<p>Definitely more on here, I don’t really talk much to my son’s friend’s parents, and given that they are all over the spectrum as far as grades, interests etc. it would just be out of interest, not competition or anything. I have found that the VAST majority are much less informed about the whole process than I have become thanks to CC! I really enjoy finding out the info on here and all so don’t see any of this as time wasted, but you have to wonder about the clueless parents, I think in the end everyone in DSs school ends up somewhere, maybe with much less research and effort. One thing for sure, I am STUNNED at how little the parents know about Merit vs. Financial Aid, Score Choice etc., and also at how unwilling most families at DSs school are to send their child out of state. Out of the 1150 kids in his Senior class, he was the only one to go to the U Alabama visit… bizarre!</p>
<p>This is an old thread, but I’m newish on CC and like the question. I was wondering why my husband and I had started obsessing about CC AFTER our S’s acceptance at a top school. I kept telling myself to grow up! But then I realized it’s partly because we CAN’T really talk to other HS parents. It’s a small school so we all know who’s applying where, and there’s really not a lot of overlap so it’s not competition so much, it’s just that the kids situations are so different that it is awkward.</p>
<p>mentler, I appreciate cc even more now that my D12 is looking at OOS schools. Her HS is really big on state schools and doesn’t always have current info on other schools. Also, there have been wonderful posters here who go out of their way to share their experiences with the college app process and money matters. Just remember that every situation is different and one size doesn’t always fit all! Welcome to CC!</p>