Gratitude For The College Process

“I hate the college process.” This may be the one thing that Connecticut parents and teens agree upon.

My immediate comment: “You should be grateful.” is often met with confused looks.

I am a parent of three, one of whom is a senior applying to college. So, I know the stress of applying to college from an experiential as well as a college counseling perspective.  But because of my work advising thousands of Connecticut parents about the college process through the last 15 years, I know the full spectrum of problems that confront students.  The generic college process is low on this list.

That your high school senior is applying to college is what you dreamed about years ago when your child was a baby. I don’t mean in a literal sense – at least for most of you! – but in a metaphorical sense.

You wanted your child to be physically healthy. That your child is applying to college means that he/she is physically healthy enough to go away to college.

You wanted your child to be psychologically healthy. That your child is applying to college means that he/she is psychologically healthy enough to go away to college.

You wanted your child to grow up to be independent…

You wanted your child to do well enough in school to go to college…

You wanted to be able to afford to send your child to college…

And, the list can continue for all that being able to go to college represents. Those in the Fairfield County bubble often overlook simple good fortune.  College is not a given for children across swaths of Connecticut and certainly not a given for many in the nation.

Be grateful that your child is able to go through the college process.