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I just wondered why students feel compelled to post questions about their financial aid status, their chances at various schools, and similar topics on the parents' forum?

By Athlonmj (Athlonmj) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 09:59 am: Edit

Because they feel that the parents are more knowledgeable about the questions that they would ask and so they would most likely elicit better responses.

By Soozievt (Soozievt) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 10:11 am: Edit

I agre with Athlonmj....I think these kids are reaching out for help and this is where they picked. They may not be getting the assistance/guidance at home with this process, or at school, and relish getting the viewpoints of knowledgeable, supportive, and willing adults that frequent the parent forum.
Susan

By Coureur (Coureur) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 12:36 pm: Edit

I enjoy helping students when I can. That's what parents are for. But the one thing I wish students wouldn't post here, or anywhere else for that matter, are Chances posts. What I think about anyone's chances is completely irrelevant. It's only the opinion of the adcoms at the specific school that matters -- not mine, and certainly not some random high school junior replying to another kid's post. And so far as I know, the adcoms aren't posting here.

And for HYPSM and the other high end schools, I can sometimes tell that a certain candidate WON'T get in, but it's completely impossible to predict who WILL get in. It's a useless waste of time that I wish the kids would keep confined to the Chances board.

By Weenie (Weenie) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 06:09 pm: Edit

Well, wouldn't it make more sense for parents to frequent the other forums, and respond wherever they can to these types of questions? For example, I see questions on here very specific to financial aid - well, those should be under financial aid and (hopefully) parents or anybody else who can help out with that would respond. I think most parents frequent the other forums as well, and would gladly help out students on there who need help. I don't know, just seems more organized that way. Not a big deal - just a comment.

By Ilcapo (Ilcapo) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 06:18 pm: Edit

I post here because my guidance counselors are clueless, my mom doesn't know much about colleges or the process of getting in...


and mostly because the parents on here are FULL of useful information that they are willing to share.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Sunday, October 03, 2004 - 11:29 pm: Edit

Weenie, The problem is that in the past parents have sometimes been flamed when we posted on the other boards - we awere told to stay here, where we "belong." So, some have decided that it's just safer and more pleasant to hang out here and not venture into the general boards very much. But there's still a fair number of parents who do.

By Ohio_Mom (Ohio_Mom) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 12:30 pm: Edit

When we get flamed on the other boards, its usually for saying something someone doesn't want to hear - 'add a safety' - 'no, I don't think you're 100% sure of admittance'. This advice may be disregarded by the OP, but may benefit the many that lurk without posting.

By Demingy (Demingy) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 01:00 pm: Edit

There are two reasons why I post on the parent's forum. For one thing, I'm older than most of these students so my experiences with the whole process is very different. The other reason is the fact that the parent's forum is just more respectful overall. Posters here are rarely rude to each other and there is honest but careful discourse.

By Thedad (Thedad) on Monday, October 04, 2004 - 02:05 pm: Edit

OhioMom, bingo! When I post, I always consider who my audience is. It may not be the poster to whom I am responding.

By Liek0806 (Liek0806) on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 - 12:40 am: Edit

The reason I(student) post here is because
1. Other forums like college life or financial aid aren't as trafficated as the most popular ones therefore it would take a longer time to get a response.
2. Parents usually aren't immature and don't critisize your question, instead answer it.
3. Parents know more
4. Students are usually selfish to answer or read post that relates to them, therefore your question may never get answered.
5. Parents know about the financial aid expenses based on experience with their children
6. Students are mainly interested in getting help not providing help
7. Your bound to get more replies on your post by parents than you would by students, I've posted on here and have received more than 10 replies for my posts whereas if I were to post under college admissions or college search I'll probably end up only getting 3 if I'm lucky.
8. There's much more interesting posts to read under the parents forum.