’ll talk about making college affordable next time).  But, please remember that your child’s counselor has many students in his or her caseload, so scheduling an appointment is key to receiving the attention that you deserve.

Plan for Some Down Time

Maintaining sanity throughout the college applications process can be tricky, so plan for some fun to bring everyone back together as a family.  Plan a game night.  Or a movie night.  Whatever it is that you enjoy, make sure to put some time aside (on that calendar from above) to regroup and de-stress.  It’ll make all the tricky parts a lot less straining.

Whatever the challenges you face during the college admissions process, chances are that you’re not alone, nor are you the first to face them.  The good news is that there the college admissions process will eventually be over (yes, there is a light at the end of the tunnel!), and your child will be well on his or her way towards success.  In the meantime, don’t try to go it alone--reach out and ask for help!