Move over helicopter parents; lawnmower parents are taking the elite college world by storm. Unlike their less extreme counterparts, who opt to hover over every little thing their offspring does, lawnmower parents plow through every challenge, cutting down obstacles that might stand in their child’s way. Some may believe this parenting style is sure to set students up for success, but the reality is that students with these kinds of parents struggle to live independent adult lives. One would hope these parenting woes would not extend to one of the most prestigious schools on Planet Earth. Unfortunately, Harvard University is no stranger to this overtop era of parents gone wild.

From organizing letter-writing campaigns to change institutional policies to calling up professors and disputing grades, lawnmower parents have taken Harvard by storm in recent years. While we at Ivy Coach sympathize with many of these parents’ concerns over the turmoil on Harvard’s campus, we believe that no one should intervene on their adult child’s behalf. These actions, while well-intentioned, can be unbecoming, unnecessary, and ultimately futile. Harvard already prioritizes the desires of parents in its admissions process through things like the legacy admissions boost. But once your child is admitted, they become Harvard’s primary concern. So instead of storming into an administrative office or calling up a Harvard professor to air your grievances, we encourage you to let your child take responsibility for their education!

How Lawnmower and Helicopter Parenting Backfires at Harvard University

To get into a school as highly selective as Harvard, many students rely on the guidance of their overly involved parents. This is a fundamental principle of elite admissions: some students wouldn’t have gotten into their elite school had it not been for the intervention of their parents. Nonetheless, helicopter, weed whacker, and snowblower (you name it!) parents’ well-meaning actions are miscalculated and usually backfire. For one thing, contacting an admissions officer or professor before your child has gotten into Harvard is sure to backfire, adversely impacting your child’s odds of admission by making them seem unlikable, dependent, and burdensome. It’s better not to take the risk.

But even after your child has been admitted to Harvard, sticking yourself between your child and their alma mater is still not a good look. Let’s say your lawnmower-style parenting paid off, and your child is the happy recipient of a Harvard acceptance letter. Staying afloat on Harvard’s highly competitive, cutthroat, and uniquely individualistic campus is difficult. If your child is used to you helping with the homework and fighting their battles for them, a rude awakening awaits them when they first step foot into the Yard. These unfortunate students will be disadvantaged without you to tie up their loose ends. Instead of taking advantage of the opportunity of a lifetime, your child will flounder!

Understanding the Strengths of a Harvard Education Beyond Learning

One of the primary benefits of a Harvard education is not the education. Sure, you’ll receive a stellar education from some of the world’s top academics, but that’s true of most elite schools. What Harvard brings to the table is immersion amongst the world’s most driven, intelligent, and innovative young adults. The Crimson’s undergraduate student body has a collective culture of dedication that pushes each student forward out of its sheer momentum. If Harvard mistakenly fills its rosters with the children of helicopter parents, on the other hand, this unique strength will be compromised, hurting everyone’s potential for success along the way.

A Harvard Acceptance is the First Step Towards a Bright Future For Your Child

Let’s not put the cart ahead of the horse. It’s not too late to reform your ways before your child enters a highly selective school like Harvard. Instead of venting your frustrations to overworked admissions officers or annoyed professors, turn to a member of Ivy Coach’s team of former elite college admissions officers to optimize your child’s odds of admission to Harvard University. We will work with your child to develop a singular admissions hook that makes them irresistible to that one little school just outside of Boston. So, fill out our complimentary consultation form and we’ll be in touch.