College parent FB pages 10% useful 90% Cray Cray

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have one DC at a smaller private college and one at a big state U and the parent pages are extremely different.

Our DS is an incoming freshman at a big state school and I have found the FB page to be a lovely, helpful, and very positive place.

[Anonymous]

I'm on two parent FB pages. One is a high academic state school and the other is a small, Catholic school. The only complaints I've read on the Catholic school page are parents complaining about the food in the dining halls. Otherwise, everything is super positive and helpful. It's a smaller school and the group is not very big so maybe that's why it's a great resource.

The state school FB page is so entertaining - arguments about politics (reminds me of DCUM), questions easily answered by using google and helicoptering. During Covid it got really toxic - the school had really stringent restrictions (for example, no one could be in a dorm room except the residents of the dorm room - you couldn't even have your next door dormmate in your room.) There were parents who were calling out other students for breaking Covid restrictions. I guess their kid was telling their parent about classmates who were breaking the rules, and the parents would post the infractions to "encourage" everyone to follow the rules.

My favorite helicoptering post was when a parent wanted to know how to change the practice schedule for her son's CLUB baseball team. She was unhappy with what time and how long the team was practicing. My DS is on a club team but I have no idea when and how long he practices - the only time I hear about a competition is when he lets me know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm on two parent FB pages. One is a high academic state school and the other is a small, Catholic school. The only complaints I've read on the Catholic school page are parents complaining about the food in the dining halls. Otherwise, everything is super positive and helpful. It's a smaller school and the group is not very big so maybe that's why it's a great resource.

The state school FB page is so entertaining - arguments about politics (reminds me of DCUM), questions easily answered by using google and helicoptering. During Covid it got really toxic - the school had really stringent restrictions (for example, no one could be in a dorm room except the residents of the dorm room - you couldn't even have your next door dormmate in your room.) There were parents who were calling out other students for breaking Covid restrictions. I guess their kid was telling their parent about classmates who were breaking the rules, and the parents would post the infractions to "encourage" everyone to follow the rules.

My favorite helicoptering post was when a parent wanted to know how to change the practice schedule for her son's CLUB baseball team. She was unhappy with what time and how long the team was practicing. My DS is on a club team but I have no idea when and how long he practices - the only time I hear about a competition is when he lets me know.

OMG! Did they actually name names? "Are the parents of Jamie Duncan on here? I thought you should know that Jamie has been seen entering other student's rooms-which is violation of university covid policy! Please, everyone: encourage your child to follow the rules!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm on two parent FB pages. One is a high academic state school and the other is a small, Catholic school. The only complaints I've read on the Catholic school page are parents complaining about the food in the dining halls. Otherwise, everything is super positive and helpful. It's a smaller school and the group is not very big so maybe that's why it's a great resource.

The state school FB page is so entertaining - arguments about politics (reminds me of DCUM), questions easily answered by using google and helicoptering. During Covid it got really toxic - the school had really stringent restrictions (for example, no one could be in a dorm room except the residents of the dorm room - you couldn't even have your next door dormmate in your room.) There were parents who were calling out other students for breaking Covid restrictions. I guess their kid was telling their parent about classmates who were breaking the rules, and the parents would post the infractions to "encourage" everyone to follow the rules.

My favorite helicoptering post was when a parent wanted to know how to change the practice schedule for her son's CLUB baseball team. She was unhappy with what time and how long the team was practicing. My DS is on a club team but I have no idea when and how long he practices - the only time I hear about a competition is when he lets me know.

Haa! Helicoptering at it's finest! One of my favorite posts from my kid's school was "bacon-gate". Parent posted on the parent FB page complaining about how they were out of bacon at the dining hall and what was their kid to do. Parent wanted to know who to complain to. It's legendary and parents still bring it up when the helicopters get going too strong.

[Anonymous]

Most of those college parent pages are filled with parents asking simple questions about the school so they can have a reason to socialize

[Anonymous]

This helps a ton! Our oldest starts college in the Fall. I've successfully avoided joining FB all these years, but was afraid I would finally need to in order to get some useful info on the parent page. Sounds like I can remain blissfully unplugged!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have one DC at a smaller private college and one at a big state U and the parent pages are extremely different.

My oldest is at UMD and the parent-run FB page is drama-free and very helpful. The moderators are fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Right now people are looking for maids for a move out and a move in clean. I can understand move out to help avoid damage charges, but a move in?

Last fall it was tons of complaints of how dirty the dorms were. One rented a shampooer and said the water was just black. I’m like it is your kids room not yours!!! However my partner said this is just how some parents cope with their kid moving out.

[Anonymous]

These groups are a good source for quick questions, specially in an emergency. That being said, some parents are way more involved in lives of young adults than they should be.

[Anonymous]

To be fair if parents are paying for everything, they are the real customers there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To be fair if parents are paying for everything, they are the real customers there.

Not really. College 50% about academics and the other 50% about growing up and adulting. If parents do everything their kid will not learn. Parents should only step in after their kid has attempted to rectify situations themselves (with guidance from the parents if needed)

[Anonymous]

Our FB parents' page for big state U is just full of pics of the incoming freshmen's high school graduation pics. I honestly wish people would just post these on their personal FB pages and leave the group for Q&A and useful relevant info.

My other DC's school's (small private) page is more just the facts ma'am, and when people try to helicopter ("My child is at the library now and it's dark, so how should they get home?") other posters (not me, surprising I know based on my first paragraph) usually respond with "They should figure it out on their own bc they're in college now" and so that's cut down on a lot of the helicopter posts.

[Anonymous]

I found one very useful. it has fantastic administrators who post information about deadlines etc. I found it a great way to stay connected and know what is going on w/o asking a ton of questions to my kid.

On the other hand, the one at my other kid's school is a disaster and entertaining. Parents looking for shared uber rides to the airport are my favorite. Constantly complaining about finances. Think the top 50 school is a top 10 school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our FB parents' page for big state U is just full of pics of thing freshmen's high school graduation pics.e incom I honestly wish people would just post these on their personal FB pages and leave the group for Q&A and useful relevant info.

My other DC's school's (small private) page is more just the facts ma'am, and when people try to helicopter ("My child is at the library now and it's dark, so how should they get home?") other posters (not me, surprising I know based on my first paragraph) usually respond with "They should figure it out on their own bc they're in college now" and so that's cut down on a lot of the helicopter posts.

I am so sick of all the pics of the HS seniors who will be starting in the fall.

[Anonymous]

We have a mom that reposts every disgusting photo that her daughter sends her. Picture of undercooked meat, dirty dorm bathrooms, hair in her salad, used condom on elevator, etc. When people start to complain about her posts, she says if my daughter has to see it, everyone has to see it.