DR. WALLACE: I'm an 18-year-old guy and dating a very sweet girl. Once a week we eat out at a nice restaurant. I have a part-time job, so I can afford the meal and a 15 percent tip.

Last night our food server almost totally ignored us. We asked for water, but she never brought it until we had finished eating. She was too busy to pay attention to us because she was pushing wine to four well-dressed older people, probably hoping for a big tip. Fifteen percent of their total bill would result in a much larger tip than our dinner tab.

Since we really didn't receive any service, I only left a penny tip. Was this wrong? - Nameless, DeKalb, Ill.

NAMELESS: Americans are great tippers. We also tip taxi drivers, hair stylists, baggage handlers and a host of other service-oriented workers.

However, a tip is not to be considered to be an automatic handout. It should be a reward for excellent service. Poor service deserves no reward, not even a penny!

THE STUDENT COUNTS, NOT THE SCHOOL

DR. WALLACE: I'm in the tenth grade in a public school. I'm a very good student and I will be attending a college or university after high school. My best friend attends a private school (Catholic). His mother told me that colleges and universities give preferential treatment to students who graduate from private schools.

If that's true, I'll try to convince my parents to enroll me in his high school next year, even though I'm not a Catholic. My goal is to become a college professor. - Bernie, Chicago, Ill.

BERNIE: Colleges and universities seek students who have excellent grades and who participated in extracurricular activities such as athletics, music, drama, art, various clubs and student government. It doesn't make any difference if the student graduated from a public or private high school. It's the student that counts, not the school the student attended.

YOUR PARENTS ARE CORRECT

DR. WALLACE: I'm a mature 15-year-old young woman. I'm a very bright student and physically developed better than most 21-year-old women. I enjoy reading classical novels, listening to classical music, and engaging in stimulating conversation. I also enjoy being in the company of guys who can discuss things other than who is the best band or the best football team. Dating guys other than my classmates is the only chance I have of being a happy teen.

I have a library pass that allows me to use the library at Coe College, which is only two blocks from my house. Several guys at Coe have shown interest in spending more time with me. I would really like to get to know them better. They know that I'm still in high school, but they think I'm 17 or 18. I didn't tell them my true age because it might cause them to shy away from me. I'm 15 chronologically, but a lot older in every other way.

I discussed dating guys my mental age with my parents, but they won't allow it. My father is a professor at Coe and Mom is an attorney, so they should be aware that dating boys my own age (or a year or two older), just doesn't work out for me.

Dr. Wallace, I'm physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually ready to date older guys. Is there anything else that I lack? - Nameless, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

NAMELESS: You seem to have all the qualifications needed to date someone four or five years older than you except for one - experience! Your parents are absolutely correct. Dating college guys at your age is completely inappropriate. I'm certain there are boys at your high school who share your mature qualifications. Find one!

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.