Shane Has Already Seen 81 Colleges.
Shane and I have come to an agreement: we will meet weekly about colleges.
I have been looking at colleges for either Dylan or Shane for five years. I was already making lists for Shane back when Dylan still hadn’t decided where to go, and both boys spent their spring break in 9th grade on college road trips. I tried to make the road trips fun, of course, but still: college romps were included as part of the package.
I say “romps” because “tours” didn’t start until junior year. We would go to a campus and run free, testing the vibes and getting a feel for what was – and wasn’t – enticing and attractive. Campuses that “fit” were often just grassy and open areas surrounded by regal buildings – and honestly, there are hundreds of those since I knew where to look.
Dylan looked at 87 colleges, all told, but he pretty much knew he wanted to go to Belmont University from the moment he stepped onto campus early in 10th grade. But it was fun to keep looking.
Not including the campuses Shane toured with Dylan, Shane has already seen 81 colleges in person – about half during the pandemic. In addition, he’s toured dozens more via YouTube, and done admissions sessions with a few dozen that he hasn’t toured – including Juilliard and Edinburgh, just because he could. Shane has been Zooming with colleges of interest since last summer, and done several sessions with each of the colleges he really likes.
Shane has “gone to” at least three college fairs, and met with admissions officers at at least twenty schools. He’s serious about this search. Since some colleges re-opened for tours, he’s done six official, in-person tours as well.
Shane has done enough. He has a good, solid list of colleges he likes, and he plans to visit his top ten schools in the fall and/or spring next year. He’s even already asked his teachers for letters of recommendation.
But I am out of control.
While Shane has done all of these sessions, and tours, and fairs, and road trips – and been an absolute stalwart through the whole thing, I haven’t quite slowed down yet. He’s getting mail that intrigues me, so I research the colleges that I don’t recognize. I create stat sheets for colleges that may or may not be anywhere in the realm of possibility for Shane. I present the stat sheets to Shane as if they are golden, and he decides if they’re worth a virtual visit.
Then I spend time organizing and reorganizing information as if it will make any difference at all.
Shane isn’t quite done with his junior year. He’s preparing for AP exams and considering topics for his college application essay. He would much rather play guitar and make videos for TikTok. But he’s primed for completing his applications early and getting a couple of responses before Christmas.
Meanwhile, I’ve had to limit my college-related interactions with him, so it’s not all I talk about. We meet on Mondays at 8:00 instead.
Shane’s done great at getting ready to apply to colleges. I’m excited to take him back in the fall to (hopefully fully open) campuses to tour, meet students and interview with admissions officers. Everything is so exciting!
But then … he’ll be gone. They’ll both be gone. And I will have nothing left to research, tour or organize. Instead, I will be utterly and completely alone.
No wonder I am keeping myself thoroughly distracted.