Seniors, as you move into the throes of the college application process, here's something you can do to keep the stress levels in your household manageable–talk to your parents about what you're doing.
I'm a big proponent of parents staying "hands off" and letting their seniors take the lead during this time. And it's normal for seniors to want to assert some independence and tell Mom and Dad to stay out of it. In fact, that's appropriate given that the seniors, not their parents, are the ones who will actually be going to college next year.
But seniors, understand that stepping back, especially at the time that you're doing something as important as college applications, is a hard thing for a lot of parents to do. They're worried that something could go wrong and that they'll have to live with college application guilt of not being involved enough when it counted. That's why parents ask if you've written your essays yet, and if you've started your application to Duke, and if you've seen your teachers about getting letters of recommendation.
You can put your parents at ease by just spending a few minutes every couple of days and actually telling them what you're up to. That means you need to do more than say, "Mom, stop asking me about this. I'll get it done!" Instead, give some detail.
Update your parents on your progress. Tell them when you meet with your counselor, when you submit your letters of recommendation, and when you've visiting your English teacher to have her look at your essay. Show them the information you print out from colleges. Tell them when the deadlines are, and when you plan to submit yours. Let them in on what's left to be done, like sending test scores or requesting transcripts or scheduling an interview. And if you need help organizing all that information, ask your parents to help–not to do it for you–but to help.
If you feel like your parents are standing over your shoulder during this time, and you think it would be a lot less stressful if they would just back off a little, do the opposite of what you're inclined to do. Instead of telling them to leave you alone, take a few minutes every couple of days to tell them exactly what you're doing.
Let them in on the process, and they'll be more likely to take themselves out of it.