Anonymous wrote:My brother sent that information about my niece to a family text chain. He’s preoccupied with the cost of college and claimed it was to let all the siblings and their spouses know about the high price tag . Every time she got in somewhere he would post the offer, the merit aid and the cost if you were paying full freight. Personally I felt it was too much info. I don’t care how any of my siblings do or do not pay for their kids higher ed.

I was torn between thinking it was tacky, yet also seeing how that information could be extremely useful.

Anonymous wrote:I find the vast majority of things people post on social media to be weird. My kid would read me the riot act for doing this, especially because it is their news to share or not.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is IN college and I haven’t even posted where he went.

Same here.

3 kids in college and I have never posted where they go or anything about it. However, I definitely have friends that post “announcements” that their kid is going to X school.

I've seen this too--it's not my style, but it doesn't necessarily bother me that other people do it. I also didn't post about where my kid went this fall. Not because I'm not super proud (I am!!) but it felt like a strange thing to announce on social media. The people who know my kid well definitely know what college they're in.

FWIW, there's a big overlap with the people who post GPAs, SAT scores, and things of a similar nature. I think it's just a personal preference.

So, having a current college freshman, I will give you the straight scoop. No judgment just telling it like it is and how this situation could be perceived:

1. If this kid attends a competitive DMV school (public or private)...well, few of the top schools offer merit aid whatsoever. Yes, UMD and some top flagships do offer merit and would be consider "brag-worthy" schools...outside of these schools, kids and parents will be super-snarky if the mom is bragging about their kid's acceptance to Frostburg State and the merit aid;
2. Similarly, if you are posting your kid getting into Stanford, Harvard, and similar elite schools...well the jealousy and rage about bragging about the "trophy-hunting" will come out. Those schools don't provide merit aid...so I gather it is not these schools.
3. An 18 year old kid would know their mom is posting this stuff and would tell their mom to stop cold turkey. By default, if mom keeps posting all this, it is done with the consent of the child. So, child will not be spared from scrutiny.
4. The vast majority of parents and kids post only where they will attend...they don't brag about every acceptance.

You will all learn firsthand soon enough if your kids aren't at this level.

My brother sent that information about my niece to a family text chain. He’s preoccupied with the cost of college and claimed it was to let all the siblings and their spouses know about the high price tag . Every time she got in somewhere he would post the offer, the merit aid and the cost if you were paying full freight. Personally I felt it was too much info. I don’t care how any of my siblings do or do not pay for their kids higher ed.

I'm not an active participant in social media, but I think these holier than thou views are a little extreme. I have survived a devastating divorce, the sudden death of a parent, and cancer in the last few years. If I wanted to celebrate a shining moment for my child, you'd begrudge me that? Get some perspective and lighten up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kid is IN college and I haven’t even posted where he went.

This is actually the kind of mom I would want.

Kids are in elementary now so I hope that all this gauche social media behavior has gone away by then.

I'd prefer a mom who is not even on social media

Social media is full of people posting weird and cringe stuff. This is no different.

Anonymous wrote:isn't this what social media is for?

Is it? I don’t think so. I mean, maybe for the kid. It’s his life, after all.

Anonymous wrote:I don't if that is weird, but your reaction definitely is.

This is anonymous forum to discuss all sorts of inane topics, many of them about human behavior. I guess I could have just scrolled on by, but then so could you have. Perhaps you’re an insecure oversharer yourself.

isn't this what social media is for?

I don't if that is weird, but your reaction definitely is.

Anonymous wrote:My kid is IN college and I haven’t even posted where he went.

Same here.

That sounds so, so tacky. I think a spirit wear or graphic post when they make a decision is great, but the letter with the merit amount is over the top. Plus, WHY do people keep posting things with all of this personal info online. This is how scammers get answers to security questions and hack accounts. "What was you HS/College Mascot" is such a popular one.