Helicopter Parents

I recently read an article quoting a study on what influences student’s choices when it comes to college. Surprise: Parents have the greatest influence on the decisions high school students make.
Did we really need a study to confirm this? As a parent and a teacher, I know first hand that parents have the greatest influence on their kids having discussed this issue with parents and students on numerous occasions. Just visit a college during open house and what will you see: hordes of parents and prospective applicants -often with their younger siblings in tow.

This led to us asking the question:
Is it right to call the parents of high school students helicopter parents given today's complex world?

My short answer is no. I know parents can be overbearing at times. And yes, some parents do not know where the line is, but dealing with college preparation is not something that can be left to a seventeen or eighteen year old. FAFSA alone nearly requires a doctoral degree to complete. Now factor in SAT prep, AP courses, scholarship searches, college applications, well, you get the idea.
Parents are supposed to be advocates for their children. If that means being a bit overbearing at times, so be it. Who else is going to ensure all the deadline are met?

Carlos Rios, Teacher-Parent-Blogger

What do you think?