<p>So D2 is launched!
My questions are all answered. I am not college shopping for any nieces, nephews, or friends.<br>
Why then do I keep looking at college websites? I love the virtual tours, I love trying to see what the library looks like and investigating specific freshman core classes or experiences.
I find myself thinking, “OH, I’d like to tour that one!”
What is it about the IDEA of college that continues to fascinate?
Or is there just something really wrong with me?</p>
<p>Because, like me, you’ve had so much fun with it you’re considering becoming a college counselor in retirement. <or that’s=“” the=“” excuse=“” i=“” plan=“” on=“” using=“” anyway.=“” .=“”></or></p>
<p>This is why I love my job! :)</p>
<p>There are thousands of wonderful ways to go to college. It doesn’t surprise me that it’s fun to explore them all.</p>
<p>I continue to be fascinated by the whole college admissions process even though both my kids are launched because it’s a reality show that is better than anything you can find on TV. Condsider:</p>
<ol>
<li> It’s a real life event affecting real people and is not a contrived problem.</li>
<li> The process is large and complex with multiple variables but not so huge as to be overwhelming.</li>
<li> The stakes are high but not life or death. Important decisions and choices will be made.</li>
<li> Choices and performance will affect the outcome. </li>
<li> Help and advice you provide can sometimes make a real difference</li>
<li> It has a beginning and an end. Unlike most problems in life, there will be a final decision. </li>
</ol>
<p>What’s not to like?</p>
<p>Hmmmmm. Well, I discovered CC my daughter’s senior HS year; She graduated college this past spring, and I am still here…I can’t seem to let go from that phase of life. It seems like the last “parenting” step. In a way.</p>
<p>Balletmom- I am the same way! I was so engrossed in the whole process. My niece just got a job as an admissions counselor-lucky girl! You are not strange- there is something fascinating about the whole thing. Perhaps is the youth we no longer posess, but I actually felt jealous(?) about my daughter’s first college weekend. Her school is having a carnival- with rides…fried dough and so much more! Not like when I went!</p>
<p>My daughter launched today:(. and I still am visiting CC…this will hopefully get me through for a while- she is planning on attending med school so I may be a veteran by then!</p>
<p>I wish I could become a college counselor or an admissions rep! I think it would be fascinating, too.</p>
<p>Hanna, what is your job? Must be college related…</p>
<p>I can raise my hand as feeling the same way re: exploring colleges. Will have to do it one more time in 5 years so guess I’ll keep clicking!!!</p>
<p>Once you’ve gotten good at something, it’s hard to stop doing it. You know the ins and outs–what to look for, what to look at, what to think about…</p>
<p>I was the same way after planning two b’not mitzvah. I made my mistakes on the first one, had the system down with the second one, and wished I had a third one to employ the expertise I’d gained.</p>
<p>Thank you for this post! My S moved into his dorm yesterday, so we’ve known the outcome of THE SEARCH for months, yet I find myself on CC almost everyday. I am so intrigued with the whole thing. I loved the college visits, the guide books, the local college presentations, the strategy sessions with my S, even the waiting for the decisions was kind kind of thrilling, in a nerve wracking sort of way. Believe me, I have considered hanging up my current career to become a college counselor, why waste all this valuable hard won knowledge! Maybe this is just an extension of the fact that I LOVED going to college. Maybe that’s the crux of it, I want to go back myself!</p>
<p>My day job is in higher ed counseling, and I have a private admissions consulting business.</p>
<p>I’m soooo glad I’m not the only one! I loved college, but my parents made me attend our local regional university and I had no choice in the matter. When it was time for my S to go to college, I wanted him to have choices. Of course, S, being S, wanted to attend my alma mater and only looked at two other schools, to which I had to drag him by the hair. He’s there now and very happy, but I still love CC, College Board and Princeton Review. I also have S2 coming up, but I know he’ll take the path of least resistance and follow his bro to alma mater. I also worked at a community college years ago and would love to get back into it. I applied for a job recently as a graduate admissions counselor, but have not heard back yet.</p>
<p>Yep, looks like I am in good company. I, like footballmom, by parental edict had no choice in my college (large, state uni). They were wonderful years, but I’m fascinated by the entire process of college selection (by the student) and admission, both from a personal perspective and as a sociological phenomenon. I, too, would love to work in a higher-education environment. I enjoyed supervising undergrad research assistants and T.A.‘ing while in grad school. I find the personal “fit” aspect fascinating, especially parenting 2 wonderful Ds with very differing interests, learning styles, and (possibly) aptitudes. D1 is a high-scoring, energetic, driven yet very social student at a “top” school. D2, in high school, is a B+ student in honors classes, does not test well on standardized tests, but is both more practical/ reliable than her sis, and in many ways much more creative. She prefers a smaller, intimate learning environment…I am reading the B+ threads with interest. The variety in colleges is staggering; there truly does seem to be something for everyone. I’m sure I will be hangin’ out long past their respective college graduations, and yes, I’d go back to school for the sheer joy of it if I could!</p>