It's College Acceptance Season (Try to be Cool About It!) [View all]

[Prairie Gates]

Tomorrow, December 15, is one of the big days in the college application season, with many schools sending out their acceptances (and rejections) for students who sought Early Decisions (ED). Many students who applied early under Early Action (EA) have also been receiving answers over the last few weeks, with more coming out before Christmas and into January.

So, if you have high school seniors or other possible applicants in your life (or their parents!), be nice. Be chiil. Even if you're down on college, as so many here seem to be, be encouraging and congratulate and mirror their joy. These kids work incredibly hard these days, and many manage a colege application process almost infiinitely more difficult than the one you undertook. Top schools and even mid-range schools are way more difficult to get into now - yes, they are. These kids work their butts off.

It might also be a time of sadness for some, as their dream schools say no, or their parents say, yes, well, you got into X, but we really can't make that happen. Be supportive!

This is an exciting time! For students who ED'd, they are pretty much making their decision NOW. If they ED'd to UPenn, and they get in, they're pretty much pledged to UPenn. be happy for them. If they really want to go to Middle Tennessee (a good school!), be chill! Congratulate.

There will be a time for your opinions about this or that college, or college in general. But this isn't really it. This is a time to celebrate accomplishments.