| The children of Baby Boomers, the Echo Generation, | | | | By knowing your expected family contribution before |
| are entering college in increasing numbers. Getting into | | | | applying, you save yourself from the potential |
| the best schools is increasingly competitive. Having | | | | surprise of getting an award letter with less aid then |
| good grades, a great SAT score and participating in | | | | you were expecting. And make sure you research |
| extracurricular activities is no assurance that your | | | | the college's financial aid policy to know if you have a |
| student will get into the school of their choice. | | | | circumstance that would cause the school to revisit |
| Because of that phenomenon, parents are taking a | | | | your award letter. |
| much more active role in their children's college | | | | 5. Have you talked to your attorney about suing your |
| admission process. But for some parents, participation | | | | child's high school because she did not get the special |
| in their child's college search has led to a troubling | | | | attention she needed in high school, and thus, will not |
| development that college admissions officers are | | | | be able to attend the university of her choice? |
| seeing more frequently. | | | | Be an active parent throughout your child's education, |
| It is the High Maintenance Parent (HMP). And college | | | | don't start in her senior year as she applies to |
| admissions officers are reporting it more and more. If | | | | colleges. The reality is, at that point it's too late. If |
| you answer yes to any of these six questions, you | | | | she needs special attention in high school make sure |
| may be a High Maintenance Parent. | | | | she gets it. |
| 1. Does your child barely know what's on their college | | | | 6. Have you asked the guidance counselor at the high |
| application but you can quote every word in their | | | | school to purge evidence of cheating, truancy or |
| personal essay (because you wrote it)? | | | | other discipline problems from your child's record in |
| Students who don't take an active role in their | | | | order to increase their chance of getting into the |
| college planning and admission process tend not to be | | | | college of their choice? If so, you are DEFINITELY a |
| successful in college. Students need to take | | | | High Maintenance Parent! |
| ownership of the process because it's their future on | | | | You put your child and all other students applying |
| the line. It's time to cut the umbilical cord and let little | | | | from that high school at risk by asking guidance |
| Johnny fail or succeed. In the end it's a disservice to | | | | counselors to lie by omission. If admissions personnel |
| your child if you do the work for him. | | | | find that student records are being sanitized, they |
| 2. Is the admissions officer at the school of your | | | | can refuse to admit anyone from a particular high |
| choice on your speed dial and recognizes your voice | | | | school. |
| or phone number when you call? | | | | College admissions is a competitive process with each |
| You want your child to be memorable, not you. Don't | | | | party looking to get the best result. Admissions |
| be a pest. It can count against your child. | | | | officers are responsible for admitting a diverse |
| 3. Are you asking (or telling) your child to apply to | | | | student body. They want students that will reflect |
| schools that they are not interested in just so YOU | | | | the values of the institution and who will be a |
| can brag that they got into Harvard, Stanford, etc? | | | | positive contribution to the student body. Now, while |
| It's hard enough for your child to do everything | | | | they are still in your house, is the time to impart |
| necessary to apply to college without the added | | | | those values and position your child to be an asset to |
| stress of completing applications for schools they | | | | the student body. |
| don't want to go to. This is not the time to relive | | | | Balanced against the school's needs is the student's |
| your past or try to out-Jones the Joneses'. | | | | desire to be admitted. The best way for you to help |
| 4. Is your "back-up" strategy for financial aid to tell | | | | your child is by being an advocate and mentor, but |
| the financial aid officer that your child is so smart, | | | | realize, ultimately the decision and experience of |
| talented, etc that they should pay you to LET your | | | | college will be up to your child. |
| child attend XYZ University? | | | | Copyright © 2004. All Rights Reserved. |