How to help with the wait...

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kanona1

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Our DD is waiting on pins and needles. I've been reading this forum for months (very, very helpful, thank you to everyone taking the time to post their experiences!) so I have some (limited, I'm sure) idea of how the process goes. DD is a senior in high school applying for the first time. She is fully qualified, best I can tell (I know she is medically qualified and did her PFT a few months ago, portal just says candidate/complete). She has a congressional and senate nomination. The only issue is, I don't know how to help her not stress over this! I've told her that as long as she hasn't heard 'no' yet, she still has a chance, but she is still super nervous.
For those of you who have been through this already, how did you help your child (or yourself if you are the candidate/appointee/cadet) learn to relax through this process?
 
kanona1 said:
Our DD is waiting on pins and needles. I've been reading this forum for months (very, very helpful, thank you to everyone taking the time to post their experiences!) so I have some (limited, I'm sure) idea of how the process goes. DD is a senior in high school applying for the first time. She is fully qualified, best I can tell (I know she is medically qualified and did her PFT a few months ago, portal just says candidate/complete). She has a congressional and senate nomination. The only issue is, I don't know how to help her not stress over this! I've told her that as long as she hasn't heard 'no' yet, she still has a chance, but she is still super nervous.
For those of you who have been through this already, how did you help your child (or yourself if you are the candidate/appointee/cadet) learn to relax through this process?
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I finished my application in early October and was fortunate enough to get an appointment early this March. The whole time I was just telling myself that I had done everything I could do and tried to occupy my mind other ways. Every time my mind wandered to it, I just got stressed. Best of luck to your DD!
 
kanona1 said:
Our DD is waiting on pins and needles. I've been reading this forum for months (very, very helpful, thank you to everyone taking the time to post their experiences!) so I have some (limited, I'm sure) idea of how the process goes. DD is a senior in high school applying for the first time. She is fully qualified, best I can tell (I know she is medically qualified and did her PFT a few months ago, portal just says candidate/complete). She has a congressional and senate nomination. The only issue is, I don't know how to help her not stress over this! I've told her that as long as she hasn't heard 'no' yet, she still has a chance, but she is still super nervous.
For those of you who have been through this already, how did you help your child (or yourself if you are the candidate/appointee/cadet) learn to relax through this process?
Click to expand...

This year being my second time applying to USAFA, I'm definitely a lot more relaxed compared to last year. I think the best thing to do is to understand that at this point in the process you've done everything you could. If your DD can look herself in the mirror and tell herself "I put everything on the table" then she should have nothing to worry about. Yes, we're humans and it's completely normal to stress- especially for something as big as getting into USAFA- but remember that at this point unfortunately it's out of our hands. Eventually the time will come when you receive either the "Congratulations!" Or "Thank you for your interest but..". Just make sure that Plan A-Z are set and push through the rough ride day by day as all of us are alongside you. Best of luck to you!
 
One thing that really helped me was having a plan B that I was excited about and that was already in place. Hopefully she has this. I did research about my plan B and found out about all the cool things you could do there, the clubs they had, the opportunities, etc. Being excited about a school that I had already been accepted to helped a lot. Try to encourage her not to throw away the fun times of high school senior year worrying about the future.
 
Going through the same thing with my DD. It's not easy. What might be the route by which we hear from them? Should we be waiting by the mailbox, or will it be a phone call or email...? One less thing for us to not know, till we know, that is.
 
It all depends on your Nomination source. Some will call to let you know if you got the Appointment. USAFA gives them (the Nomination source) a few days to contact you before sending an email to check your portal for an update.
 
Maplerock said:
It will all be in your rear view mirror before you know it.

Kids don't stress near as much as parents, so make it easy on yourself. Fughetaboutit.
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I wish this was the case. I could deal with it being me, but she tells me at least once a day (if not more) how anxious she is to hear.
 
animal10 said:
Going through the same thing with my DD. It's not easy. What might be the route by which we hear from them? Should we be waiting by the mailbox, or will it be a phone call or email...? One less thing for us to not know, till we know, that is.
Click to expand...

My understanding is that they either get a notification from their nomination source informing them, or they get an email telling them that their portal has updated and they need to check it. No postal mail, from what I have read thus far.
 
Only thing I can suggest is to try for her to get as excited over the plan B school as possible. Envision herself there, watch videos about it, do some of the detail preparation for life at the plan B school. It is just when she gets most mentally attached to the plan B school that the USAFA good news could come in. I know, easier said than done.
 
Thank you, everyone, for your responses. We were planning to sit down and go through all of her acceptances/financial aid/scholarship packages this weekend and officially choose her plan B (I think she has been putting it off on purpose). I am hoping that will help her refocus a bit while she waits.
Exercise is another great idea! Spring track just started up, so hopefully that will keep her mind off of things a bit.
 
Might I suggest that you spend some of this waiting time helping someone less fortunate than you. Maybe become a mentor to another student that hasn't had the parenting and guidance you have been afforded and subsequently haven't made the best choices in life. Remember, nothing is more precious than time. Spend yours wisely.... I know many applicants are already doing this and much more and for that I say, God bless.
 
Remember that a TWE is not the end of a dream, it just alters the path... that said, things to do include:
* Keep in shape and stay out of trouble
* End high school career on a high note (minimize senioritis if possible)
* Savor every minute remaining of your high school career
* Make sure your Plan B and Plan C options are in place
* Focus on time management skills (they will make a significant impact on your ability to excel in SA or college)
* Make your bed and hug your mom every morning
* +1 to HuskyPilot, focus on those around you
 
I am the mom, but I do love and appreciate all the suggestions :)
I talked to her tonight and we made a plan to go visit the likely plan B. I think that is really going to help her put all this in perspective.
 
The way I see it is that once all the Ivy League schools and other top tier schools start releasing their decisions, there’s going to be a lot more “action” on what USNA does because the appointments they’ve offered are going to start getting accepted or declined. So maybe early April, late March. I don’t know if that helps
 
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