I suppose I must have told my parents which universities I was putting on the Ucas form but I don't remember much discussion about it. Once at university they visited once (or was it twice?) which was fine by me.
But that was an age ago. Today's news that parents are now interfering officially in their children's Ucas applications – as opposed to the standard devious pressure we all apply on our children - takes the impact of the helicopter parent to new heights (or depths).
The five types of helicopter parent, identified by Paul Redmond in the Guardian involve themselves not only in the application to university, but in every aspect onwards – open days, choice of course, halls of residence (buying a house for the helicoptered student and friends to rent is the top of the range, Cherie Blair option).
The mobile phone, sighs Redmond, is surely "the longest umbilical chord in history".
If there are bad marks or degree results to be challenged the helicopter parents are sure to be hovering and they are now even reported to be negotiating their offsprings' starting salaries.
Is it because parents now see themselves as consumers, shelling out thousands of pounds and they want their money's worth? Or is it, as sociologist Frank Furedi argues, the infantilisation of society? Or has it always been there in some form, father buying a commission in the army or the old man getting you a job in the shipyard?
