<p>Beadymom, I felt the same way when my son was applying. He ultimately decided where to apply and which school to go to but I really enjoyed going through the process with him. Now when I talk to him on the phone, he’ll occasionally say something (when he can take a break from magic cards) that gives me a glimpse of how he’s growing and changing.</p>
<p>My parents really did not help me. I am much more involved in college searches with my sons … and my students. Often I have students ask me to proof their essays or fill out their SAT/ACT forms. As for my sons, I took my oldest (and his kid brother tagged along in most cases) on most of his college visits. We had a lot of fun walking the campuses, visiting dorms, meeting students from all over. The youngest son will make a few more trips this summer to see if he finds a place or two he would attend.</p>
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<p>Bless your heart. After reading many stories on CC about how easy admissions were back in the good 'ol days, I was beginning to feel lke I was the only person every rejected from anywhere pre-1990.</p>
<p>No help whatsoever from my single mom (previously poor, but by that time had a boatload of newly inherited cash in the bank) or her live-in boyfriend. Refused to fill out FAFSA and laughed at me for thinking I could do it on my own. I worked and saved the money and went to community college for one semester, then transferred to a 4 year school. Could not get any aid without the FAFSA, but I got guaranteed student loans for the full cost. Fortunately, My education prepared me for a decent career and after a three month search, I landed my first job and begin paying back my loans.</p>
<p>Yeah, man…I also share the same story.</p>
<p>I am surpized not to see anybody who went to college on employer’s dime. My H. and I both did just that…at several places of employment too. There are still many jobs that will pay for college education. We both have an MBA just for fun, we do not need it, but employers paid, so why not? My BS was also paid by various employers. At some point of time all 3 of us were at college, while we paid only one tuition - for our S. (out of our paychecks).</p>
<p>Nothing. Neither of my parents had attended college when I was doing my apps (though both were in the process of starting to take classes and eventually got associate degrees, greatly increasing their earning power). My first round of applications were out of state or some distance from home. They knew where I was applying. I got accepted everywhere and they were quite proud and liked to brag about that to their college educated friends. Then my dad finally said to me, “You know, you won’t qualify for any aid or money…”. This was his way of telling me he wasn’t paying. And he didn’t. And he could have; financially my parents were doing okay, on the way up, taking nice trips and buying new cars.</p>
<p>I submitted a last minute application to the local big state U, lived at home, worked summers and vacations and eventually long term part time while I slogged my way through. So they “contributed” room and board, but I also carried my weight around the house, as was probably appropriate for a young adult living at home. No fond memories or real friendships from college, no time for that and I just didn’t have the luxury of lingering on campus.</p>
<p>My children-totally different experience. It was important to me that they have choices and support and encouragement. We were lucky to be able to do so with out too much hardship.</p>
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<p>Do you mean graduate school? I attended business school on my employer’s dime, but stopped halfway through when I had twins, as there were 3 things on the table - being a mother, working full time, and finishing graduate school, and for my own sanity I had to pick 2 of those 3 and didn’t finish my MBA. But that was a VERY sweet perk from a great corporate employer.</p>
<p>My parents did nothing. My father was out of the family completely and my mother was unemployed and sick. I visited about five colleges as a recruited athlete, strangely avoiding my home state flagship which would have been a great choice. The athletic departments paid for the visits. Thereafter, I signed a letter of intent, going to the best academic school that offered me a scholarship. That was my sole criteria for choosing as school. Heck, a few of my competitors chose a school mostly based on the attractiveness of the women, along with the color of the athletic uniform, so I was acting rather highbrow. The school was 700 miles away from home. I came home for union jobs in the summer after I left for school. I had zero parental guidance in high school (as in I could mostly come and go as I please and was accountable only to myself for grades), so it was hardly a big deal when I went off to college. A professor at the university ran an honors program, and while I did not have the 4.0 type pedigree to get in, it was my impression that he wanted a scholarship athlete because he never before had one in his program. Affirmative action for athletes. He let me in and he became my mentor (and pushed the living daylights out of me to get high honors and near a 4.0 when it was all over) which frankly worked out better for me than for many kids with really nurturing and supportive parents (although yes, I would have liked supportive parents). My brother was an athlete of similar caliber and he chose a good school which, however, was more of an athletic factory than where I attended. He bemoans to this day having no guidance, a puzzle to me since he was both a Div. 1 All American athlete at this school and Phi Beta Kappa, hardly making for a bad choice. I never look upon those days as anything but fantastic. It was not too difficult to scrape by on a college campus, and all the better once I eschewed the free beer and just went for the pizza, and the freedom I had was really wonderful. No one was bugging me about my grades, my major, road tripping to the next athletic competition or a girl’s house, what I wanted to do with my life, or anything of the sort, and at about age 20 I really began to work hard just to make myself happy. No need for anything more than a few jeans, free athletic gear and shoes and t-shirts, and a winter coat. Today, my two kids are such outstanding students, getting in virtually everywhere they applied, that I really did not give them much guidance. They had plenty of opportunity without me yakking at them - and I agreed to pay no matter what. My wife was exceedingly helpful, though - she comes from a good family and actually knows how to parent. Perhaps if I am lucky I can advise grandchildren!</p>
<p>MiamiDAP, I love that anyone would get an MBA “just for fun.” Good for you!!</p>
<p>I did almost everything myself. My dad handled Fin.aid.
Not that they didn’t offer, but I felt I could get through it all on my own. Parents are there to help in college after all…</p>