Mid-October Pep Talk for Senior Families

Is your student starting to wrap up some applications? Are they also feeling stressed and out of gas? There are some ways to take at least some of the stress out of the process at this point.

One way to ratchet down the stress is to submit applications as they are ready and not all at once. In fact, we recommend this, as each submission provides a confidence boost and sense of accomplishment. Students should take their time, making sure someone has carefully reviewed their essays and looked over the Common App to catch any typos or errors, and then submit applications during work hours on a weekday – BEFORE the deadline. This ensures that the student can contact the good people at Common App or at the university admission offices for help as needed (as opposed to the middle of the night on deadline day). People are there to help and students should not hesitate to call them for assistance.

November 1 is a common (but not universal) deadline for Early Action and Early Decision. It has taken on a life of its own, and can be a significant stress point for high school seniors as it approaches. Remind your student to check their deadlines again – and to spread the work out based on actual deadlines. 

Tip of the Week:  If your student has November 1 deadlines, don’t plan on a big Halloween Night!  By definition, every high school senior applying to college is doing it for the first time.  Even those who have used their time wisely and stayed on top of the process might find themselves in a crunch as November 1 approaches.  Encourage your student to take some breaks, play with the dog, go for a walk, and breathe.