Most parents like mine, who had never gone to college, 
    were either intimidated or oblivious (and sometimes 
    outright hostile) to the intricacies of college 
    admissions and financial aid. I had no idea what I was 
    doing when I applied. Once, I’d heard a volleyball 
    coach mention paying off her student loans, and this
    led me to assume that college was like a restaurant — 
    you paid when you were done. When I realized I needed 
    my mom’s and my stepfather’s income information and 
    tax documents, they refused to give them to me. They 
    were, I think, ashamed.

Almost painful to read that. Hit close to home a little too much. Sometimes I wonder whether it's simply willful ignorance by the upper class to ignore the realities of the poor class.