College admissions giving you sleepless nights? Welcome to the club! College admissions are upon us. At the cusp of adulthood, these are exciting times for the students who are about to step into the new phase of their lives. And equally challenging for their parents! It is evident that the stress of college admissions is upon us.
School marks, whether good or bad, do not offer a map to this new path. Students often find themselves sandwiched between what they want to do and what they should do, and every wrong step seems like a guillotine. The pressure is immense on everyone involved!
Parents too face the brunt of the process and are often under immense stress to help their child navigate through the conundrum of ‘good academics’.
However, the trick is to be consistently informed about the college admissions, and the right career choices without succumbing to pressure and stress. Here is how you can deal with the stress of college admissions. And it’s based on my own recent learnings – as I navigate my child and myself through these times that can be turbulent and at the end of it extremely satisfying!
Marks Are Not Everything
Cliched – but very true! So your child’s board results didn’t turn out the way you expected and the marks are not in good enough to guarantee admission into a fancy, elite college. Marks are not the be-all and end-all – to gain admission into a good college. Many Universities rely on their own customized entrance tests and personal interviews to test the caliber of a student.
So at less than 95 % performance shouldn’t bog your child or you down! I have also seen that a lot of really good and competitive colleges often reject high scoring performers – as they don’t see a fit with that kind of candidates. And once the rush of the ‘ first list ’ and ‘ second list ‘ of admissions lists dies down – I have seen seats going vacant as even reputed colleges are unable to fill them up and issue ‘ third lists ’ offering seats to applicants! That’s a great option if one is prepared to be patient and is flexible about a course and not so flexible about the college in question! Five years down the line – marks on your child’s resume will not even get a second glance!
Support is Important
Sometimes, parents are unable to keep an open mind when it comes to suggesting or guiding the child when it comes to the child’s college education and their careers. They are fixed in their respective views
In such cases, parents should refer to experts. I have seen many children take coaching classes that can help them write competitive exams – where subject experts and counselors are ready to help a child understand and guide as per the student’s talent and potential. I believe this is a great way to bridge the gap between
This guidance can prove invaluable and can ensure the right choices in terms of courses, colleges ensuring that the net three years are happy and not full of stress and regret! Friends, families and online groups who have been there – done that are also an incredible resource that can support during these confusing times.
You can also get in touch with them to draft a contingency plan in case of rejection from a particular institution and mold the child’s mind in such a manner that he is ready to embrace the next option instead of being upset about the lost chance.
Be In The Moment
While it’s great to plan ahead, be informed and keep making efforts to achieve a great admission – do not let that overshadow your present and the moments you spend together. Remember, your children are just as stressed as you are, perhaps even more as they are still figuring out what they want, what’s best for them and how to ensure that you too are happy with their choices.
The best you as a parent can do is tone down the high-pressure atmosphere at home with tender moments and love and by being together. Spend quality time, do what makes each other happy, eat out watch your favorite shows. A happy family is a relaxed family and one that will make the right decisions when the time comes.
Tier-1 College Vs Tier-2 College
Understandably, being in the #1 college is a matter of prestige – and having your child there is important for their future. So you all believe. In the long run, however – most employers today seek talent and capability and give less wattage to a rubber stamp. The skills and subject knowledge which your child can attain even by going to a Tier-2 college are as good to them as those from a Tier -1 college.
Perhaps this opportunity might help your child explore new dimensions in his life and prove their mettle beyond the subject scope. You, as a parent, must encourage him and remember that college is a part of education and not the whole educational journey itself.
Conclusion
To sum it up, the time for college admissions is hectic, stressful and challenging – but do remember this too shall pass! Stay grounded, stay informed, keep an open mind, understand your child’s potential and let them make their own but informed choices. Trust in them to make the right decisions, walk their own path and watch them grow exponentially.
A couple of years down the line, this experience will remind you about how you stuck together – and that’s when you’ll share a laugh about ‘what were we so stressed about anyway?’
