haha, i know if i spent nearly much time doing my hw and studying as i do on cc researching colleges… i might actually get into top schools…lolol but srsly, i lovee cc, its amazing… 
I can’t even imagine life without CC. What would I do with all that free time? Homework? I think not!
Why wouldn’t it be addictive? It’s helpful beyond measures, goes way past what my guidance counselors can ever provide, and sometimes, it’s hilarious.
What Ms. Seipp said, in both of these articles, needed to be said. My thanks to her.
CC helpful? Yes, in some cases. However, what I see more is that it drives a very unhealthy obsession with the college admissions process. The fact that there is an entire forum dedicated to “What Are My Chances” is the first bit of evidence for this. CC is filled with people looking for any way possible to get a boost in the admissions game, whether it’s some form of gaming the system, ridiculous amounts of test prep, joining clubs/ECs just to get it on your application, etc. The attitude I see, to a first approximation, is that the day decisions come out is the most important day of your life. Espousing this attitude is a sure way to make your high school years a living, well, you know what.
I, for one, discovered CC around my sophomore year in high school, I think (I could be way off). Until recently, I only visited the site occasionally, and even then as a curiosity. I might even say that I visited CC to remind myself of what sort of attitudes and behaviors I ought to avoid when navigating college admissions. I didn’t actually visit frequently or post at all until I started college.
In high school, I did pretty much the exact opposite of what I see encouraged here (though not for the reason that CC recommended the opposite). I didn’t do any test prep whatsoever, save the few review sessions my teachers offered for AP tests. I didn’t pack my schedule with APs. I didn’t spend weeks on my applications. I only applied to three schools, and no EA or ED. I was in very few ECs, unless you count five different variations on “Band” separately. I did what I enjoyed, and I did my best at it.
The result? I had the time of my life in high school. I’m now having the time of my life at Stanford.
Glad it worked out for you, Sly Si. That’s great to hear. And certainly there are aspects of this forum that aren’t entirely healthy, lol. But for me, at least, the many benefits of CC enormously outweigh its uglier aspects. Even aside from all the advice I’ve been given and all the things I’ve learned that have made the college application process easier, it’s nice to know that you’re not the only person feeling overwhelmed or nervous or scared of applying to college.
Find me any people here in my city that have interests and ambitions as me and I’ll stay away from CC
i just discovered this site a little over two weeks ago. I am a little upset that i missed out on this site during my junior and most of my senior year. this site has really helped me through this march madness. i have to agree that it is very addictive but its worth every bit
I find College Confidential both interesting and troubling. I’ve read many excellent comments here and it’s enlightening to read the various opinions. However, it’s also troubling that some commenters - parents and students - apparently use these forums to justify or reinforce bad decisions. Underage drinking? No problem, everyone does it. Gaming/cheating on admissions/financial aid? Sure, as long as you’re basically a good person. At heart, CC is an internet sympathy session and celebration, sort of an online soap opera with a college theme. No wonder it’s addictive.
Kj, stay away from CC and I’ll hunt you down and hurt you somehow.
DRJ4: Wow! Never thought of it in that way. “Online soap opera with a college theme.” <em>laugh</em> Wonderfully succinct.
most kids need test prep because they are poor at taking tests.
most kids take AP’s because they want to be challenged and surrounded by other students who have hope for a higher education.
most kids spend weeks on their applications because they care about where they will be spending the next four years of their life.
and most kids who decide not to take any initiative with the college preparation process don’t get into their first choice colleges.
just because you got into Stanford without working hard for it doesn’t mean you have the right to mock on the kids on CC who ARE working hard for it.
Well said, misspicaroon.
Sly Si: Congratulations on your wonderful high school and college experiences. However, not everyone can avoid doing test prep & taking on loads of AP work while still getting into Stanford. Please, don’t rub it in, especially on a forum like CC.
I just became a “member” three days ago and I have gained an unbelievable amount insight. Several participants already seem like family. The feedback/comments/suggestions are incredible.
I have been telling anyone who will listen to check out CC.
I can’t thank CC enough for the wealth of knowledge found throughout the network of individuals involved.
Thank you & KEEP IT UP!
misspicaroon and margaritasalt17:
You both make very good points. I’ve said elsewhere that test prep, for example, is a good thing when used to make up for differences in how good students are at taking tests (after all the very last thing we want is colleges picking students based on who tests best). I don’t mean to mock anyone or rub anything in, and I apologize if my comments came out that way. I think I must have been in a rather harsh mood when I posted that.
The point I was trying to make is that test prep, schedule/EC packing, and all that are being taken too far, and I see CC as perpetuating this trend. Call me optimistic, but my philosophy on this matter derives from the basic assumption that most students do not need to get into [insert highly selective school here] to be happy in school. I’m confident that I would have been happy at Minnesota, my second choice, and I almost went there over Stanford. Therefore, I believe that students should, for the most part, live in the present during high school, rather than making the whole thing just a setup for getting into what is perceived as the perfect college.
Test prep? Do what you need to do. (And if you test well already, you don’t need prep, IMHO!) APs? Take them because you feel you need the extra challenge, not because it will look good on an application. (For the record, I didn’t blow off APs, I just didn’t pack my schedule with them on purpose.) ECs? Same thing. Do what you enjoy, not what looks good. (I’ll admit, I was very lucky here; what I enjoy happens to look good on apps.)
Finally, I did work hard to get into Stanford. But I didn’t let my life revolve around it for four years, and I worked hard doing things that I enjoy.
CC is addictive. and it has guided and helped me TREMENDOUSLY. when i had nobody to ask about college processes…etc, CC was always there for me… i’m so grateful toward ppl who created this site and who are maintaining this site so well! thank you so much.
Sly Si, I really appreciate your saying this. My son and I have an agreement – I can hang on CC, but he doesn’t ever come here, so it won’t mess with his head. He’s hopefully headed to Stanford this fall (14 hours unil we find out!). He has no AP’s – school doesn’t offer them – minimal EC’s-- doesn’t offer those either – and didn’t do a lot of traditional CCer things. I hope he makes a positive impression the way you clearly did.
when i found this sight, it made me get my butt off my seat and start working harder. :D. still, it’s addictive, really. it is one bloody helpful site.
and some of the members are just freakin hilarious and intelligent.
this site has caused me to completely rethink the approach to college admissions and which schools to apply to. I have learned more here than anywhere else. If I have know about it a year ago, my D would have picked different schools to apply to. That said, my S will really benefit from it because we will not make the same mistakes twice. Our gc knew a lot less than we expected and his advice was way off. It is a real shame that our kids are not necessarily getting the best help in this department but a great plus that we as parents can log on here and find out enough to make up for it.
reading that article wasn’t addictive but it certainly was freightening. imagine having a mother like that!
I thought I was set for college until I found CC. Then it all went downhill from there. Oh well, at least I discovered it just in time.
the site’s a jolt back to reality…