College Applications
Find a Conversation
| Wed, 11-01-2006 - 11:41am |
I'm not a parent of a teen, but the much older (10 years) sister of one. My mother has passed away and my youngest brother is 18. He's a good student (12th in his class at a private college oriented school) and has decent test scores. He wants to go to college but is completely dragging his feet on the applications. He hasn't done them because he was waiting for his test scores to come back..... Finally, my dad and I met with his guidance counselor today. He's been telling us that his applications are due Jan 1. One of them is due Nov 15 and the school he really wants to go to is due Dec 1. He now knows that we know this and that he needs to do the apps THIS WEEK. My dad means well but is terrible on follow through so my brother tends to do whatever it his he wants.
We have all talked with him repeatedly about the need to get these applications in, that we will assist with his essays, etc and we get "but I'm doing them" and then the spiel that he doesn't work well when pressured.
My dad may very well lose his house next year (there is money for college from our grandparents and my brother knows it, so that's not the issue) and he's aware that if he doesn't go to school he may have nowhere to live next year. His issues are entirely age appropriate, but I think I may have to lock the children I don't have yet in a closet for their teenage years.
How in the heck do I motivate him to do these applications?

ps - LOL about your comment about locking up the children you don't have yet :-) And your dad sounds a lot like my husband...I do actually worry about how he'll manage with the kids if something ever happens to me. I can JUST SEE my responsible, focused older daughter and my wild, devil-may-care younger daughter in much the same situation you are in!
I agree with sitting down and doing them with him-not the essay, of course ;)
It's like anything-cleaning a messy basement, etc. You just dont want to get started but once you do, you tend to keep going
And-not sure how much older you are-but you're probably more familiar with filling out forms and SSN and place of birth and all that stuff. For a 'newbie' that can be enough to make it daunting("I dont know where my SS card is")
Pick a time and just follow through with him!
The other thought, of course, is that he doesnt want to go to college but that this is the path everyone has just assumed he will follow and he has thoughts of his own. I'd do one application first and them maybe open that up for discussion-"this is what you're wanting to do, right?"
And, yes, he is sooo lucky to have you. DH did NOTHING with college info, apps, etc here either