<p>
This is so true.</p>
<p>Most important things I’ve learned in 2.5 years on CC:</p>
<p>-that you should use different prep books for different SAT IIs.</p>
<p>-that there are people who don’t think that leaving the East Coast for college is a terrible idea. Thanks for supporting me, guys!</p>
<p>-that the Parents Forum is about a billion times more interesting and more helpful than HSL, even for a high school kid.</p>
<p>-that forums are wonderfully addictive.</p>
<p>-that most people who post in specific colleges’ sub-forums are helpful and honest and mean well.</p>
<p>-that if I ignore chance threads and any threads about what will look better to colleges I’ll be better off.</p>
<p>-that the Internet is a small place. That if I give out too much info it’ll be too easy to figure out who I am, and that I can find people I know in real life in the oddest of places on CC.</p>
<p>-that strangers on the Internet can be kinder and more selfless than I thought possible. If used properly, CC is a helpful and fun resource, and I thank you all for making it such.</p>
<p>I don’t think my older son ever voluntarily went to CC though he did check out a couple of threads about colleges he was applying to, and responded to a post about what to do about a younger kid who was interested in computer programming when I asked him to.</p>
<p>My younger son does check out CC from time to time, but refuses to get a screen name. He was grumbling that you can look for other posts by someone unless you register and he doesn’t want to on principle. I pointed out that he could just use my screenname since he steals my laptop regularly anyway. I believe he did, though I don’t think he’s ever been tempted to post. It’s interesting, because I know he does post on other message boards.</p>
<p>One of the most useful specific pieces of information I got from CC: Best book for APUSH.</p>
<p>[Amazon.com:</a> AP U.S. History Crash Course (REA) (9780738605609): Larry Krieger: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/U-S-History-Crash-Course-REA/dp/0738605603]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/U-S-History-Crash-Course-REA/dp/0738605603)</p>
<p>Oh my gosh!! I have only been on here a few weeks and I have already learned a ton of stuff. Tomorrow I am going to see about having my students start a HOSA club. I have learned about financial aid, how people prepared for college, the math olympics, what it takes to get into great schools.
I think this is the most useful site on the internet.</p>
<p>-that there’s a whole world beyond the bubble of west Texas, a world rich with opportunities and interesting people
-that my grades/test scores/intelligence are certainly NOT as impressive as I believed them to be for years, that I’m way below average by CC standards
-that deciding where to go to college isn’t a decision I should let my parents make for me
-that anonymity often breeds self-righteous militance
-that my school REALLY does its students a disservice by doing extremely little to prepare them for college, that my school could be improved in SO many ways
-everything I know about college admissions, I’ve learned from CC … I owe this site so much, because even though I’m a bit of a lurker and don’t tend to participate in the more serious discussions, I’ve picked up so much information, and if I hadn’t found it, I’d be headed this fall to a below-average school somewhere out in the desert…</p>
<p>From CC, I learned that all of this … SAT and college admissions… is
A) Simpler than you want to believe
B) Requires that you let your personality shine as strongly as possible
C) Requires ‘time management’ that SOUNDS scary, but if you just DO IT its not.</p>
<p>I’ve learned… that there is a whole world of students like me. 
Well, I knew that before, but now I get to meet them.</p>
<p>Seems like you learned quite a bit during the course of your time here, Dad II (if not without some drama and bumps in the road ;)). All the best and good luck to you and your family.</p>
<p>agreed that internet is small place. I figured out one poster very easily as someone from my school, but have not let on that I know she posts here.</p>
<p>Don- my first month on the previous popular posting board (PR), in 2000, I spotted posts by one of my DDs good friends; knowing his mother’s maiden name made it certain, but the posts, too, mostly gave it away. It is tough to post freely about the ups & downs of teens & twentys when you think people who know you (or worse, who know your kids) will read it!</p>
<p>My son’s been obsessed with CC for a couple years, and I didn’t understand it. I’ve learned only in the past few weeks, that’s it’s a safe place for him to ask advice from other adults, and that he’ll get good advice. It’s his way of figuring out the world and trying to navigate tricky waters. Thank you to all the caring, intelligent folks who’ve taken the time to answer a thread.</p>
<p>I’ve learned that some parents shelter their children to an outrageous extent, and that explains students who are clueless about the world (and their financial situation!).</p>
<p>I find many smart people here.</p>
<p>Bottomline:
- I’ve learned that there is as much great info as totally off-base and wrong info on CC - so “…trust but verify.”
- Stats are not everything.
- Most parents do love their kids.
- Ignore eyerolling from kids & GCs who think you are nuts with some things you want them to consider/try and stick to your guns.
- No one will advocate for your child as determinedly as you will.
- Things said on CC can easily be misinterpreted.
- Some posters just like to argue.
- Once you break the addiction, don’t come back, even for a peek - you WILL fall off the wagon. :)</p>