<p>I honestly think that parents who use this site talking about their kid’s chances and stuff are dramatizing the college application process. I know you all have the best intentions in your hearts, but I based on some of the posts I have seen, you guys put way too much pressure on your kids college choice. As a senior in high school, I feel like I am independent enough to make my own decisions about what university I want to go to. That’s why my parents left me to choose the colleges I wanted to apply to. I feel like every college bound senior should have a similar independence, because after all, college is about finding your way in life. </p>
<p>Furthermore, I’d like to say that the college one goes to does not really matter. It’s all about the individual’s drive and motivation. My parents both went to local, unranked universities (because of lack of money) and have become more successful than most of the graduates at higher tier schools, such as University of Michigan. All I’m saying is that putting too much pressure on your kid to apply and go to a certain school because of that school’s name or what not is both unnecessary and detrimental to the student. College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won.</p>
<p>In case you have not yet notced, this is the Parent Cafe where we talk about each other’s chances of successful bathroom remodels and (other similarly important) stuff.</p>
<p>Whew, you have made a lot of assumptions. You have not been on CC too long and so I can see why. </p>
<p>If you examine the multitude of parent threads on CC, very few are about their kids’ college chances. Rather, parents discuss the entire college process and become better informed. They are interested in it because their kids are going through this phase of life, just like they were interested in all the books about having babies when they were at that stage of the parenting process. They support their kids’ through this process and pay for it as well. They can be a resource to their kids by being well informed. </p>
<p>Just because a parent participates on CC doesn’ t mean they do not allow their kids indpendence in terms of picking which colleges to apply to and which to attend. Speaking for myself, I joined CC when my oldest child was a junior in high school. Now, both my kids are college graduates and I have gone through two grad school admissions rounds too. But my kids totally chose where to apply and where to attend and we supported whatever they wished. </p>
<p>Further, just because a parent participates here does not mean that they put pressure on their kids to apply to certain schools. We didn’t care where our kids applied or attended and left them to choose. We are thrilled that they found perfect fit schools and were admitted and loved their college experiences. They did attend competitive schools but it was fine for us if they didn’t. Just because parents participate on CC doesn’t mean they don’t think college is a “match to be made, not a prize to be won.” If you read here long enough, you will see a great many parents who are hoping their sons and daughters find the perfect fit school for them. </p>
<p>Participating on CC does not align with the attitudes you presented in your post. There may be parents in this world who think like that, sure, but they are a subset of the entire pool of parents who participate on CC and support their kids through the college admissions years of life. </p>
<p>Parents taking an interest in their kids’ endeavors and being well informed and supporting and facilitating this stage of life with their kids is considered a positive thing to do. It can be done while allowing the young person to independently make their own decisions. But behind many successful kids are supportive parents. I feel sorry for kids whose parents take no interest and don’t support their kids through this stage of life.</p>
<p>Oh, and by the way, since my kids are out of college and I’m still here, I’m obviously not here about my kids’ “chances” (not that I ever posted a chances type post on CC even when they did apply!!)…and thus CC is a supportive community for parents to share with other parents about being the parents of teens and young adults and not just college admissions, but everything else that happens at this stage of life.</p>
<p>Some parents are here to share what they’ve learned having one or more kids go through the process of college search and applications. A lot of parents know a lot about financial aid.</p>
<p>Some parents have kids who are aiming high; many of these parents want to update the knowledge they had about colleges and universities a generation ago.</p>
<p>Some parents want to talk to other parents who are experiencing similar anxieties about their kids’ futures, about the cost of educating their kids, or about the overall level of tension and moodiness in the house when you’re living with a high-school senior.</p>
<p>Now, I’ll answer this question the way I’ve wanted to since the outset: You know, I already get more than enough unsolicited child-rearing advice from my own 17-year-old.</p>
<p>Nice “college name”. Are you sure you’re not a sixth grader? Glad to see your parents have faith in your college decision making anyway.</p>
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<p>Really? Impressive. I’ll bet your parent’s are so proud of you! I wonder if this is part of the reason they aren’t interested in helping you with your college search?</p>
<p>Really? Impressive. I’ll bet your parent’s are so proud of you! I wonder if this is part of the reason they aren’t interested in helping you with your college search?</p>
<p>I am new here.
Was that sarcasm? :rolleyes:</p>
<p>This looks like a fun thread. My kid graduated from college 2 years ago, so I have nothing left to dramatize. Will just dramatize vicariously here :).</p>
<p>I like all the parents. While my mom always wanted me to go to college she never got involved. I found the whole admissions and financial aid process to be extremely difficult and confusing as a teenager. It’s heartening to see all these parents taking such an active interest and getting so involved.</p>
<p>Both of my kids chose their colleges. Neither paid the application fees or struggled over the financial aid forms. They do allow me access to their Facebook pages, however.</p>
<p>I learned a lot in researching my kids’ college chances and the realities of paying for college. My own background and work includes a string of colleges you’d just love to attend, in roles relevant to CC discussions. (Sorry but my own policy is not to reveal more than that.)</p>
<p>I’m on here because I like teens and college kids and, occasionally, can give an adult perspective, clarification or advice- sometimes, even the occasional kick in the tush. I have also learned a great deal from the other adults and I deeply admire their frankness and generosity- to kids and to each other- on this forum.</p>
<p>WE adults on CC don’t dramatize the college process. Underinformed hs kids do, with all their desperate begging for chancing, promises to chance back and unchecked misdirection of each other.</p>