Is there an Idiot's Guide to College Confidential?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They make those nuts moderators, so you have idiots cultivating a strong anti-elite, pro mediocre university bias, and let their internet friends hi-jack all the threads with their out of touch talking points. It's basically a white trash mom echo chamber with the tiny decent info not worth the time to find. If you google search the forum, you can tell the insights 10 years ago were vastly superior to the echo chamber crap on there now.

In other words, it's not the 'HYPSM are the only schools worth anything, and anyone looking anywhere else is a complete loser doomed to live in their parents' basement and it's your fault as a parent for not pushing them harder' mentality that you find all over this forum. There is so much nastiness here (not from everyone, but it's so pervasive). CC is refreshing in that parents seem to be supportive of each other and post useful information.

I've found a lot of useful information in the College Search and Selection, the Parent Class of 20XX threads, and the specific university threads. Completely agree that the Chance Me threads are best avoided.

I bet you don't even live in DC. Are you one of those CC nutjobs posting the same crap over and over, year after year? If your kids are average and they're planning to attend average colleges, you don't need to waste time on a college admissions forum. Colleges outside the top 50 accept everyone with a pulse and the merit awards are clearly detailed on their websites.

Must be hard to be you.

[Anonymous]

Don't waste your time. Akin to going to the local DMV/MVA and asking random unemployed moms and grandmas for college admissions advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The parents forum is great. My kid is a senior so I follow the thread for the Class of 2018. You can use the bookmark feature to bookmark particular threads so you can go back to them. Some of the information I've learned using CC:
- I learned about diversity fly-ins for top LACs. I was told by a college advisor that we would be seen as too rich to be accepted. My DC got into three fly-ins (we had to pay for airfare) and it dramatically increased chances of acceptance, face time with admissions officers, and an insider view of campus. Boosted DCs confidence. BTW these programs use the very broadest definition of diversity.
- I learned about University of Pittsburgh rolling admissions and generous merit aid
- The threads on particular schools can be very informative as well. Sometimes current students will post and answer questions about what the campus is like, favorite classes, dorm conditions, etc.
- Chance Me threads are awful. But the decision threads are really helpful to look to see the type of accomplishments that lead to acceptance.
- There are very helpful and knowledgeable posters who share their experiences. Be sure to look at the "sticky" threads at the top of each Forum category.
- Here is my favorite thread of all time on CC. Read it through to the end it really delivers and is an example of the helpfulness parents and students can find there. https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/massachusetts-institute-technology/1335649-homeless-didnt-get-in-through-the-waitlist-have-no-where-else-to-go-need-advice-p1.html

Big thumbs up to MITChris and to Amherst College for admitting students like ThisisThais! Great thread...wish we had more helpful threads like that here but likely not since DCUM is anonymous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

They make those nuts moderators, so you have idiots cultivating a strong anti-elite, pro mediocre university bias, and let their internet friends hi-jack all the threads with their out of touch talking points. It's basically a white trash mom echo chamber with the tiny decent info not worth the time to find. If you google search the forum, you can tell the insights 10 years ago were vastly superior to the echo chamber crap on there now.

In other words, it's not the 'HYPSM are the only schools worth anything, and anyone looking anywhere else is a complete loser doomed to live in their parents' basement and it's your fault as a parent for not pushing them harder' mentality that you find all over this forum. There is so much nastiness here (not from everyone, but it's so pervasive). CC is refreshing in that parents seem to be supportive of each other and post useful information.

I've found a lot of useful information in the College Search and Selection, the Parent Class of 20XX threads, and the specific university threads. Completely agree that the Chance Me threads are best avoided.

I bet you don't even live in DC. Are you one of those CC nutjobs posting the same crap over and over, year after year? If your kids are average and they're planning to attend average colleges, you don't need to waste time on a college admissions forum. Colleges outside the top 50 accept everyone with a pulse and the merit awards are clearly detailed on their websites.

I live in the DMV and have never read CC before this year, but I found it very helpful and was struck by how it was a much nicer and more supportive place than here. My kid is into his top choice early (top 15 school) and CC had very helpful info, and it also had helpful info on the less competitive schools he was also applying to as low matches and safeties. No matter where your kid is going to college, there is info that can help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents forum is great. My kid is a senior so I follow the thread for the Class of 2018. You can use the bookmark feature to bookmark particular threads so you can go back to them. Some of the information I've learned using CC:
- I learned about diversity fly-ins for top LACs. I was told by a college advisor that we would be seen as too rich to be accepted. My DC got into three fly-ins (we had to pay for airfare) and it dramatically increased chances of acceptance, face time with admissions officers, and an insider view of campus. Boosted DCs confidence. BTW these programs use the very broadest definition of diversity.
- I learned about University of Pittsburgh rolling admissions and generous merit aid
- The threads on particular schools can be very informative as well. Sometimes current students will post and answer questions about what the campus is like, favorite classes, dorm conditions, etc.
- Chance Me threads are awful. But the decision threads are really helpful to look to see the type of accomplishments that lead to acceptance.
- There are very helpful and knowledgeable posters who share their experiences. Be sure to look at the "sticky" threads at the top of each Forum category.
- Here is my favorite thread of all time on CC. Read it through to the end it really delivers and is an example of the helpfulness parents and students can find there. https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/massachusetts-institute-technology/1335649-homeless-didnt-get-in-through-the-waitlist-have-no-where-else-to-go-need-advice-p1.html

Big thumbs up to MITChris and to Amherst College for admitting students like ThisisThais! Great thread...wish we had more helpful threads like that here but likely not since DCUM is anonymous.

Yes, what a wonderful outcome!!