I’m looking at the various application forms for US colleges now, and at least one of them require details about my parents’ occupations.
My dad is currently a managing director of a property development company, and he is quite well-off. However, by the time I plan to enter the colleges I’m applying to (Sept 2006) my dad would have retired. This would make a significant change in our income, especially since my mother doesn’t work.
The difference between “managing director” and “retired” would make a heck of a lot of difference financially, especially in terms of aid. Thing is, at the moment of application, he hasn’t retired yet; he will be when I start.
What should I put as his occupation? MD, Retired, Retiring?
I am transferring from a college in Malaysia if this makes any difference.
thanks 
<p>"Retiring" won't get you much sympathy from the FinAid office! lol </p>
<p>Try including his current occupation without sounding pompus about it.. instead of "managing director of a property development company", why not simply, "developer"? It's much more neutral that way and less prone to judgements about your family's socioeconomic status.</p>
<p>Thing is, if I put "managing director" (which he is; he is NOT a developer), it comes with the idea that he has more than enough money to pay for my education. Which won't be the case starting next year.</p>
<p>Why wouldn't "retiring" get me sympathy? It's a fact that my father is retiring, which means we will soon be dependent on pensions. And I don't think my father's pensions will be a large sum considering he was working on a contractual basis.</p>
<p>What will the colleges do, force my dad to work for another 10 years just so I can study? ;P</p>
<p>My point is that "managing director" is not a job, it's a title - and a rather fine one at that. If you've read anything about the college admissions process, you know that childen who seem to come from privlidged backgrounds are often held to higher admissions standards. </p>
<p>This is why I'm suggesting that instead of listing "managing director," you find another, less loaded way to describe what your dad does. "Development," for example.. or get creative.</p>
<p>My point is that by the time I enter college, HE WON'T HAVE THAT JOB ANYMORE. And really, "managing director" IS his job - he manages and directs what everyone else is doing.</p>
<p>But whatever he does, that's not going to help me once I'm enrolled. Once I'm in, the only income we have are pension checks.</p>
<p>You need to fill out financial forms with the correct info for the time you are filling it out.
Say you are applying for 2006-2007 year- dad retires in Jan 2006 & you fill out FAFSA in Jan 2006. OK to state retired. Don't fill them out in November 2005 and write retiring You have to fill out for what is accurate at the time.
HOWEVER- you may send information to the schools and tell them what his plans are. If he doesn't retire until after you begin school, you can also give new information at that time- explaining your changed financial status.Our experience has been the school was quick to accomodate change in financial status when my husband after 9/11 had to take a huge pay cut when his job was affected. Of course that was an involuntary change of work status- that may be considered differently than someone who is choosing to retire- I don't know.</p>
<p>Does FAFSA apply for international students too?</p>
<p>Ah ok, I see what you mean. They'll reach there by early 2006 so he'd be retired by then, I think. Need to confirm with him.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info :)</p>
<p>Does this mean that if you list "retired" on the line for father's occupation rather than "retired, former dictator of small third world country", the student will be held to lower admission standards?</p>
<p>XD XD XD XD XD</p>
<p>now THAT's a question XD</p>
<p>
[quote]
And really, "managing director" IS his job - he manages and directs what everyone else is doing.
[/quote]
LOL okay, whatever.. I give up.</p>
<p>Put down your father's occupation as of the date you make the application. Parents are fickle folks about retiring and often change their minds a half dozen or more times. </p>
<p>Also, most people who are working are retiring - some more quickly than others.</p>
<p>i don't think they'll have much sympathy for you if you're dad's retiring, unless he was forced into retiring. That'd be like saying "My family can't afford my education. We're rich but we want a new yacht so we need financial aid."</p>
<p>I presume the form you are speaking of is within the application package, not financial aid materials. If so, father's position doesn't matter to the financial aid question, and because the are many managing directors in this world, that title does not sound boa****l at all to me. I'd go with EllenF.....put his real title on the app at the moment you fill it in.</p>
<p>To all other applicants:</p>
<p>The field in question (at least on the common app) is "occupation," not "title."</p>
<p>Fill it out how your parent would respond if someone asked them at a dinner party, "What do you do for a living?" And put whatever they do at the TIME of filling it out, not what they expect to do in the future.</p>
<p>Ah, my dad is DEFINITELY retiring this time. (I think it's compulsory?) If he isn't, we're forcing him. XD</p>
<p>We're not THAT rich :P But yes, I see your point. My dad told me to put "Company Director" anyway, so yeah.</p>
<p>Thanks :)</p>