Helicopter Parents

Parental involvement is a great thing when those parents are helping students stay on the path to success. Studies show that involved parents are a great help when it comes to student achievement.

Lately, however, college official have been concerned about a trend that is more detrimental than helpful when it comes to parent involvement. This phenomenon is called helicopter parenting. This term refers to parents who actually harm their kids because they go overboard when it comes to micromanaging the college search.

Now don’t jump to any conclusions and tell your parents to back off just yet. Kids have always been embarrassed or frustrated by their parents, because moms and dads are just excited and enthusiastic when it comes to your success--and they like to show it. Cheek pinching and celebratory cupcakes don’t constitute problem behavior.

So how do you know if your parents are in danger of doing more harm than good?

• Does your parent file a formal protest when you receive a score below 90?
• Has a parent hired a professional to help you fill out a college application?
• Do you have a PR advisor for your college search?
• Do your parents have unrealistic and rigid expectations for your college acceptance?
• Has a parent been asked to leave a meeting between you and a college official?

If you answer yes to a few of these questions, you may have a helicopter parent. If you feel uncomfortable about your own situation, it may be time to talk to your mom or dad and inform them of the harmful effects of over-involvement.

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