"At a recent college night presentation, I met with a high school counselor. They gave all parents a startling message: You're not in the driver's seat during the application process. You're not even in the passenger seat. You're in the back seat. I took the counselor's advice and decided to step back, letting my teen take the lead as they apply to colleges. At times, this has been tough, but I keep reminding myself that this is their journey."
"The post-secondary counselor talked with my child about their academic profile, major, and what they were looking for in a college. They discussed that even though my child has the background to get into highly selective (and very expensive) schools, they want to be a high school teacher, so it's not really necessary. Talking about money with kids is never fun. College is the most fraught money conversation we've had with our kids."
A parent of five is allowing the senior child to lead the college application process, stepping back after a counselor advised parents to relinquish control. The child met with a post-secondary counselor who matched academic profile, major, and preferences, steering away from highly selective expensive schools because the child plans to become a high school teacher. The parent disclosed financial limits but did not direct school choices. College conversations are confined to scheduled meetings where tasks like FAFSA, campus visits, and scholarships are completed together. The parent remains available to fill forms but resists continual nagging, even after the child missed a scholarship deadline.
Read at Business Insider
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