Lessons From This Year’s Early College Application Deadlines

The college application process can be brutal and anxiety-provoking for parents, teenagers, and, in particular, college counselors! In this episode, we reflect on our experiences at the end of this season and even share some advice for parents approaching applications with their teens. In this conversation, you’ll hear all about why college counselors hate November 1st, the debilitating anxiety that teens may face during this time, the different ways they deal with it, and the importance of reading, writing, and communication skills. We even share some advice for parents who are planning for their juniors to apply, why so many kids only start preparing after summer, the importance of being realistic about your kids’ skills and encouraging them to form their own beliefs, and so much more! We go on to talk about what makes for a successful application process, what students who are meeting the deadline and doing well are doing right, the importance of being positive throughout, and when to hold back on feedback as a parent. Finally, we caution parents against hiring multiple college counselors and encourage them to empower their kids to make decisions for themselves and celebrate every single application they send. Thanks for listening in!  Key Points From This Episode: [0:00:50] Why November 1st is so frustrating for college counselors.  [0:03:57] Today’s topic: some reflections on this application process.  [0:04:14] The extreme anxiety teens are feeling and how they cope with it.  [0:06:08] Some advice for parents of juniors about planning for applications.  [0:16:31] The potential dangers of letting applicants prepare during the summer.  [0:19:35] Why getting your child ready for application writing is the parent’s job.  [0:21:05] The importance of encouraging kids to read the news and form opinions.  [0:22:40] What kids who are successful in meeting the November 1 deadline are doing.  [0:27:18] Why kids who have had to manage a busy schedule do well in their applications.  [0:31:49] When giving feedback on these applications to your teen is and isn’t helpful. [0:35:25] Why we don’t recommend hiring multiple college counselors.  [0:37:25] Encouraging parents to create an environment that is conducive to working.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You on Instagram