My Pity Party

School starts early in the South and this week marks the third week of my daughter’s senior year.  On Monday, I attended the Senior Parent Night at my daughter’s large public high school in our suburban town.  I don’t know why I went to the meeting; I know 99.9% of the information that was presented that evening. I admit I wanted to be a “spy” to make sure the information that was shared about colleges like GW (aka private) was accurate (it was). 

I guess what I really wanted was to be a “regular” parent of a high school senior; someone without a true sense of what applying to college is like these days.  I didn’t want to be a know-it-all, for just a moment, but to be educated on what lies ahead.  

What I was really thinking while I sat in that auditorium was “well, how did I get here?” It was so sudden.  Here I was living in suburbia in my soon-to-be empty nest when it seems like yesterday that she started kindergarten. I am not making this up, time really does fly.

I can’t help thinking about that Talking Heads song “Once in a Lifetime”…

“And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack
And you may find yourself in another part of the world
And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife

And you may ask yourself - well...how did I get here?”

These days I spend a lot of time thinking about when she was a little girl and how we were each other’s world.  In hindsight, parenting was a breeze back then – the terrible two’s and all.  One minute I’m excited about her future and then the next I wonder what life will be like when she does go off to college.  I Iaugh, I cry, I yell, I (attempt to) guide – nobody at home gets me. I don’t get me either.*   

"And you may ask yourself
What is that beautiful house?
And you may ask yourself
Where does that highway go?"

What wasn’t covered in the meeting was how hard it is to be a parent of a high school senior! I had no idea that I would feel this way – why didn’t they warn me. It’s a confusing time for us parents.  And being a mom of an only child – I believe it’s harder for me.  For every transition we have together as mother and daughter is a “Once in a Lifetime” experience!

And you may ask yourself
Am I right?...Am I wrong?
And you may tell yourself
MY GOD!...WHAT HAVE I DONE?

*My editor says this is too personal, but I don’t care xo 

My kid's kindergarten class - she's in there somewhere!

And thanks David Bryne for writing such great lyrics!

Tis the Season...

I feel some explanation is needed as to how I can live in Atlanta and still work for GW, which is, located in Washington, DC.  As you may recall I went to art college in Boston. After earning my Masters in Fine Arts I began working in admissions at my alma mater.  Although I had always dreamed I would be a college art professor, I discovered I loved working with teenagers and fostering their college admissions experience.  I am proof you can do anything with an art degree!  Then in 1997 my husband, daughter and I moved to Atlanta – we lost interest in all that New England snow. It was in 1999 when I became one of GW's regional directors of admission.

My colleagues and I think of the work we do as “seasons”.  Right now we are heading into “travel season” when we schedule and visit a bazillion high schools spreading the good word about the colleges and universities we represent.  Next comes “reading season” when we review and evaluate a bazillion more applications and make decisions that change the lives of many 17 and 18 year olds.  The next is called “yield season” where we meet and mingle with the newly admitted and remind them once again why our college or university is the right one and hope that they accept our offer of admission.  Finally we have “send off season” when the lucky soon-to-be college freshmen return to our campuses for their orientation programs. They also to attend parties near their homes where we congratulate them for making the very best decision of their young lives.  

Sounds pretty exciting, right?  

I am now heading into “travel season” and this week I must schedule 100 high school visits in four different states: Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee. I’m sending emails, making and returning phone calls, checking for the best airfares, booking hotels, and renting cars. Once this is done, I have to try to fit all this into my calendar that (sadly) informs me that I will be away more than I am home.  To say this is a crazy time of the year is an understatement.  But while the schedule I keep only changes slightly from year to year; the people I meet during each of these “seasons” make the work I do so enjoyable.

As I head into my thirteenth year in admissions at GW, I look forward to seeing many old college counseling friends at the schools I visit during “travel season”.  And the optimistic, accomplished, and inspiring students I’ll meet in my travels.  There is always something new to share with them about GW (and yes, I am bragging) – like the newly renovated Lafayette Hall, West Hall on the Vern, the opening of Whole Foods, and the construction of the Science and Engineering Hall on our Foggy Bottom campus.  I won’t forget to mention the new delish restaurants across the street from JBKO and Munson Halls on I Street (I ate in all of them last week).  

All I can say is who wouldn’t want to go to GW?

Oh, yeah, and for any high school senior reading my blog you have “application season” so don’t forget to register for the October SAT and ACT!

Flashback and Fast Forward

In 1977, I was a college freshman attending art school - I was going to be the next great American artist! I remember how excited I was to apply to college so I could strike it out on my own and get out of New Jersey.  I have nothing against New Jersey, I will always be a Jersey Girl, but by the time I reached the age of 18 I was more than ready to spread my wings and leave my parent's nest.  

The picture to the right is of me on a rooftop in Boston where I had gathered with my friends to paint city scapes.  Looking back at that picture brings back so many wonderful memories!  I loved living in the city, living on my own (even if it was in an all-girls dorm), and taking classes that challenged me.  I was a carefree art student with dreams to change the world one brushstroke at a time. 

Fast forward thirty-four years and I am a mother of a daughter who will be applying to college for Fall 2012.  One might think because I am a college admissions professional I have it easy and my kid will magically know everything about applying to college.  Uh, no!  You've heard the saying the "cobbler’s children have no shoes"?  Well, we aren't that bad off but it's pretty darn close.

This year I will chronicle my travels as I meet with students who want to apply for admission to GW.  I will be sharing with my readers the life of the college admissions officer as well as my experience as a parent of a high school senior. I hope my stories inspire you, educate you, humor you, enlighten you, advise you and demystify for you the college admissions search process. And somewhere along this journey I hope I manage to take my own advice as I guide my child to discover a college that fits her like a glove!

Although I knew right away that choosing an art college was the perfect fit for me; it isn’t always that clear to teenagers where they want to spend the next four years of their lives.  It is scary and exciting and for many the first big decision of their young lives.  My job as a parent is to allow my daughter the freedom to explore her options but to not let the process overwhelm her. And I fully expect her to change her mind (probably more than once) about her career goals, application choices, or what she wants the college experience to be like. I will celebrate each step along the way and be a sympathetic ear, an informed expert, and a caring friend - because before I know it she will leave our nest just like I did so many years ago.