like his antiquated mother did.
Except that I didn't actually have to type SEVEN essays. Only two.
Yes, you heard that right. Because in my foolish, naivete I only applied to two (count'em, one, two) colleges. Duke and the University of Virginia. Fortunately for me, I got into Duke early action, and that's where I went. UVA rejected me.
As I've been carefully guiding my son through the college application and visitation process (you can read more about the visitation process here) with the help of a special college adviser hired by his school, his guidance counselor and his teachers, I've thought back to my own college application experience and I'm actually amazed that I made it to college at all.
I was clueless. As I've been going around all these awesome liberal arts schools with my son, I keep thinking, "Why didn't I consider a school like this?"
Probably because I was so desperate to get out of the Northeast, where most of the kids in my high school were applying to college. I really wanted to go to California, but my parents ixnayed that idea on cost grounds. So I looked southbound.
I can't remember a thing my guidance counselor told me about applying to college. But I can't believe she didn't call up my parents and say, "Do you think it's a bright idea to allow your insane kid is to apply to two only colleges?"
All's well that ends well, I suppose. But I'm just glad my son is getting better guidance.
How about you? Are you getting good guidance in your college search if you're applying now? Or did you back when when you applied to college?
