Wisdom of CC versus asking the college

[xiggi]

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much of what people post is often just plain incorrect. I honestly feel that every university or college in the country, at least the ones discussed here frequently, ought to hire one person to scan this site everyday to correct misinformation about his/her particular university.

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<p>Jack, were this to happen, that would be --again-- the best sign that this board functions as intended. This is discussion forum where people exchange opinions and ... links to the "correct information." Isn't it plain wonderful when people do come here and repeat some "truth" they just learned, be it from a guidance counselor, a teacher, a friend, or directly from the schools, and almost immediately benefit from a "correction" from a seasoned parent or (shudder) a student? </p>

<p>Were I to post some grossly incorrect statement about a State University in the State of Noth Carolina, would it take long for another poster (including my dear friend Jack) to jump in and kindly correct my misconception? </p>

<p>As far as the schools involvement, I believe that the example of MIT (just to name one out of many) is telling. The adcoms of MIT decided to participate and use this board to squash a number of erroneous rumors regarding admissions.</p>

<p>Again, complementary is the key word that defines the perfect process.</p>

[jack]

<p>xiggi: Yes, I am aware that some schools do have people scan this site and post. Didn't I just say that in the above post? I do think it's worthwhile and a very smart move. (Gee, I think I said that before, too.) So, what do you know-- we agree.</p>

<p>However, I'm not sure I'd refer to this site, directly or indirectly, as a "perfect process;" is anything, really? After all, this is just an anonymous internet site-- useful and illuminating in many ways, but let's not turn it into something more than that.</p>

<p>Again, I think that many questions people post here really could be answered much more quickly (and correctly) on the specific university or college website, or by placing a phone call. </p>

<p>And, yes, I'd be more than willing and happy to "jump in and kindly correct [your] misconceptions," xiggi. Anytime. ;)</p>

[zoosermom]

<p>Jack, we don't all always even know WHICH colleges to call/consider. I've done a lot of research now for ZG's search and she did very, very well. There were many questions that I never would have thought to ask if others hadn't posted their experiences along the way. That's what I find most helpful here, as a working mother, the willingness to share experiences. The readers can then take what's helpful, leave what's not, and move closer to making the right choices. Personally, I've found plenty of things that I would have never known in time without reading posts here because this is my first child.</p>

[jack]

<p>zoosermom: As I stated before, this can be a "useful and illuminating" site in many ways. My point, really, as others here also made, is that many times people ask specific questions regarding a particular university-- or even specific questions regarding National Merit or about SAT and College Board, etc. Most often, the information/answer would be more easily accessed directly from the source, where you will likely get the correct answers (w/o a lot of biased opinion in the process).</p>

[JEM]

<p>

@jack

I would also be very wary of (often biased) information and opinions given out by people who claim to be college counselors, who never tell you what their trained formal education or background is-- or if they learned how to be "college counselors" via the same route as most parents. A few may actually be trained, but when someone states he/she is a college counselor and proceeds to give out a bunch of information, posters need to ask about his/her background in that area. Otherwise, take the information with a grain of salt.

I just want to note that several of CC's own college counselors have their bios posted on this website -- see <a href="http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_counseling/counseling_director.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.collegeconfidential.com/college_counseling/counseling_director.htm&lt;/a>. </p>

<p>CC does verify those who claim to work in college admission offices, and we designate those individuals as College Reps. </p>

<p>For "regular" posters who claim to have expertise, it has to be "let the reader beware" -- or at least exercise good judgment and evauate all posts thoughtfully.</p>

<p>I absolutely agree with Jack's point that basic info about a particular college's application requirements, etc. should be accessed through the college's website.</p>

[xiggi]

<p>
[quote]
Again, I think that many questions people post here really could be answered much more quickly (and correctly) on the specific university or college website, or by placing a phone call. </p>

<p>And, yes, I'd be more than willing and happy to "jump in and kindly correct [your] misconceptions," xiggi. Anytime.

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<p>Jack, as you know, you're most welcome to jump in anytime! </p>

<p>For the record, all of us have our data points and a good number of anecdotes to rely on. We also have our beliefs and opinions. Based on what I think --how circular is that!-- I completely agree that it is often more expeditious to go directly to the source. Where we seem to disagree is that there are no trade-offs! Why do I write that the information culled from a phone call to an admissions' office is not necessarily the best and more accurate: because I have made the calls! The "test" I posted above was not some kind of rethorical exercise in futility ... it did happen. </p>

<p>I could go on and on about other examples of the dychotomy between the availability of information and its dissemination. While information about due dates of applications and number of standardized tests is the tip of the iceberg, should we approach on issues such as taxability of scholarships, or even on the fine prints of financial aid? For every Dan the moneyman at MIT, there are hundreds of schools that view their financial aid offices as an impenetrable ivory tower. </p>

<p>Wanna deal in reality? Yesterday, I spent two hours discussing the FAFSA form of my younger cousin at a state school to correct SEVERAL errors on their part, including a position that the FAFSA could ONLY be filed electronically. Is the correct information available? Yes, it is ... The Department of Education published complete and detailed information on HOW to process the FAFSA as well as making adjustments to the individual files. It is all there for anyone to read ... parents AND administrators. Considering the repetitive questions about EFC and reports of "shocking results" by parents, it is a given that few people would make the effort to read the extensive manual. As I wrote often, anyone can define his or her OWN Federal EFC to the penny ... but who wants to do that! However, one has to wonder how many of the young, inexperienced, and grossly underpaid officers at the schools DID read the same instead of relying on ... what the computer shows. </p>

<p>And this is with schools that use the FM. Have you ever tried to obtain a stright answer from a school that uses the FM and the IM? Would ANYONE tell you what is the controlling geographical factor used to calculate the equity in one's home? Good luck getting that out of any school. Yet, isn't that factual information? </p>

<p>As every debate on CC, this is far from being a black and white issue. I'd simply like to end this with the thought that everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts. The obvious differences is that many prefer to blurry the differences between the two because it does take quite an effort to gather the correct and verifiable facts.</p>

<p>And to answer a few of the last comments, I also happen to believe that the "credentials" of counselors are NOT necessarily a equivalent to a seal of quality. Should we revisit some of the posts of people who offered as sole "credential" a 30 year plus career? Credentials are great but more credibility comes for the quality of the advice supported by VERIFIABLE data in the form of *linked information as opposed to voodoo-like type of information. * </p>

<p>As NMD posted so wisely ... trust and verify!</p>

[jack]

<p>JEM and xiggi: My comment about people posting that claim they are college counselors (with absolutely no background or training in that area) was not a comment about people CC has hired. Sorry. That must have hit too close to home. ;) No, I was referring to others who regularly post here and elsewhere.</p>

<p>I agree, xiggi, that "credibility" is best supported by "verifiable data in the form of linked information . . ."</p>

[TheGFG]

<p>Some factual information is perfectly available to the employees of the college, but not important enough for them to have on hand or in their heads when you ask. In these cases too, a parent or student on CC can help. I called the housing office at S's school to inquire about the window size in his freshman dorm. No one in the office knew. I asked if perhaps they had floor plans on file with that info. No, they didn't. I couldn't even get from them an indication of whether the windows were large or small.</p>

[cheers]

<p>Colleges would prefer that nervous mummies call their offices?</p>

<p>Good one.</p>