<p>We're new to the college admissions process. My son is a junior and just beginning his search. Most of the colleges send a link to their internet site, where the student can sign up to receive more information. But I've also noticed that most of the sites have a box for parents to check if they want information, too. So what is it that colleges send parents?</p>
<p>The bill. ;)</p>
<p>Sometimes we will receive information about the "dollar value" of a school or other such topics in the mail. Kind of like the press they send to the kids, only targeted to the parents. Why you should send your kid here...safer, good value, (insert item)</p>
<p>Thanks. I'll tell my son to leave those boxes blank, at least for the time being.</p>
<p>I think you could find out a lot more by visiting the web sites, and looking through college guides. Some have free video visits you can order.</p>
<p>We received nothing from any college accept a welcome package to the school our son is attending in the summer before school started. Since then lots of letters from the parent group. But...no grades, no bills. Son gets billed directly (of course we need to make arrangements in advance to get the money to his account so that he can pay).</p>
<p>We got lots of info telling us how affordable the colleges were. UWSL sent us several letters from parents telling us how their child thrived. I e mailed one mom and I got the feeling she didn't realize they had sent out her letter to parents-or maybe parents never respond. Son never applied to UWSL. Was was URM, may letters from colleges seemed to be written that URM=poverty.</p>
<p>Once son decided on a school we did receive lots of info for parents-local stuff, rules, activities, etc</p>
<p>mom2003 - I believe that your son and my son attend the same school. He can go into the website and change his mailing address (for bills only) to your home address, leaving the mailing address for everything else to his school address. It will still be addressed to him, but it is pretty obvious by the return address that it is a bill, so I'm sure he wouldn't mind you opening it. This might simplify your having to transfer the money to his account. Believe me, they will be glad to accept a check from you, rather than from your son, if you want to do it that way :) Also, another tip, if you have your own health insurance for your son, MAKE SURE he declines the school insurance on the website before the beginning of the school year. If he doesnt, you will be billed for it and it is expensive. As I understand, several hundred students who didnt want the insurance but didnt bother declining were forced to pay this year.</p>
<p>Our SON receives his bill from the university. Everything else we get from them (including his grades) comes "to the Parents of DS". We find it amusing that the least likely thing for him to be interested in (the bill) gets mailed to HIM. We do the Tuition Pay plan anyway. THAT company has the sense to send the monthly invoices to US.</p>
<p>I got a pen from MIT. It says "My kid is a student at MIT" on it. Reed sent a bumper sticker. Both of these were after my kids paid their deposits.</p>
<p>I wouldn't <em>ask</em> for mail from colleges--pretty much everything is on the web sites.</p>
<p>MotherofTwo -- Thanks for the info.</p>
<p>my son attends johnson and wales, and according to them because of laws, they are not allowed to tell you grades, classes, nothing. I asked to speak to my son's counselor because he was feeling so bad about the school, and I was refused that. I get to pay the bills, but I have no idea if my son is even passing except for his assurance that he is. It is absolutely ridiculous.</p>
<p>Is there some form that your child can fill out, permitting relevant information like grades to be disclosed to the parents. Even a doctor's office has forms that lets you name who your medical information can be disclosed to.</p>
<p>Amith1 - in order for you - the parent - to be privy to anything about your son and his school stuff - IF he agrees - he can sign a form that will allow the school to discuss things with you. If he is 18 - it is his legal right to the privacy of his situation - including grades, classes, profs, health issues, problems, bills, etc - as far as the school is concerned - unless he waives that right. May be a good idea to talk to him and get this done so maybe it will be easier for you to work thru what ever it is that you feel the need to.</p>
<p>my daughter signed a financial release form, so all money matters are sent to us.
also signed something so that we could see her grades if we requested.
I believe she also signed a health waiver as well so that we could be notified for critical health issues.</p>
<p>choco
I don't remember signing anything to release health information at doctors
In fact I am not allowed to call the emergency room to ask questions when my husbnad suspected he was having heart attack, they wanted to talk to him.
