we hired college counselor, and i was quite involved with overall process - activities, brainstorming essays, choosing schools, common app. that being said, DD welcomed all input and always had final say in ECs, schools, etc. we always supported her interests and never pushed her to do anything she didn't want to do.

terrific outcomes and multiple T20 admissions. still welcomes our input freshman year with classes/major but again, still up to her and she's having a really great first semester.

- picking ECs, competitions, projects, summer activities? They did what they wanted for these except I insisted on a summer job, but not as part of college application process.

- choosing schools? I required two in state schools and two safeties, and suggested several schools for them.

- application story or strategy? I’ve had two kids go to college and a high schooler and I don’t know what this is.

- essays? I read them all as a proof reader, and for one kid who had trouble coming up with her main essay idea I brainstormed ideas with her.

- reviewing the final common app? I proof read everything

What were/are the outcomes? Two kids who got into several target and reach schools, and are doing great in college.

Anonymous wrote:I was a sounding board for essay topics and then did some light editing. Other stuff was all them.

Same plus sounding board for talking through pros and cons of each school and paying for travel to visit colleges.

Anonymous wrote:Paid a college coach to help with most of the application things.

Admitted to a T15 ED1 school.

Finally someone who is honest.

- picking ECs, competitions, projects, summer activities? Zero involvement
- choosing schools? Tossed around ideas and visited campuses while traveling but it was her list.
- application story or strategy? What?
- essays? Brainstormed and Proofread.
- reviewing the final common app? Reviewed and tried to look over her shoulder when she was submitting.

I only made sure my kid got the anxiety diagnosis he needed for accommodation.

Seriously, parents here would only admit to innocently, marginally helping their kids. Of course my kids did all of that organically!

DCUM may be a highly and prestigiously educated bunch, but on a basic human honesty/decency scale, it is way down there.

Unless when it's not anonymous, where they would be the nicest, most compassionate human beings on earth.

Paid a college coach to help with most of the application things.

Admitted to a T15 ED1 school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cue the chorus of "I never even READ my kid's essays!" "I didn't even know DD had gotten into Harvard until I got the tuition bill!"

99% of people on this forum have a heavy hand. They're lying if they say otherwise.

Why would they do that? It's an anonymous board. I get the same feeling from lots of posts (not just this topic), but don't understand why people would lie anonymously.

The people who had a heavy hand don't chime in on threads like this. They're embarrassed and don't want to talk about it.

Extra set of eyes on essays and gave feedback to consider.

Sounding board for original school list and then when it needed to be culled (30 was the starting point end of last school year).

Sat and did FAFSA and CSS with my kid because they don’t have all of my financial information at hand.

I made a tracking spreadsheet but they had to fill it out. Deadlines, completion checkboxes, artistic submissions, essays/essays/more essay dates, interview dates.

Anonymous wrote:Cue the chorus of "I never even READ my kid's essays!" "I didn't even know DD had gotten into Harvard until I got the tuition bill!"

99% of people on this forum have a heavy hand. They're lying if they say otherwise.

Why would they do that? It's an anonymous board. I get the same feeling from lots of posts (not just this topic), but don't understand why people would lie anonymously.

Cue the chorus of "I never even READ my kid's essays!" "I didn't even know DD had gotten into Harvard until I got the tuition bill!"

99% of people on this forum have a heavy hand. They're lying if they say otherwise.

I was a sounding board for essay topics and then did some light editing. Other stuff was all them.

DC picked out their own ECs, competitions, job, and summer activities.

DC has challenges with ADHD and executive function skills, so I helped with college app process. DC listed top priorities for colleges of interest, then I helped with research for the list. We reviewed essay drafts and final common app. DC applied EA to colleges and is waiting for the outcomes.

My children decided on their own ECs based on interest. I recommended some schools that I thought would be good for them to look at, but they made their decisions on where to apply. I proofread when asked. Chose from Wake, UNC, William and Mary, NC State.

In helping your kid with this process? What’s the average level of involvement among parents on this board?

- picking ECs, competitions, projects, summer activities?
- choosing schools?
- application story or strategy?
- essays?
- reviewing the final common app?

What were/are the outcomes?