Dear Ed Vice,

I’m a senior applying to college, and it’s absolutely awful. I hate it so much and the whole process is making me miserable. What’s even worse is that my mom is so controlling when it comes to college apps. Everytime I talk about a school I want to go to, she completely vetos it and is constantly critiquing the essays I write and just everything to do with common app. It’s so exhausting. Like, this is already stressful enough, I don’t need her doing this. How do I get her off my back?

Sincerely,

Collegiately Cooked

Hi!

I’m so sorry, that’s one super stressful situation on top of another. There are lots of adults at school or teachers that could probably look over your essays if that’s what you’re having problems with. They’ll probably also give you feedback in a much more constructive way. It does suck, but if this is that huge of a stressor for you, it might be best to not include her in the process at all. There are lots of other resources to help with this process! Just a couple more months and hopefully it will blow over, but in the meantime, I would either talk to your mom or just try to involve her less. 

Hugs,

Cahn, Soltayshinne

Dear Ed Vice,

I kind of hate my friend group but I don’t know how to tell them I don’t want to be friends anymore. There isn’t a particular reason why, they’re just making me mad. Like everything they do annoys me, even something like how loud they breathe. I don’t even think it’s an issue of our personalities, I just want to change it up because they’re annoying me so bad. I’m not even sure why I joined in the first place, and for now I’m just rotting there slowly getting angrier at everything they do. 

Sincerely,

Frustrated Friend

Hey dear,

I’m not exactly sure how to help you here because from the sound of things, I don’t really know how much wrong your friends are doing. Sometimes you outgrow people, but general annoyance with someone is not a good reason to drop someone. If it truly is just a you-problem, that’s what talking to your friends about these problems is for! No one likes someone who just slowly starts getting annoyed with their friends but doesn’t say anything. At the same time, sometimes you just outgrow a friend group. Just take some time for self reflection and see if this is something you can easily fix by talking to them or if it is time to move on.

Muah,

Cahn, Soltayshinne