Christcorp
15-Year Member
- Joined
- May 21, 2008
- Messages
- 5,380
As always, there's a difference between "Helping" and "Doing". If your son/daughter do their application, essays, etc... and you "Review, critique, etc...", then that's "Helping". That is a good thing. If you put "Pen to Paper"; or in today's world "Finger to Keyboard", then that is "Doing". That is not good.
And I know how difficult that line can be. Did my son have some advantages having me review his application? Yes. Just like a high school student might have an advantage if their parent also happens to be a teacher. I was able to keep my son on target because I knew already what had to be done in the application process. I knew the advantages of getting the application done early. I knew what the academy was looking for in their essays, CFA, and application. I had been working with and assisting ALO's for a number of year.
But in the end, I didn't do the CFA for him. I didn't do his essays. I didn't fill out his applications. (For the academy or ANY of the other schools he applied to). Did I keep him focused? Yes. Did I badger him to sit down and do the essay or portion of the application NOW and not procrastinate? Yes. But that is no different than what any parent does; or SHOULD do; when making sure their kids are doing their homework, reports, preparing for finals, etc... But the minute a parent types, writes, etc... they've crossed the line to "DOING" instead of "HELPING".
And I know how difficult that line can be. Did my son have some advantages having me review his application? Yes. Just like a high school student might have an advantage if their parent also happens to be a teacher. I was able to keep my son on target because I knew already what had to be done in the application process. I knew the advantages of getting the application done early. I knew what the academy was looking for in their essays, CFA, and application. I had been working with and assisting ALO's for a number of year.
But in the end, I didn't do the CFA for him. I didn't do his essays. I didn't fill out his applications. (For the academy or ANY of the other schools he applied to). Did I keep him focused? Yes. Did I badger him to sit down and do the essay or portion of the application NOW and not procrastinate? Yes. But that is no different than what any parent does; or SHOULD do; when making sure their kids are doing their homework, reports, preparing for finals, etc... But the minute a parent types, writes, etc... they've crossed the line to "DOING" instead of "HELPING".