<p>Hey, no apologies for this so-called addiction. Where else can you chat with parents around our own age, with similar educational backgrouds, presumably relatively similar economic conditions (ie, broke), who just want The Best for their kids? I love you all. My real friends aren't so nice. (They don't have the advantage of being able to edit their comments, once posted.)</p>
<p>My life is much more interesting, having an all wise oracle to consult, no matter what the question. I can still figure things out for myself. I think. But having a worldwide and very smart peer group to help reflect on any issue at hand, whether presidential elections or washing machines, adds perspective in all sorts of lovely ways. </p>
<p>I quit once. Hopefully will quit again for a time when and if spring arrives. I think.</p>
<p>This place really is sort of a guilty pleasure for Type A parents like myself. Many of the people in my "social circle" are oblivious to how competitive college admissions have become and most of them are really not that interested in the process. This site has educated me (perhaps more than my psyche can handle) and I find myself chuckling at school sponsored college info sessions...it is amazing how little the "trained" college guidance staff knows! When my hs senior is off to her chosen college in June, I suppose I should wean myself from CC but...I do have a rising high school freshman so here we go again!</p>
<p>I promise you that my last post to CC will be when my son graduates and gets his first post college job.</p>
<p>Sorry, you're stuck with me for at least 3 more years...</p>
<p>great list vballmom.... maybe they can send that to people when they first register their screen name.....</p>
<p>Now I'm scared. My youngest is in sixth grade! I guess I'll be here for awhile.
Plus he's an avid writer, and the rest of the family are techy types, so I have
a lot to learn from CC. So, you see, I could give up CC, I really could! It's just
that I choose to be here. It's not an addiction. Really.</p>
<p><em>sighs</em> Yes, I admit it, I'm powerless in the face of CC. But y'all are so darn
loveable!</p>
<p>Im not embarrassed :)
I think it is great- it gives us a way to get clothing advice for free ( not crepe de chine skorts) advice on cameras, what to do with errant children/husbands/dogs/wives, and what to do with all those tomatoes!</p>
<p>Let alone all the educational info- it is really invaluable.
My husband prefers to leave virtually all the educational related stuff to me & it helps so much to get informed feedback.</p>
<p>CC reminds me of eworld-which I stayed on along with about 500 others until we were booted off</p>
<p>I expect CC will be the same way.</p>
<p>I think we need a convention though. Some place warm?
In Seattle it snowed for a few days last week- I need spring!</p>
<p>I promise that when I've completed my LAST financial aid form, I will NEVER post on the financial aid forum again. Please don't hold me to that promise!!</p>
<p>Thumper1, you'll post, 'cause you'll need help comparing the packages!</p>
<p>From bessie:
[quote]
I am going to try and wean myself off after he graduates from HS.
[/quote]
Hee, hee. I've been lurking and stalking around here for 6 years (old board too). Youngest graduates from college this June. Some students of mine (and her peers) told me about CC, but I was forbidden to post until AFTER her hs graduation. I'm not into reality TV at all - Is this what it's like? Really, I just hang out to give my current students college tips. Really. Love the 12 steps, vballmom.</p>
<p>;)</p>
<p>I have to restrain myself when talking to my non-CC friends to not come across as sounding too "know-it-all". I limit myself to making open-ended statements like:</p>
<p>"I've learned a lot about financial aid recently, it's amazing what goes into the calculations!"</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>"It's sobering how unpredictable admissions are at the UCs this year!"</p>
<p>or</p>
<p>"Did you know you can check out the Naviance scattergrams from other high schools in our area using a guest account?"</p>
<p>...and change the subject if met with blank looks, which happens fairly often.</p>
<p>Glad to be here where I'm not alone with my obsession...errr....interests!</p>
<p>Yes, it's amazing how disinterested the general public is in this vital topic. I run out of people to bore about it pretty quickly IRL.</p>
<p>While shopping with DD today, she reminded me that her best friend was waiting on her acceptance (hopefully) to Vanderbilt, upon which without missing a beat I stated, "you know, they have only a 23% acceptance rate this year!" She then promptly gave me the look, and told me to "step away from the crack pipe!" :(</p>
<p>It's a hobby--a HOBBY!!! I've done worse stuff than this--though my memory of it isn't too sharp.</p>
<p>Hey...this "hobby" costs me FAR less money than a trip to the mall!!</p>
<p>Bethie...YOU were quoted. How cool is that?</p>
<p>My DD has been very gracious and has actually met a couple of my CC "invisible friends" and some of their kids who were visiting her college. She has been treated to dinner a couple of times. DD has also been very willing to email or talk on the phone to folks...after a "proper" introduction from me.</p>
<p>And <em>I</em> have been fortunate to meet a bunch of CC folks in person, and each time, it's like I'm with a friend I've known for YEARS!!!</p>
<p>Same with me, thumper. I've really liked everyone I've met IRL--parents and students. And my son is always gracious about contact from CC students interested in his campus.</p>
<p>Like many here, I've been around for a long time. It is a bit like crack. I have given up many of the forums like college admissions that are no longer relevant to my life, but I stay in tune with the forum for my kids' university. Mostly, though, it's the Parents Forum and Parents Cafe that keep me coming back. Like so many here, I have to check daily (at least once) on latetoschool and her brave battle against cancer. I thought I might give this up when youngest went to college, but she's a junior now and I'm ready to admit I have no plans to leave anytime soon!</p>
<p>GA2012Mom,
Good luck to your D's friend - talked with S this afternoon (the 06 in my screen name) and mentioned the 23% acceptance rate. He commented that the acceptance rate has been dropping steadily (around 5% each year) since he was admitted, but was amazed that this year was about a 10% drop.</p>
<p>I started in 2004 to learn more about the college app process for ds1. Of course, I have to stay current to help ds2 two years behind. Now that ds2 is in college, I have to gear up to learn about graduate schools since ds1 has expressed a desire to go to grad school after he graduate next year. I am counting on ds2 to go onto a post-grad program so I can stay on with cause. </p>
<p>Like 2VU0609, I cut back to the forum for my kids' U, the parents forum and cafe mostly. I read mostly and limit my postings (esp. since I am not a fast typist). Of course, I can stop any time I want to. Really.</p>
<p>I'll be around for at least a few more years. Son is a senior, starting college in the fall (how did that happen so soon???). Daughter is a HS freshman so I have lots of time on CC ahead of me yet! Love this place!</p>
<p>You guys don't know true addiction until you realize you have the "college talk jones" so bad that you have no choice but to turn pro like Soozievt and I did. Then, it's all college, all the time, on all channels, and yet, somehow it's STILL not enough. </p>
<p>Step away from the computer, indeed.</p>
<p>^^ LOL Carolyn, spoken like a true dedicated addict! [ I wish you would post on CC more often]</p>