The Parent's Guide to Not Freaking Out About College Applications: Managing Stress

Stressed about college applications?

It's September. Applications are due in January. And you're already stressed.

 Your kid is stressed. You're stressed about your kid being stressed. Everyone's stressed.

Here's how to not spiral.

Remember: This Is One Moment, Not Your Kid's Entire Life

Where they go to college matters. It also doesn't matter as much as people think it does. 

Success does not necessarily depend on the university ranking, it definitely depends on what your kid actually does while they're there.

Your Actual Job as a Parent

You're not their admissions officer. You're not their therapist. You're their parent.

Your job is to help them stay organized, remind them that this will pass, and keep things in perspective when they're spiraling.

Practical Tips for Parents During Applications

• Set deadlines together. "Essay done by October 15th. Applications submitted by December 1st." Then let them  own it.

• Don't write their essays. I know you could do it better. Don't. This is their voice, not yours.

• Let them choose the schools. Yes, within reason. But they know what feels right to them.

• Don't make this about you. This isn't where you  went to school. This is where they’re  going. Different vibes.

When Your Teen Is Panicking

"A lot of kids feel this way right now. This is temporary. You're going to be fine no matter where you end up. And I believe in you."

That's it. That's all they need to hear.

The Real Talk

Colleges want your kid to do well there. That's literally their job. They're not looking for perfection. They're looking for people who are genuinely interested and will actually contribute to their campus.

Your kid probably gets in somewhere great. And even if they don't get their first choice? They'll end up exactly where they need to be.

Let them feel anxious. But don't let them feel alone in it.