| You remember the feeling. The anxiety. The | | | | choices will increase the quality of the applications, |
| pressure. The dread that is the college application | | | | while decreasing the amount of last minute stress." |
| process. Nowadays, the stresses on high school | | | | As the application process hits its peak, here are a |
| students are even greater, with increasingly larger | | | | few tips for keeping those last minute freak-outs to |
| numbers of qualified students applying to schools, | | | | a minimum. |
| which means fewer potential spots open for them. | | | | 1. The Top 5 |
| When you factor in requirements like SAT tests, AP | | | | At this point, your child has probably looked at |
| exams, essays, financial aid, not to mention keeping | | | | brochures, visited campuses, and heard from |
| up your G.P.A., it can get downright overwhelming. As | | | | advisors, all telling them where they should go. By |
| if being is high school wasn't hard enough already! | | | | sitting down with them and narrowing their school |
| Parent of students going through this process tend | | | | choices down to a manageable number of five, they |
| to get just as caught up in the madness and | | | | can focus on creating the best applications possible |
| mayhem as their children, if not more, which only | | | | for those specific schools. If they finish those five |
| leads to more stress on everyone. Fortunately, there | | | | applications and have time for others, that's great. At |
| are some ways to smooth this potentially | | | | least they've done a thorough job on the ones that |
| obstacle-riddled path to college. And, no, you won't | | | | really matter. |
| be tested on this. | | | | 2. Help, Don't Hover |
| Alicia on "Timetables" | | | | There are plenty of ways to assist your child's |
| "Most of the stress from the college application | | | | application process while not giving the impression like |
| process stems from deadlines. With everything | | | | you're micro-managing. Talk with them about all the |
| seemingly due on the same day, those last few days | | | | different activities they have going on in their life |
| and hours are usually spent scribbling essays, | | | | (schoolwork, extra-curricular activities) and together |
| collecting recommendations, writing checks, and | | | | make a calendar of when different applications are |
| running to the post office. It is a classic case of | | | | due, and how that will fit into the schedule. By |
| procrastination, one that is easily remedied with some | | | | focusing on the most important responsibilities, and |
| simple organization. Granted, the eye-rolling teen in | | | | eliminating any unnecessary tasks, they'll stay |
| the house will scoff at the idea of structured | | | | focused without feeling pressured. |
| organization, but as deadlines approach, it will all be | | | | 3. Take a Break |
| worth it." | | | | Sometimes, the best way to relieve stress is to |
| Sarah on "The Perfect Fit" | | | | simply get away from the environment that's causing |
| "With more than 4,000 colleges and universities to | | | | it. When your child's life seems about to be |
| choose from, the process of finding the right school | | | | swallowed whole by the applications, take a weekend |
| for your child is a daunting one. Nobody likes to get | | | | off to do nothing related at all to college. When it's |
| rejected either, so the tendency is to apply to a | | | | been drummed into their heads that where you go |
| large a number of schools in order to increase the | | | | to college will affect the rest of their lives, going on a |
| odds of acceptance. While this tactic is certainly | | | | camping trip, or spending the day seeing movies, |
| understandable, it isn't efficient. With time being as | | | | always helps to get some perspective on the matter |
| tight as it is, helping your child focus on their top | | | | at hand. |