New Delhi: Ask a final year student about what their college application process was like, and you could get a mixed bag. Perhaps he or she is cynical, or regretful while being reminiscent.

Asking someone in the midst of the application process could yield nervousness and excitement — or just plain stress!

We honestly weren’t sure what to expect when we started our conversations with two students, both at very different points in their lives. They brought along a parent each (their mother in both cases), and shared their adventures of choosing and applying to colleges.

The first interview is with MINT parent Elizabeth Eapen, whose son Vinay is in his final year at the Vellore Institute of Technology. You’d think someone in their final year would probably have forgotten the trials and tribulations of applying to college (given how much else has happened since). Vinay though, provides a clear take on on his experiences with a larger perspective.

Our second duo was Dr. Shubhra Phillips and her daughter, Vasundhara who just completed her 12th standard and wants to attend medical school. Though understandably nervous, she explains how she arrived at her choice, and her game plan for the future. Dr. Shubhra voices concerns that many parents can identify with -- including the stress of waiting for entrance exam results!

Differences aside, you may be surprised to hear how much in common they have as well. Watch them talk about the “herd mentality,” and the relationship between mother and child when it comes to making one of the most important decisions of your life.