<p>One of the things that cracked me up occurred during my son's first week of college. As he was introducing himself to a girl on his floor they got to talking about where he's from, his high school ECs, his interests and so on, the girl put two and two together and asked, "Oh my gawd, are <em>you</em> the JJ of Jjsmom???" Jj fessed up and she admitted that she been reading my posts on CC about our trials and tribulations about applying to Tufts all year! Jj asked her if she had ever contacted me, she said no, she just was a lurker, but felt she and the mysterious "JJ" were leading parallel lives as they went through the Tufts application process.</p>
<p>I asked him if he was embarrassed that he had been "outed," but he said "NO! You're famous!" LOL!</p>
<p>Hey everybody!!! I just pulled a DUH!! I could not figure out why nobody was posting on the parents forum for the past couple of days. Geez, I thought where did everybody go????? Figured it out about an hour ago. And kids think I can fill out the FAFSA online???? Gonna screw that one up for sure. Did it last year, I'm sure I will mess it up again. It took me DAYS to figure there was a new CC!!! DUH!!</p>
<p>I've been lurking for a couple of months and learning a lot about the application process. CC really helped my son last week when he took the SAT II's; hope all the advice helped him. My son submitted his first ED application today and hope all that work doesn't get lost in the mail. I do have a question. Do we really have to bother with that FAFSA stuff and college profile (CSS) if we know out kid won't qualify for a scholarship? PS I can't find the CC archives and can't find any financial aid threads. Thanks.</p>
<p>Tookie, I know we won't qualify for financial aid, but my S's ED school requires that we submit a PROFILE and FAFSA to be considered for merit aid. If your S is applying to schools at which he might get merit aid, you should check the admissions and/or financial aid offices.</p>
<p>I have lurked for a very long time because I posted on one thread and was understood to have been responding much more harshly than I intended. Ever since then, I just didn't want to take the risk of becoming the brunt of anyone's anger. Really too bad because I've many times had some hard information to contribute to someone who wanted it.</p>
<p>I decided this morning--before I saw this thread, ironically--to break my silence and offer to provide information to a young man who needs help self-studying for Calculus over on an MIT thread. I hope it works out better this time.</p>
<p>ctymomteacher, I think most of us have jumped out a little more harshly than we meant to at some point (except the really nice people.) I know I have.</p>
<p>ctymom - Gosh, if I had a dollar for every time someone reacted harshly to one of my posts on CC, I'd be winging my way off to a fancy tropical vacation right about now!</p>
<p>I long ago decided that I'd try not to take any reaction personally but would apologize if I offered wrong info. or hurt someone's feelings unintentionally. I think that works for most posters.</p>
<p>And to all of you newly unveiled lurkers - welcome! - the more the merrier!</p>
<p>ctymom, I understand how you feel, and am glad you've decided to post again. I was insulted rather harshly by a poster (adult) whom I was trying to help. I decided to dismiss the insult and the poster. I just don't respond to this person's questions anymore. </p>
<p>Tookie, here's the link to the archives. <a href="http://www.collegeconfidential.com/discus/%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeconfidential.com/discus/</a>
You can look in the Financial Aid thread and also do a message search (link is on the left). We didn't qualify for FA either, but did file FAFSA and CSS Profile because a couple of schools wanted that for merit scholarships. Also, several parents here have said that if your finances change drastically then you need to have filed these forms before freshman year. I don't know if this is accurate or not, but we figured it wouldn't hurt to go ahead and file.</p>
<p>Welcome to all the new posters and readers.</p>
<p>"Lurker" is such an ugly word :). My daughter lurked for three months before she posted, and I probably lurked for a year. We both learned a lot during all that lurking, and I think it's significant that the first time she posted was when she was distraught over being deferred from her first-choice school last December. She felt as if she couldn't face anyone ever again--until she read all the posts from other people on CC who were in the same boat, and realized what good company she was in. </p>
<p>So thank you to all you posters; you help the shy lurkers among us more than you know.</p>
<p>It's 8:30 in the morning here, DOS, but that got an audible laugh in Oceania.</p>
<p>College confessionals, lol. </p>
<p>I mean, mistakes were made--but I don't think I need the confessional! Anyway, I'm too impatient to be a lurker. I'm a blurter if there ever was one.</p>
<p>I never liked that confession box. I remember sitting out in the pews with my friends making up sins to give Father pause. </p>
<p>Ahhh...the convoluted life of an old-style Catholic school. How did we get to be functioning adults?;)</p>