Why does the 'Chance Me' forum exist?

Was it created so that ‘chance me’ threads wouldn’t clutter up the rest of the site? Also, I feel that ‘chance me’ threads don’t really accomplish anything since you’re asking random people who may or may not be credible, and in any case, shouldn’t you understand your own qualifications enough to not have to ask?

New posters may not know about ways to “chance yourself,” like looking at a school’s Common Data Set. These resources can be provided to them in comments on their threads. Other posters may also raise concerns about whether the student’s college list is too reach-heavy or unaffordable.

They may not get what they’re looking for (ways to predict the future), but they get valuable information regardless. You just have to be choosy about who you listen to. High school sophomores probably aren’t as knowledgeable about college admissions as they might portray themselves. But other posters will often point that out too.

It exists mostly to drive the adults here crazy.

We shake our heads and wonder about the logic in “Chance me and I’ll chance you back” in particular. We wonder how someone who can’t figure out his own chances can possibly feel qualified to advise someone else.

Some students, and parents, are clueless. The zero EFC who wants to apply to the UC’s from OOS. The high statted student who thinks that Cornell is his safety. The student who thinks that his EC’s and essay will make up for stats that put him well below the 25th percentile at top schools.

Its can be an ego boost lol.

If a single or class of schools is mentioned, moderators try to move threads to an appropriate forum. This helps get knowledgeable eyes on a thread, and helps prevent high schoolers from posting nonsense.