THE NEUROTIC PARENT™

Via Maffia

As one of my sons struggles to come up with a killer topic for his Common App Personal Statement, the other is settling into his new apartment on Via Maffia in Florence, where he will spend his junior semester abroad. 

Yes, Mr. NP and I are planning a short visit, so I guess we are lucky.  But we are not nearly as blessed as CJ, who gets to sip aperitivos (legally) every night at sunset, jet off to weekend with friends in Copenhagen, and take a class (for credit) called Italian Villas. 

Something's wrong with this picture: I'm the one who loves strolls through cobblestoned piazzas, who appreciates art, who finds inspiration in scenic hilltowns. If CJ gets to live this life now, what will he have to look forward to, other than being able to identify obscure kinds of pasta? 

Update: Of course, we have not heard from CJ except to let us know that he landed safely.  But the neurotic mother of his roommate did text to say she received a long email from her son to let her know that despite the street name, the boys love their apartment and that they're busy with orientaion and exploring Florence nightlife.  She also let me know that they spotted some authentic Banksy graffitti on a church wall in the Centro Storico.

Yes, my son is has finally learned to spot and appreciate art.  Perhaps at some point he''ll notice the Michaelangos and Botticellis as well.

 

24/7 Application Bootcamp/A New and Improved Country of Residence

Rising seniordom means rising anxiety.  Just heard three angst-laden stories from good sources:

1)  A rising senior flew 3,000 miles to spend a week living at a Vermont college counselor's home.  She returned with completed drafts of her Common App, Personal Statement and Supplemental Essays.

2) A rising senior's SAT tutor has moved into her guest house.

3) A concerned dad with business interests in Bangladesh is considering establishing residency there to increase his daughter's college chances.  (The caveat: He wants her to live there for a month before she attends her alumni interviews, so she will sound knowledgeable about Bangladeshi culture.)

 

 

 

A Mid-summer's Reality Check

August is the time, according to all the specialists, to get a jumpstart on all the stressful tasks that define senior year. 

After a major research study, the Neurotic Parent Institute has created two different checklists for rising seniors, one for each gender.

 

August To-do List for Girls:

1. Finalize college list

2. Download Common App

3. Complete rough drafts of three short and three long essays

4. Set up appointment with college counselor for essay feedback

5. Contact teachers to ask for recommendations

6. Write thank you notes to above teachers

7. Take weekly SAT II practice exams

8. E-mail college admissions officers with well-researched questions about potential majors

9. Organize fundraiser to benefit Tanzanian AIDs orphans

10. Shop for college interview wardrobe

Most girls we know are well on their way to completing the tasks outlined on the above list, so they will be able to focus on their challenging senior year courseloads and SAT retakes.

 

Here is the August To-do List for Boys, which demands as much as they can reasonably handle:

1. Turn on computer

2. Download Common App

3. Take a break and go to the beach - Why stress now? That's what December is for.