The Great College Tour Marathon

The college search is officially in full swing over here, and let me tell you, it’s a marathon. I have two seniors — yes, two at the same time — and we’re trying to see as many of the schools on their lists as possible before application season is in full gear.

My goal is that each of them applies to around 10 schools. It sounds like a lot, but I want them to have choices when those offer letters (and, let’s be honest, rejections) roll in. Thanks to the Common App, applying is a lot easier than it used to be. Anyone else here remember when you had to handwrite your applications, make copies, and mail everything with actual stamps? Those were the days.

My goal? That each of them applies to around 10 schools. It sounds like a lot, but I want them to have choices when those offer letters (and, let’s be honest, rejections) roll in. And those choices won’t just be about where they get in — they’ll also depend on the financial deal each school offers. I already dread the inevitable day when one of the girls gets into a school she loves and we just can’t make the numbers work.

Thanks to the Common App, applying is a lot easier than it used to be. Anyone else here remember when you had to handwrite your applications, make copies, and mail everything with actual stamps? Those were the days.

We’ve knocked out a handful of visits already and are starting to get into the swing of it — which, for us, means a lot of coffee, a lot of maps, and a lot of snacks in the car. The plan is to hit as many campuses as humanly possible this summer so their application lists are about 75% solid before the school year starts. Because once senior year kicks in, it’s going to be a whirlwind of essays, deadlines, and (hopefully) some excitement too.

So wish me luck. And godspeed to the rest of you parents navigating this same college visit circuit. May your GPS be accurate, your teenagers cooperative, and your parking spots abundant. We’ve got this.