Having a hs senior

[luvmyfam444]

Is so overwhelming!

 

[bsblady01]

but it's also exciting at the same time. my #1 suggestion is to write everything down so you don't miss a due date, and when you mail something make a copy of it so you have it.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Depends on the kid I suppose.

My youngest is a freshman in college this year and she was a breeze. She basically did all the applications and research. As far as shopping, she had a list and stuck to it.

She called last night to say she got a 94 on her math exam. She was so excited!

Oldest dd was a PITA.

 

[NFLDERS]

Is so overwhelming!

The trick is to not let them "have" you. Stay one step ahead so to speak. I'm a darling gram to our 2 sons children now, and we (Dh & I) were not having any of it when they were HS Seniors. Albeit, they were different times, and our sons were such good boys.

 

[Southernmiss]

Is so overwhelming!

I get you op.

College applications, deadlines and last visits. Then the waiting for acceptance, scholarships, final decisions.

And you have senior year...pictures, casual pictures, ordering invitations, homecoming, prom, extra curricular activities, tough courses, keeping grades up, jobs, etc. etc..

And then emotions teen, parent

And it goes on and on!

Lived through 2 boys another next year and a daughter in 4 years!

 

[DisneyNutMary]

I look at my senior and know why some species eat their young. I am both the atm and the chauffeur for all things college related and all senior activities.
If I could just get him to stop procrastinating, and get stuff done, this year would be much easier.
This is my second senior. My older son was a breeze, I never had to worry and he was always ahead of scheduled due dates.

 

[HM]

I'm wondering what the OP is overwhelmed by? Hope you feel better soon!
Senior year wasn't a whole lot different than the preceding years to us. Getting a few college applications done by Nov 1 was the only added change. They did their own work on them, though I had helped make sure the info they needed was gathered that summer.

 

[DawnM]

Why is it overwhelming for you? Maybe if you post reasons, some people can help with specific suggestions?

 

[Mkrop]

Seriously people are asking why it is overwhelming...it is everything...the applications, even when they work on them, it is still stressful and that is hard to watch, juggling the classes so they can keep their first quarter grades up. The other day my kid was literally a walking zombie, he was burning the candles at both ends, working on last minute app stuff, then tackling major tests and projects for the end of the 1Q, on little sleep bc he went to a sleepover at his buddy's house after Homecoming.

And for me the parent it is all the lasts...this past week, we had Senior Day for XC, parents went out on the field with their kid, I wore sunglasses I was tearing up. He had his last homecoming dance, he has his last XC meet in a couple hours, tomorrow is our last Mother/Son Breakfast, we have done it all 4 years.

He got his portraits and it was like oh man...this is real, he is graduating. We had to submit a baby picture...taking that walk down memory lane pulled at my heartstrings.

I am so excited, nervous and cant wait for him to enjoy all the fun of this year. But for me it has been quite the rollercoaster of emotions for both the parents and the kiddo.

 

[mamacatnv]

DD is a JR but I remember DS's Sr. year - it is overwhelming:
Costs - That was an expensive year
Emotions - Its a year of lasts. Last football game, last prom, last last last, very emotionally wearing for everyone.
Decisions: College, where? What will it cost.......will I get in........what will I study
To stay home or go away
Tests: ACT/SAT, AP/IB tests tests tests. Time to prove what they know, so much rides on those tests scores....stress stress stress
Friends: "I'll never see them again" or BFF's going to different schools or even different paths, military, college, marriage/kids, trade school or into the work force.
18 years of one way and now, time to change things up
Yes, It's overwhelming. Its also exciting and parents and kids survive but its overwhelming. OP hang in there

 

[luvmyfam444]

but it's also exciting at the same time. my #1 suggestion is to write everything down so you don't miss a due date, and when you mail something make a copy of it so you have it.

Good idea, need to copy stuff!

 

[mjkacmom]

There is a lot going on. Senior day at soccer, soccer dinner, choir dinner, yearbook, fashion show, prom, prom house, applications, essays...

