Every day, seniors come into my office - not to ask me a particular college related question, but to see if they can read my mind. Yes, my mind, because every senior by now knows me really well and has figured out that sometimes the college counselor gets a bit of a "preview" on what is likely to happen to his students in terms of admissions consideration. The conversation goes something like this:
Senior: Hi, Mr. Martinez, how's it going?
Me: Fine, how are you?
Senior: Good.
Me: That's nice, what's up?
Senior: Oh, nothing.
Me: Is everything okay?
Senior: Well, yeah, but I was just wondering if maybe you might know something?
Me: Hmmm… Well I know many things, but if you're looking for a "hint" on what a particular college is likely to do with you, you're not going to get one from me.
Senior: What do you mean? I just came in to say "hi" and wanted to make sure you didn't think I forgot about you now that all my college applications are done.
Me: Really? How nice of you! Well, I'm good, sounds like you are good, and since we are both good, we can relax.
Senior: Oh, so are you telling me that I got into my college?
Me: No, I didn't say that at all.
Senior: Oh No! So you are telling me that I didn't get in?
Me: No, I didn't say that either.
Senior: Oh, so it sounds like I got wait listed then?
Me: No, what are you talking about? I didn't say anything, so stop being paranoid!
Senior: Well, make up your mind, Mr. M.—did I or didn’t I get into the college?
Me: You will find out in due time! And even if I knew, the college would swear me to secrecy, so I would never tell you.
Senior: I knew you were going to say that.
Me: Yeah, great. Well, why don't you go try to read someone else's mind? Mine is totally consumed by the junior class now, and I need to get back to work.
Senior: Yeah, I know, but I figured it was worth a try.
Me: Yeah, well nice try, but no such luck. Maybe when you come by again tomorrow, you will have better luck!
Senior: Sure, but I doubt it.
Me: Yeah, me too.
Every senior that is still waiting to hear about his/her admissions to college is sitting on pins and needles right about now. They feel tortured that they have to wait so long to get a decision - even if most of them haven't been waiting for longer than a week or two since they completed their final college applications. The waiting game is long and torturous, and that is understandable. After all, college admission offices have an enormous task at hand, and it will take time to read all those applications.
I feel sorry for some of my seniors around this time of year. They are officially second semester seniors and graduation seems so much more attainable than ever before; however, getting into college still feels like a far away dream. Some of them will hear any day now; but most will have to wait weeks, if not months (most decisions are not handed out until late March or early April). Some will try anything to see if they can get a "heads up" on what is coming their way. It’s not unusual to get a strange stare from a senior once in a while, and when I ask him/her why they are looking at me so funny, he/she will actually say to me, “I’m just trying to see if I can read your eyes to see if I got into college yet!” Others will lose patience and figure out that I either really don't know what a particular college has decided (which is usually the truth), or that I will simply never let them know even if I do know something ahead of time (which is also true).
Good news? Bad news? Neutral news (like getting wait listed)? Which is it going to be? Our seniors will simply have to wait it out like the rest of the college-bound population across America. But rest assured that they will find out sooner or later and most of the time, the news is well worth the wait. Does this mean I know something they don't? No, it simply means they have to be patient. Only the admission officers reading their applications right now know if they are going to get in or not. And they, like me, aren't going to spill the beans until it's official, and the decision is in the mail. Excuse me, there's someone at my door.
Me: Come in.
Senior: How's it going Mr. Martinez?
Me: Good, how are you?
Senior: Good, thanks.
Me: That's nice, what's up?
Senior: Oh, nothing...
