<p>Personally, I think kids should handle the college stuff themselves, but I appreciate parents like Northstarmom being on this forum.</p>
<p>I know its rude, but I find the woman that wrote this hilarious. </p>
<p>"I did fill out her financial aid forms. I did research colleges for her and so on."</p>
<p>Her kid is going to be real independent. Also, that just screams college whore to me. Maybe she isn't, but I get teh feeling she is.</p>
<p>I'll give you 4 reasons this parent is on CC ... </p>
<p>1) this forum covers more interesting topcis and has more articulate posters than the vast majority of stuff on the net</p>
<p>2) when my 3 kids do their college hunts I want to be as knowledgable as possible when asked for advice</p>
<p>3) As someone not directly involved in any of the situations discussed on CC my thoughts/advice might be easier to here than if it came from someone directly involved</p>
<p>4) to figure when and how to help my kids in this process as I think this is a bit of a unique life experience for kids ... my wife and I pretty much believe in letting our kids do their own thing and learn from their own mistakes ... the catch with a college selection; it's typically a once in a life decision process. Possibly fumbling through it certainly will help teach how to make major life decisions ... while possibly not making as informed a choice about college. If you asked me today I'd say I'll ask my kids to sit with me at the start of the process so I can outline topics I <em>could</em> cover with them if they'd like to discuss them ... and also get quick monthly(?) updates of how it's going.</p>
<p>This is hillarious, I love how parents always jump to conclusions.</p>
<p>First off, about me.</p>
<p>I am not rich, I am middle class however, but just recently. Before that I was poor.</p>
<p>I do NOT have a car, or a cellphone.
I do NOT have a $160k trust fund. (I have a $150 trust fund, called my piggie bank)</p>
<p>My parents can NOT send me wherever I choose. However, they WILL help me as much as possible, as long as my choice is sort of similar to theirs. I'm also expected to take a lot of the burden on myself, even if I do by some lucky instance get into a school like Harvard.</p>
<p>I do volunteer my time.
I take all AP classes
I am involved in 2 varsity sports
I take dual enrollement classes AFTER I finish my daily 2 hour swimming workout.
I am the president of several clubs as well as the student body at my school
I also play violin </p>
<p>Which means, the students I know who just let their parents do everything for them are either 1. Lazy, 2. Not college material, or 3. Totally controlled by their parents.</p>
<p>Also, for the parents, an MD doesn't mean you're necessarily a "great advisor for everything". My mom is an MD/PhD, and I'll be an idiot if I let her run my college application process. </p>
<p>I also do NOT hate all parents on CC. I actually respect and value the posts by some parents. I also RECOGNIZE the help that parents can give to students. What I don't like, is "Help, we're applying to HYPSM, I've decided that my daughter should be a daughter, any advice for me?" That's an extreme example, but sadly, it happens all the time.</p>
<p>kamikaze -- </p>
<p>I think that if you will read back through the posts by parents explaining why they are on this forum, most said it was a combination of enjoying helping out teens/information for financial reasons/gathering information to discuss topics brought up by their teen.</p>
<p>I have yet to read a post here where a parent filled out the applications and essays and coached for interviews. I am sure that is done! I myself coached my youngest before his first interview -- however he was 11 years old and had no idea what to expect. there is an appropriate time and place for everything.</p>
<p>I am confused by your anger and obvious hostility towards parents who want to be involved in some way. Each student is an individual -- perhaps some students want their parents more involved, some want no involvement at all (you appear to fall into the second category).</p>
<p>I can definitely see a huge problem where the student wants no help and the parents want to do everything -- and we see posts from desparate students in that situation. We also see posts from students who entered the process uninformed and are not happy with the results. Perhaps a parent could have played a better role in that student's life -- either with information or encouragement to find the information themselves.</p>
<p>I agree that students who allow their parents to do everything for them will have difficulty in college -- but I think you are lumping those that assist with those that do everything and I think that you are way off base there.</p>
<p>It does sound like you are busy -- and that is great. do you do your own laundry, clean your room and the other rooms you use, grocery shop, cook for yourself, run all your own errands, pay all your own bills and drive yourself to all functions in a car you pay for and maintain? If not -- I have to say you are getting some significant help from your parents. Are you ready for college? Maybe not. </p>
<p>It sounds like your situation is just how you want it. you said "However, they WILL help me as much as possible, as long as my choice is sort of similar to theirs". Just out of curiosity, what do your parents want? Have they done any research or will they give your their choice based on what was true when they went to college or what the neighbor says? I hope that your choice and theirs matches, otherwise you might want them to start participating in CC so that their information matches what you have learned.</p>