Which one are you? Check our lists

A HELPFUL PARENT . . .

• Asks his child his dreams and listens to him;
• Attends high school presentations and guidance counselor meetings (where appropriate);
• Assesses his own selfish needs and tries to separate them from his child’s;
• Puts together a list of possible schools, insuring that his child will have several good places for himself;
• Visits schools (where possible);
• Helps plan essays to help his child highlight his strengths;
• Pushes his child to work hard, but celebrates his hard work;
• Insists that his child run the admissions process (i.e., call admissions officers and write e-mails to them directly).

A HARMFUL PARENT . . .
• Puts his needs first and makes this process about himself;
• Fills out forms for his child;
• Writes the essays for his child;
• Pressures his child to gain admission to a specific school;
• Contacts the universities about the applications because his child is “too busy”;
• Abdicates responsibility in the process and puts it all on his child;
• Argues with the guidance counselor and the high school;
• Blames failure on his child and not on the process.