<p>I have been lurking for a while now, as I have a son finishing up his junior year and so we are now about to really get sucked up into what I have been referring to as the dreaded college vortex. It seems like I have found a good source of support and information here.</p>
<p>Frankly, this whole process makes my stomach hurt, but it seems like there are sensible people here who will talk me down from the proverbial ledge, if need be. My son’s approach to the college process so far appears to be enthusiastic avoidance. The more he avoids, the more anxious I become, and so it can be a vicious circle.</p>
<p>Welcome to CC!!! I think you will find good support and information here for your son’s process. I hope your son comes around soon to embrace the exhilarating, if challenging, world of college admissions. Some never get overly enthused, but you will find many ideas here. </p>
<p>Well. let’s hope as time passes he finally comes to terms with what is next in his future… We actually did get him to visit a couple of places over spring break and occasionally he slips and says things like, “when I am in college”!</p>
<p>LOL. That’s a start. That vague but promising “when I’m in college” phrase is also allowing me to cling to hope for S2. S1 also was somewhat laid back about the college admission marathon a year ago. There were times that I almost thought that he believed that the way it works is that the colleges would hear about him somehow and all dispatch emissaries to our door to entice him to sign up. (Sort of like that commercial where the banks are competing for you.</p>
<p>LOL, boy that does sound familiar, jazzymom!! (I actually did laugh out loud, by the way.) We have one son starting college in a few months, and another who’ll be starting his third year. But I’m still sticking around, and am happy to welcome you to the community, momoschki! Don’t be shy about posting on existing threads to comment or ask follow-on questions, and don’t be shy about starting your own thread about your family’s situation if you feel like it. This is a generally supportive and definitely knowledgeable community, here’s hoping you get much help and satisfaction from your time here.</p>
<p>I have decided that some cruise ship line needs to organize a summer event, for rising seniors and their families, where they have SAT reviews and write ALL their essays. Many people would pay lots to shuck that off to an organized staff, who could bribe with midnight swims, beach time, etc…and all of the teens in the same “boat”.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your responses. I am trying to keep my sense of humor through all this and I anticipate that things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. My son is a truly extraordinary person-- creative, funny, smart-- but he would much rather play weird tunes on his accordion than dig in and do what needs to be done. He has SAT II’s on Saturday and I am feeling rather pessimistic. He loved Oberlin when we visited over spring break, but unless the test scores come back in the right ball park, I am not so sure he stands a chance. It has been hard to get him to focus on other possibilities. He has discounted several places we have suggested for no good reason (i.e, didn’t like the rep he met at the college fair.) AARRGH.</p>
<p>After an arduous college hunt, and an eventual (but down-to-the-wire) decision, my son seems to be in avoidance mode even more than ever. When I mention college he looks at me like he has no idea what I’m talking about. </p>
<p>The good news is I’ve been through this before and it turned out fine.</p>
<p>Momoschki, I remember the dreaded stomach ache when I was in your position last year. The only thing I can tell you is to educate yourself. Those who are in the best position to assist their children in the process are those who’ve done their homework. When terms like "Reach School, "Single Choice Early Action and “Stafford Loan” start making sense, you’ll know you’re getting somewhere. Good luck, and welcome to CC!</p>
<p>Welcome to CC!! Our baby (S2) is a rising senior, and we are looking forward to finishing the college admissions process for the 3rd and final time. Our experience thus far has been that girls (and/or the oldest) seem far more excited about the process and finding a college than guys (or second child), as S1 was loving his HS and hated to leave. Now that he is finished his second year of college he has already said that it is going much too quickly, and he is not in a hurry to leave Duke, either!! </p>
<p>Our 3rd has seen the two older siblings go through it, has been on many of their college visits, and has spent time on their campuses checking out the college life. He is neither very intimidated by the process, nor is he reluctant to be involved in it. He may be the easiest in terms of getting it all done, but we’ll see!</p>
<p>Just remember that it almost always works out just the way it was meant to, and that your S should have a list of schools that includes some reaches (a stretch in terms of grades and scores), some matches and some safeties–although no college wants to be included in that last category. </p>
<p>Good luck, and keep reading threads that you find helpful–CC has been an incredible help for me with this whole process!!</p>
<p>That’s okay, Weenie. My son will be starting his third year of college in August and when I mention college, he still looks at me like he has no idea what I’m talking about. But that may just be a Berkeley thing. (sigh)</p>
<p>Welcome, Momoshki. I also have a rising senior. A daughter. We think we’ve found <em>the</em> college for her and that she can get in and with a small merit scholarship (even though she’s a B student) but that’s THIS week. Who knows what next week will bring! I hope you’ve read the thread in the Parent’s forum about the mom whose kid just graduated from Oberlin. It sounded wonderful! Good luck to you and your S.</p>
<p>“My son will be starting his third year of college in August and when I mention college, he still looks at me like he has no idea what I’m talking about.”</p>
<p>welcome momoschki, I too have a rising senior son. His answer to every single question about anything happening beyond next week is “I don’t know”.</p>
<p>The scowl on his face is thrown in to let me know that these questions about the future are totally inappropriate and not applicable to his current agenda.</p>
<p>Thank you all for this thread…Packmom, my son too (and he’s just finishing up his first year of college) answers everything with “I don’t know”. Right now I’m in a panic because he missed all the deadlines for housing for next year and seems to care less about what’s going to happen…“Mom, don’t worry, it will all work out…” Thanks all for giving me some perspective and something to laugh about.</p>
<p>Well, I am heartened by the realization that at least I am not alone in this apparent teenaged male oblivion: I too have often fallen victim to the ubiquitous “I don’t know”. The most recent example of this kind of cluelessness happened just yesterday when my S mentioned he had plans for last night (the night before SAT II’s). When I reminded him that it was important that he come home early to get a good night’s sleep before the exams, he just looked at me with that blank look and asked why.</p>
<p>I am hoping he gets himself into gear for his senior year. His responses this past year to anything at all college related has been to scream at me, “I don’t have to think about that yet!” Occasionally he will suggest schools that I think are totally inappropriate (to get a rise out of me, I think) or threaten to join the circus (really!) It has been a stressful year for all.</p>
:)</p>