No, no, that was not meant to be salacious in nature. Truly.
Along with making a career change, traveling for the better part of the last six weeks, the mid-point of the semester for both kidlets, our eldest is in the throes of applying for college.
Or rather, she and her fellow class of 2015’s are in the homestretch of testing; here in the U.S. it ranges from the ACT, SAT, Subject specific testing, Early Decision applications, letters of recommendation and for other students like her that are “candidates for admission” to one of the four U.S. Military Academies, a battery of physical fitness exams, applications for congressional sponsorships which each require yet another layer of letters of recommendation. This is in addition to their every day studies and the various graduation requirements depending on the state in which they live in and or even the school district.
Add into the mix the enormous amount of pressure they are under from parents, their own expectations, the “competition” of their peers, some have part-time jobs, or full-time jobs, various home-life situations, sports or clubs or dance or, or , or…and of course, the fact that they are 16, 17 or 18-year old’s with raging hormones.
The work they are doing just to apply to college makes my head spin. And begs the question I’ve found myself asking other parents in similar situations. “I don’t remember it being this hard, do you?” Granted, I applied to college eons ago, and yes, I remember taking the SAT’s, once. Not multiple times or with the benefit of going to an expensive and intensive prep course. For my classmates and I, the majority of us knew we were going to go to college. For the majority of the majority, it was going to be college at one of the various in-state options and for others it was going to be the alma mater of their parents or grandparents and for a select few, it would be a school that was recruiting them for their academic and or athletic prowess. We looked at colleges by browsing the college catalogs in the high school counseling offices. No internet, no college fairs etc. We simply requested the application information via old fashioned snail mail and sent the same applications back the same way.
Maybe it’s a matter of looking back through rose colored glasses but I really don’t remember having to jump through so many loops or being pushed one way or another. Other than “you are going to college, not if”. In talking with several other parents, from a wide spectrum of socio-economic backgrounds, they remember it as I do. Almost a simple, what can you afford and apply there. That’s probably over-simplifying it but you get the gist.
What about you? Do you remember your senior year in high school, especially those educated in the U.S., being so rife with pressure and a double booked schedule just to shore up your resume to apply to college? I guess I just don’t remember it being so hard.
is me is really me 
I guess you guys had it easier than us? Lol. I think when my wife and I have children, college admission will request your blood type, five follicles of hair, signing away of your unborn children and a height/weight requirement.
It is going to become more difficult with each new generation. Even my professors say college is more a business today, than it is about academics.
Sadly I think you are right; about the additional requirements. Your professors are definitely on target about the business aspect. Don’t get me wrong, while I understand the need for rigor, it seems so extreme. And the pressure that parents put on kids is compounded by the pressure the kids put on themselves. We didn’t sign our daughter up for any prep courses, because the reality is, once she’s in college, she won’t be able to afford to sign up for expensive specialized tutoring or prep courses. It’s better that the scores reflect her ability if that makes sense. Of course our friends and parents from the same school are convinced we are wrong. Maybe, but at least our kidlet knows her choice of college is hers and hers alone. She will make of her education and the experience what she will and find her way. *she types with fingers crossed* thanks for commenting! oh, and just a word of gentle advice…wait to have your lovely children as long as possible. Enjoy your lives together ;D
Same as what you remember. Now, college is a Nascar Race but I think as parental robots we can easily slide right into the whole head-spinning landslide of it because it starts in middle school…the prep businesses, and choice of high school or high school program that specializes in a certain career choice. It’s a slow conditioning of the parents and students. Yes, it is important IF your child is involved and that alone is it’s own mission to engage them and decipher their strengths during their young years…I’m exhausted just writing this much and it is really just the beginning of this whole college business. That’s it, it has become a business. It was education before. Now, it is just different and the process is about something other than figuring out what you want to pursue. It’s become..I don’t know what it has become. I know I don’t see it as exciting like I remember because it’s mired in so much. Maybe though, if I were the student, I would see it different. I hope that’s true. Good Luck!!!
Nope. Life was much simpler when I graduated back in the stone age