Campus Tours

[Munchkin03]

In Swissmiss's defense...

Overbearing, obnoxious parents are everywhere. This summer, I'm working with kids in a program where they take classes and live in college dorms. I understand the concern one has when leaving their 16 year old in a program for 3-7 weeks, but many parents were over the top (add to that their constant grilling us--the RAs--over our college GPA, SAT scores and activities, and reminding us of all the overblown recognition their child has--National Honor Society, anyone?). A lot of it is good-hearted concern, but more often than not, it is pompousness and arrogance.

DeltAlum, there is a difference between being comfortable with your child's school choice and being overbearing to the point where it makes others completely uncomfortable, and to the point where it makes you look arrogant. I can honestly say that my parents--who were paying full freight for a costly education--let me lead and ask the questions during college tours. Essentially, they wanted to know that the programs I wanted were good, the dorms were okay, and whether or not I would need a car or bike to get around. They may have been paying for it, but it was MY EDUCATION, and they are sensible enough people, experienced in college life after having attended college themselves and sending my older sister to school, to understand that I would be the one doing the homework, using the gyms, and eating the food. They weren't the types to throw their weight around as far as what they knew about college--that would be pure arrogance, in my opinion.