<p>I'm surprised that colleges ask for the parents place of employment &
wonder what to tell my daughter to state for myself since I mainly do
caregiving of my 88 yr dad, volunteer at school,church and community
and spent 25 yrs as a paralegal but am not currently employed.<br>
Just put N.A. ? thanks from a very busy mom in NJ</p>
<p>Nancyzl, I think I'd put down something like "caregiver/volunteer" or just "caregiver for elderly father" -- the time you spend on these activities gives some insight into your family life and values. Also, as mentioned in several admissions books, it can present a negative image if your daughter seems to come from too-cushy a background. By the way, I think it's people like you that keep communities working!</p>
<p>Although I do a lot of volunteer work, I had my son put retired school teacher (my former profession).</p>
<p>I agree with "caregiver & volunteer."</p>
<p>I also agree with something like "elder caregiver and volunteer". You could add something like "previous paralegal" if that's what you were doing during most of your daughter's growing up and you feel it would shed more light on her background. But I definitely would not leave it blank or put N/A.</p>
<p>After being a paralegal for 25 years, I think that entitles you to say "retired paralegal". Retired doesn't necessarily mean you have to be 65 years old. Then if you want to add something about what you're doing now, you could. I don't think the schools are looking for a resume of the parents' community service or familial responsibilities.</p>
<p>The college is not trying to evaluate you on the basis of what you do. It's simply trying to understand your student better. For instance, a student who comes from two doctorate-holding college professors who has mediocre grades, high scores and no ECs is not going to be viewed as understandingly as a similar student whose parents are not very educated and not professionally employed.</p>
<p>If I were you, I'd simply put down "retired" or "retired paralegal." I don't think your volunteer work and caretaking is important to the college. What would be important to the college is whether your student does volunteer work or caretaking at home. If your student is doing significant caretaking, they should find a way of reflecting that on their application -- in the essay, for example, or in another part of the application.</p>
<p>
Please don't tell me that colleges are now looking for parents ECs!</p>
<p>EC's, essay, and scores...your choice of either SAT or FICO credit.</p>
<p>I think my kids put something like homemaker or stay at home mom! Now I am going to have to pull the copies of their old applications and see what they put. I guess they are both at schools that they are happy with, so it doesn't matter, but now you have me curious.</p>
<p>My mum is making me put down her occupation as Domestic Entrepeneur (a fancy and long winded way for saying Housewife)</p>
<p>Domestic Goddess</p>
<p>Thanks everyone , think I'll go with retired paralegal and may also
put volunteer.</p>
<p>I remember reading in one of the "college bibles" that you should play down parent's occupations. For instance, instead of Executive Vice-President, put Businessman/woman. The book said it is not the time to brag about your accomplishments, this sometimes can work against your child.</p>
<p>Following Kayjo's reasoning, I would suggest "Elder caregiver/Retired paralegal" which gives the best information on your living situation, rather than your character or interests.</p>
<p>Do you have to put anything at all? </p>
<p>We are only going to qualify for merit aid acording to princeton's financial calculator and so, we're not planning to fill out any fin aid forms (because I don't want to give out personal information if its not going to do anything). </p>
<p>So does what you put as occupations sway their decisions either for you or against you?</p>
<p>Colleges judge students in the context of their background. Thus, a student whose parents are doctorate- holding physicists who is doing exceptionally well in math courses would not be as impressive to colleges as students with the same math accomplishments whose parents are high school dropouts who work as custodians. </p>
<p>Momof4 -- Based on my experience with my older S, I suggest that you fill out the FAFSA forms even if you don't think you'll qualify for any aid. We found that with one, and possibly 2 colleges, not filling out FAFSA kept my S from getting merit aid. </p>
<p>In one situation, the college, U Mich., sent S an application for a scholarship that according to its web site was strictly merit based. However, a FAFSA form was sent with the application. I asked the sender whether it was necessary to do the FAFSA or if the scholarship was based only on merit. The person said it wasn't necessary to do the form. S did not get any merit aid, and when he asked why, he was told it was because he didn't qualify for financial aid.</p>
<p>My best guess is that by applying for aid even if you clearly don't need it, you indicate that $ would be a consideration when your student selects their colleges. That may boost you to the top of the merit aid list if your student is highly desired by the college.</p>
<p>One doesn't have to mention anything about parent's occupation, but it would look odd not to put anything there. The college might wonder whether your student had something to hide or was overly paranoid. IMO, no reason to turn off adcoms for a trivial reason.</p>
<p>Very true. If you're hoping for even Merit Aid, fill out the FAFSA.</p>