<p>mezzomom,
Thanks for posting the update, and though I'm sure the road ahead will be filled with some speed bumps, I hope for all the best for you and your daughter.</p>
<p>From CC, my daughter and I have learned a great deal. Help with essays, SAT prep, ALOT of help learning about specific schools from current students, what she'll need to take next year, help with planning college visits, etc., etc., etc. The list really does go on and on. </p>
<p>I would also like to add, good or bad, we formed some opinions about certain schools based on the opinions of others. Also learned what the "tufts syndrome" is, the randomness of the whole admissions process (which REALLY helped to calm her nerves and gave her a really "whatever happens will happen" attitude, def. taking the pressure off! Luckily she got in one of her first choices EA, so the waiting for RD isn't as stressful.) We're both really grateful to so many parents and students on this forum. </p>
<p>Things I didn't know in time, but learned from CC: how important PSAT's are (she only took them in 10th grade with no prep, didn't make the cutoff). Based on learning on CC about Natl Merit, I met with the school to stress how important this test can be, and though it was too late for my D, the school really needs to do a better job of informing the students and parents of PSAT and its potential impact. Also knew nothing about the AP Scholars, etc. Daughter might have taken an extra AP class in 11th had she known about this.</p>