<p>There wasn’t even an option for my husband’s business. Think Mr. Slate of the Flintstones era of cartoons. I don’t think what you or a spouse does has as much relevance as you think it does.</p>
<p>S1 accidentally listed his dad’s job as “faceless government bureaucrat” when he applied to the flagship. (He forgot to fix it before submitting and realized it two months later, to his horror!) We think someone in the admissions office got their laugh for the day. There is a substantial civil service/military workforce in our area so that everyone has an idea of pay grade and such. :)</p>
<p>Noone would suspect us of having the $$$ to shuttle our kids to Michelle Hernandez or her ilk, or of us making large contributions to their colleges. We’re sufficiently annoyed with the Parents’ Fund requests while we are paying tuition!</p>
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<p>Smiling here as we get those calls all the time from D1’s college. I just politely say that I’d love to help give funds for other students but given that my kid is on financial aid, I have to spend the next ten years paying that back and ask me AFTER that!</p>
<p>Counting Down that is so funny! My kids tell everyone that their dad (my husband) works undercover for the CIA and they have all sorts of justification to prove it. My older daughter put “undercover agent for CIA” on her common ap but, thankfully, she remembered to delete it after we all proofed it and got a good laugh. Although she is somewhat embarrassed by his true occupation since it’s a pretty good giveaway as to his status and income.</p>
<p>It has nothing to do with integrity or being honest. There is no reason to disclose everything just because someone asks. Somethings they ask on college application, I feel like having my kid say, “it’s none of your business.” A kid couldn’t help being born into a wealthy family any more than a kid who is born to a poor family. Admission people are also just human, due to their own personal experience, they may feel strongly one way or another.</p>
<p>I read Michelle Hern</p>
<p>But we’re talking about “elite” schools here…they are filled with wealthy kids. If the adcoms didn’t “like them” the schools would be a lot less filled. The reality is those wealthy kids also pay the bills for these elite universities.</p>
<p>I agree that sometimes the info asked for is invasive on those applications. So put “manager” if your dad is the “executive manager”…I’m not sure it really matters. Just don’t make up some random job…at least that’s my opinion.</p>
<p>What williamsdad posted is probably some of the information the OP is going on. A poster who used to be quite active here (hmom5) said when she worked with a private counselor, they received the same information and did list the parent’s job titles in an understated, yet truthful way.</p>
<p>Yes, “understated” is an advice that I’ve heard many times from different sources (not CC).</p>
<p>Ya know, the funny part is that S1 and I both proofread the app online and in print and neither of us saw it…</p>
<p>The funny part is that if S listed DH’s title on the app , there wouldn’t be enough space – it takes three lines on his business card as it is! (which is why faceless gov’t bureaucrat is such a better and more accurate description!)</p>
<p>the faceless government bureaucrat error has become a classic story in our house, whenever we talk about the need to carefully proofread.
Similarly this thread:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/470497-clam-fart-oh-my-god-what-did-i-do.html?highlight=clamfart[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/470497-clam-fart-oh-my-god-what-did-i-do.html?highlight=clamfart</a></p>
<p>broetchen, so glad we have become famous, and I have CC to thank for it!!!
(P.S. there is a happy ending – he got a full ride from the school.)</p>
<p>The clam fart thread is hysterical. I had tears rolling down my face the entire way through.</p>
<p>^ and it, too had a happy end.
Perhaps this could be a new application strategy? ;)</p>
<p>soozievt: I think most applicants fit in-between the two profiles I listed before. </p>
<p>The in-betweener profile: Parents who have middle manager jobs. Kids who participated in those soccer games, baseball practices, and summer swim teams at the local pool, but isn’t a recruited athlete. (Notice how big the thread is for the Jewish B student?) Kids who need work-study and other FA. That’s your challenge: how to stand out in the competition. And here’s how: make something special about you. A special community service. A special award. A special interest. A special talent (computer? music? etc., etc.) The more esoteric, the better.</p>
<p>Oldfort - Respectfully disagree with you, but love you just the same. Integrity is where it’s at for me.</p>
<p>I think it is important to tell the truth. That doesn’t mean you have to be super specific. For example, listing a position as “Business excecutive” is truthful but not specific to the exact position at the company other than it is an executive position. </p>
<p>I’ll take my own profession as an example…I am a College Counselor, but that could be listed on an application as “Educational Consultant.” </p>
<p>I don’t have a problem with not being super specific as long as you tell the truth as to the nature of the work and the field.</p>
<p>Limabeans - I loved your post ;)</p>
<p>My dad is president of his company, but without further research you would not know that his “company” is only worth about 4k and his only employee is my 17 year old sister. My roommate’s dad was also the owner of his company, and they WERE wealthy, but all his money came from inheritance and his business was actually a huge financial sinkhole. I’m surprised that many people would assume that the owner of a company would be wealthy without knowing the company.</p>
<p>^^^Right and another assumption is that if parents have graduate degrees and professional careers, some assume that means the family is well off and that is very much not necessarily the case either.</p>
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<p>Emahee…one thing though…the Common App doesn’t just ask the applicant’s parents’ occupation but also asks their employer. So, if you list parent as President of Rosie’s Cleaning Services or President of Bloomberg or Microsoft, it gives just a little inkling, no?</p>