And when I found a note indicating that my minor daughter had a stash of her dads prescription medication with the intent to kill herself, the pharmacist refused to tell me when it had been filled (old bottle).
Lots of privacy issues now with medical records but hospitals still want your soc# which irritates me to no end that it is used for everything</p>
<p>Amith1 - one of the things that may be happening is that YOU are doing the asking/demanding - instead of your SON doing it - as he is the legal entity involved - the school does seem to uphold the privacy laws issues from what you are posting - so maybe HE needs to be the one involved regarding the dorm issues/change of roomy.</p>
<p>As far as housing - it is not unusual for schools NOT to guarantee housing for 4 years - actually it is pretty common not to - and even if it is not on their web site - you have somehow been informed about it - so now it is time to do some planning - there is still time to do that - actually NOW is the time that students at other schools are in the process of procuring their housing for next fall - mine included - with several options available I am sure - renting a room - an apartment - house - all inclusive off campus apartment, etc..........</p>
<p>As far as infractions of the schools rules/housing rules - may be a good time to review the student handbook - usually has info about the rules and regs - how to file complaints by students - judiciary issues - etc..... The roomy issue - the alcohol in the room - if he is a minor it should have been addressed - and your son can go to the RA and talk to them on how to deal with this issue - HE also has the right to file a complaint. In many schools - as long as all the students living in the room are over 21 they can have alcohol in the room - others say no way. There HAS to be written rules/regs somewhere - go find them.</p>
<p>If issues are not resolved - YOUR SON has some choices to make - study in the library - or other quiet place - inconvenient to some but may be best way to handle it. If roomy problem - HE needs to go to RA or housing manager - or even call campus police if laws are being broken - but HE needs to handle it.</p>
<p>Your son may be quiet and shy - but he was smart enough to get himself to college - now he needs to figure out how to problem solve issues himself. You need to support him - but it may be time for you to back off a bit and let him manage things - and try to trust him to do it. If he says he is passing his classes - believe him - if proven otherwise - then deal with it then - but for now give him the benefit of the doubt that he is doing ok. Positive guidance can go a looooong way - but overbearing pressure can be very harmful and defeat all the purposes.</p>
<p>We didn't ask for it, but Wellesley sent my mom an article written by a recent alumna about how much she loved the school.</p>
<p>All to home address (easier in case of change of addy of DD)</p>
<p>Junk mail - to DD and to ''parents of.....''
Goodie mailings - to ''parents of.......''
Housing contract/lease - to DD and to us - requires both sigs
Dining programs info - to DD and to ''parents of....''
Grades - to DD (on-line) and to ''parents of.....'' - per signed waiver - we kinda did the bribe thing here tho - no grades - no tuition - she happily agreed - so no problem there.
Bill - to DD - haha tho we arrange payment of it</p>
<p>Also have waivers for:
Student health center
Financial Aid office
Cashiers office</p>
<p>One of us is also on her checking/savings account at school - tho no direct access to withdraw - but it allows us to transfer funds to her if needed - long distance. Started out as just DD - but ran into a problem and bank would not speak to us - so we did a 3 way t/c and had one of us added so we could work things out. Certainly makes life alot easier - especially long distance.</p>
<p>Emerald, I have signed release of information forms at 2 Doctor's offices, so that my husband can also access my records. His doctor tells me anything without the forms ;)</p>
<p>that is interesting- let me tell you I was pretty p'od when the pharmacist wouldn't even tell me when the prescription had been filled last ( my husband was at work when I found the note) what he ( the pharmacist) advised me was to take her to the emergency room. I didn't have any indication that she had taken any, but I wanted to know how many she might have taken out of the bottle.
States must be different on their release forms.</p>
<p>States must be different on their release forms.</p>
<p>This is actually federal law - medical - patient's right to privacy</p>