Dd19 was easier, and I still have 3 more to go - plenty of concerts and games in my future, thank goodness!

 

[luvmyfam444]

Exactly, every bit of it. Visiting schools, we've seen 7, have 3 more to visit, will be revisiting 2 next weekend. We have spent hours & hours looking for scholarships. She's an average student so we haven't found a scholarship yet. Then nonstop studying for the ACT in between her regular studying. Not to mention her job, club and band practices.

And the emotional part of it! UGH . I think I'm gonna need drugs before this process is over. Random sadness & worry, and we haven't even decided where she is going yet! The decisions if she should stay home or go away...

I've got a long road ahead of me.

 

[Kimberlyann11]

This is a crazy senior year for us! DD got three acceptances from very good public universities. She is three for three. She just sent in an early decision app for a very selective private school on the west coast. She is very anxious about it. I am trying to tell her that, if she doesn't get accepted, she has three excellent choices right here in this state - any of the three would be wonderful places to go with an excellent reputation for the field she wants to get into.

I would hate to see her feel negative about where she ends up right off the bat just because it isn't her number one choice.

 

[Mkrop]

Also if you have a kid who is unsure... it is a lot of pressure on 17/18 yr old to make what can be life altering decisions. He thinks he knows what he wants to do but still questions it.

And this particular kid is on the high end of test scores, ranking etc. I have one that will be more middle of the road when he gets there. But the pressure sometimes on the kids to stay at the top and the comments made to them by people are just amazing. I had a good friend, someone who has known him his whole life, ask HIM why he wasnt interested in applying to any Ivies, he said that he wasnt interested in them. She went on and on to him about what a missed opportunity it was. He walked away feeling like crap, when he shouldnt, where he is applying are great schools and the ones for him, end of story.

He told me if one more person asks where he wants to go he is going to scream!

 

[luvmyfam444]

This is a crazy senior year for us! DD got three acceptances from very good public universities. She is three for three. She just sent in an early decision app for a very selective private school on the west coast. She is very anxious about it. I am trying to tell her that, if she doesn't get accepted, she has three excellent choices right here in this state - any of the three would be wonderful places to go with an excellent reputation for the field she wants to get into.

I would hate to see her feel negative about where she ends up right off the bat just because it isn't her number one choice.

That's the hard part. Thank goodness my dd pretty much likes her top choices equally. She'd really be happy @ any of them. Her top choice though has a friend going there, so that's really what she wants.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Also if you have a kid who is unsure... it is a lot of pressure on 17/18 yr old to make what can be life altering decisions. He thinks he knows what he wants to do but still questions it.

And this particular kid is on the high end of test scores, ranking etc. I have one that will be more middle of the road when he gets there. But the pressure sometimes on the kids to stay at the top and the comments made to them by people are just amazing. I had a good friend, someone who has known him his whole life, ask HIM why he wasnt interested in applying to any Ivies, he said that he wasnt interested in them. She went on and on to him about what a missed opportunity it was. He walked away feeling like crap, when he shouldnt, where he is applying are great schools and the ones for him, end of story.

He told me if one more person asks where he wants to go he is going to scream!

Our case is way differnent...average student....but yes, had a "friend" give a lecture about why my child should go to the local jr college first, no reason to go off & waste $....blah blah blah

 

[luvmyfam444]

And then dd is hearing from 1 grandmother that she needs to stay hmm she's too "blonde" to go off. Of course that's my mil who didn't go to college & neither did her children.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Yes, there was a lot going on, but I loved every minute of it. The lasts were sad, but we did so much and it was fun and exciting. Probably helped we had all college aps completed before school started with all three kids. Luckily for us money was not an issue either.

It is a special time. I hope you all can enjoy it.

 

[punkin]

I'm in the middle of this also. DD hasn't applied anywhere yet even though most of her apps are finished. She's too nervous to push that submit button.