One Mom’s Random Thoughts as She Waits for Her Senior to Decide on a College

19 Steps to Take When Your High School Senior is Choosing a College

One Mom’s Random Thoughts as She Waits for Her Senior to Decide on a College

Published April 1, 2021 | Last Updated February 19th, 2024 at 11:51 am

19 Steps to Take When Your High School Senior is Choosing a College

This was shared with us by a parent of a high school senior who would like to remain anonymous.

As the May 1 Decision Day draws closer, are you biting your nails and pacing the floor awaiting your child’s choice of college?

This tongue-in-cheek list (from a parent who’s been there) consists of some of the things a parent might think about while “patiently” waiting for their high school senior to decide on a college.

18. Shift from rejoicing at your child’s university acceptances, to mild panic when you realize their canned answer of “I don’t know” shows absolutely no sign of changing.

17. Spend four hours a day frantically researching all of their choices, hurtling facts at them until they start hiding in their room.

16. Realize this isn’t working and resolve to stop advising. They are 18 and an adult (an adult with a carpet of dirty clothes on their bedroom floor, but whatever).

15. Each morning, apply invisible duct tape to your mouth and stop advising, asking questions, or even mentioning college. (You will be shocked at how difficult this is to do.)

14. To your amazement, the invisible duct tape works. In the face of your quiet and calm (which are completely faked but they don’t know that), your child starts to talk through their options and venture opinions.

13. Say nothing, as you cheerfully pay non-refundable dorm fees to multiple universities.

12. Refrain from commenting at their listening to extremely loud rock music on the way to and from school. This is a stressful decision for them —let it go. Refrain from mentioning you are doing the same to and from work (your music is just from the ’90s).

11. Quietly accept it doesn’t matter which school they pick because you look horrible in all three schools’ colors, anyway. (Why do so many schools pick orange?)

10. Now that you are able to be quiet and listen, you figure out what school they are going to pick eight days before they do.

9. Deep down, you began to understand. No matter which school they pick, they’re leaving.

8. Discover that all along you were so involved in “helping” them choose because you just wanted to spend a bit more time with them before they go away.

7. Looking back at the entire scenario, remember that they didn’t become surly or impatient with you once as you hovered, and instead ( in between hiding) they were gracious and kind. Because they know it too. They know they’re leaving, and they’re protecting their mother. They really have become a young adult. (A young adult who thinks you don’t have a life except for being their parent. )

6. Strongly resist the urge to march into their room (with its “dirty clothes carpet”) and yell “I DO SO HAVE A LIFE!”

5. Now that you’re in “invisible-duct-tape-over-mouth” mode and unable to frantically advise, it’s easy to see them. You see their hope, excitement,  nostalgia as they spend time with friends, do senior activities, and nonchalantly inform you there were some books they never returned to the school which now need to be paid for or the school won’t let him graduate (clever school).

4. They may have brought out the crazy in you, but it has been the most wonderful ride of your entire life and you would do it again in a heartbeat.

3. Resolve not to cry when they announce their decision (which you figured out eight days ago . . . see item 11).

2. When they tell you, cry anyway.

1. Know your child is your greatest victory. Realize your greatest victory still hasn’t done anything about their room.

_______

Use R2C Insights to help find merit aid and schools that fit the criteria most important to your student. You’ll not only save precious time, but your student will avoid the heartache of applying to schools they aren’t likely to get into or can’t afford to attend.  

Other Articles You Might Like:

“My Daughter Wouldn’t Take No for an Answer, and It Turned Out to Be the Best Decision”

Be Open to Your 2nd and 3rd Choice Colleges

College Choices Are Easier When Your Student Knows the Budget

JOIN ONE OF OUR FACEBOOK GROUPS & CONNECT WITH OTHER PARENTS: 

PAYING FOR COLLEGE 101

HOW TO FIND MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS

In this article:

Upcoming Events

Similar Articles for You

Stay on Track With This College Application Checklist

ACT Prep

Stay on Track With This College Application Checklist

Students and families need to stay on track to find the right college at the right price, so we’re providing...

Why Starting College in the Spring or Summer Might Be Your Best College Move Yet

Apply

Why Starting College in the Spring or Summer Might Be Your Best College Move Yet

As colleges wrap up their acceptances and denials for the next fall, many students are receiving deferrals that grant them...

How to Prepare for the Digital SAT in 9 Steps

Advice

How to Prepare for the Digital SAT in 9 Steps

Editor’s Note: The author, Dr. Kelly Frindell, is a test prep expert and owner of InHouse Test Prep.  Students across...

Become a Member

At Road2College you’ll find everything you need to make the admissions and paying for college process less stressful and more transparent.

TOOLS

Explore R2C Insights™ — your source for finding affordable colleges and merit scholarships.

Coaching

Get coaching on admissions and college financing.

Community

Join Road2College where parents and experts work together to inform and inspire college-bound families.