Same for my daughter (at a highly “rejective” college)
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It sounds counterintuitive, but the students who have the most activities also tend to be some of the best at managing their time. Of course there are exceptions. When you’re not busy, it’s kind of easy to waste a lot time. When you have a lot going on, you’re more careful about how you spend each hour of your day.
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Our D20 has probably written 2-4 essays for every study abroad, fellowships, and work application she has ever applied to (she studied abroad with 3 different programs for 18 months total undergrad and an additional year as a post-grad fellow). All of the opportunities she’s been awarded have been fully funded, including generous stipends for living expenses. Even the one unpaid, remote internship she took on (highly prestigious) - required multiple essays and an interview.
I’m sure there were other opportunities that would have “only” entailed a resume (instead of a CV) and cover letter, though I would say well done cover letters are essays under a different name, but for the most part she was applying to highly selective, extremely competitive programs (all with sub 10% acceptance rates).
She is just finishing up her grad school application season (with side quests into summer funding/summer internship opportunities). Yup, more essays to gain admission (in addition to the academic writing submitted) as well as even more essays to compete for further funding. She has two offers as of now and is waiting for the results of two more.
Edited to add: I forgot about the programs that also required applicants to not only write their own essays but also to secure letters of nomination from their college or university and the many letters of reference necessary from professors for each program (2-3 letters of reference each). Another hoop to jump through for students, and one that is often overlooked.
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Everyone’s experiences are different, my point was to say my older kid has never dealt with any of this. My other point was saying my younger son is burnt out entirely from the college app process. Both things are true. And again, if your kid is writing 52 essays in a short time span and loving it, happy for them. Mine doesn’t. Neither does a lot of other kids on the board. Your child’s experience in no way defines my childrens experiences. Just keep scrolling if you don’t agree.
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It was for a particular destination. Each program/destination has it’s own application. So some students might complete a few different applications depending on how important “studying abroad” is to them (don’t care as much about destination but would rather maximize their chances of getting into something/any program). All study abroad is run and staffed by the university itself, tuition and fees are the same as if the student is enrolled on campus, and financial aid awards follow the student regardless of whether they are on campus or abroad. She completed only one program application, since that was the only program/destination she was interested in and she knew she had compelling personal reasons which she thought gave her a pretty good chance at a spot. I don’t intend to derail the thread here, but each university/college is diiferent and even experiences within each family for kids attending different colleges may be different.
I know seniors are burnt out on the process (I have a D24 as well as a D21). Next year at this time, they won’t be burnt out in the same way, and they will have new goals and things they want accomplish (some of which may require essays lol).
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I think it depends for so many the context of the study abroad program and the major. In the era I went to college, I had to write essays and interview for the program I applied to- in French! Granted I was a dual major, French, and this program was a year-long program where you matriculated to a French university so proficiency was required at a high level.
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You have cake! Does that mean it’s your account’s birthday? 
One of my D’s colleges is pressuring her to put down a deposit ASAP to get first choice in housing selection. I do not like that pressure! Their deadline is before she will hear from any place else. And the really frustrating thing is that this might become her top choice depending on what happens only 5 days after their deadline. They are very intentional in this I’m sure. Every day it’s some new little stressor. I can’t wait for summer.
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I also think it is not necessary to have to jump through so many hoops, write dozens and dozens of essays and be constantly stressed out to be successful in college or in life. Our generation did not need to that’s for sure. Time’s change and we have to move forward but it is just not a necessity to go through what some high school kids feel they have to just to be prepared for college and life.
All that to say, I agree with you!
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Sorry I’m just now replying. Yes, we are very frustrated that Clemson is taking so long to release merit numbers. It makes no sense. We will have to drop over $900 on plane tickets in order to attend admitted student day (we live too far away to drive) and I refuse to spend that until we have a tuition number. It makes it all so unnecessarily stressful.
Good for you that you are willing to entertain other colleges. It is really hard when your kiddo has their heart set and when money is also something to consider, and when those two don’t align.
Essay writing is a niche skillset that has a lot of value in certain circumstances. But most people don’t need to have well honed essay writing skills. Yet, it seems the world of college admissions today revolves around who can write the best essays. As a former accountant turned corporate attorney and a spouse with a PhD and running a med lab, neither of us use any form of “essay writing”. I write constantly, but not essay style. Many people / kids just are not great writers and will never be no matter how much they try. I find it a bit limiting that colleges and scholarships focus so heavily on essays over the many other traits high quality kids have. I know it’s “holistic” but we all know the essays are one of the main components here. All that to say, I don’t feel even slightly bad helping my left brained kid with his essays.
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Well my guy heard from his last school tonight - UCONN with a nice merit award. It’s not going to beat out the other schools on his list (it doesn’t have his first choice major, so was really only in it in case he pivoted to second choice and didn’t get in to the two schools that offer both), but it was a nice way to end the week.
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Down and then up night here. Son was accepted to U Conn, but only with a study abroad first year option, so that is now off the table. Then Pitt came through with big merit, 27K/year. That plus their guaranteed grad admissions offer will be hard to beat.
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S25 got accepted into LMU’s honor program. He’s super proud of himself. Hopefully that means they’ll up his merit award (not holding our breath).
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That’s great merit for Pitt! If we had gotten that much (he got $18k) I think it would have rocketed up our list too!
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My younger daughter was recommended for a STEM summer program. Great, an honor to be nominated. It was a for a free week-long STEM summer camp. The requirements were we had to complete an application, write 3 short essays, submit a video, and then there was an interview.
She’s in 7th grade, by the way. She’s 12.
Luckily, she is already scheduled for GS camp the same week, so I was like, “Oh, sweets, you wouldn’t want to miss GS camp, right?” She agreed.
This is f’ing nuts, people. There is nothing at all sane about the above. Nothing. Unless this kind of stuff is guaranteed to cure cancer at some point, this hurdle upon hurdle upon hurdle is not worth it. I’m on CC, so I’m clearly not opposed to competition and having a robust full picture of academic and workplace competition. But based on my experience and reading the above number of essays, we have jumped the shark.
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Mmy younger child wanted to attend a specialty camp. The application had so many questions, including a few short essays. And this was just for a one week day camp. Not a scholarship, not a free camp. A camp we have to pay for, if they’re accepted.
FYI, I think the National Youth Science Camp may be less onerous than the one you described. You should check it out if it’s something that would interest her. I’m not sure when the deadline is this year.
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Wow! I’ve not heard of anyone getting that much from Pitt this year! The closest I’ve heard of is $20k for some engineering admits!
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Thrilled to report that the D25 and S25 both got in to St. Olaf yesterday, with the school’s very generous Buntrock scholarship. It’s early days for RD results, but they are excited and grateful.
I’ve been really impressed by the personal attention they’ve gotten from their regional St. Olaf admissions officer, who has conveyed warmth, caring, and a genuine desire for them to end up at the very best school for them (even if that doesn’t end up being St. Olaf). It only makes me like the school even more.
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