Anonymous
11/30/2025 14:18
Subject: Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
Anonymous wrote:My thoughts:
College Confidential used to be the go-to, but after a disastrous redesign, they lost most of their audience.
For parents in search of user-generated or first-hand information, it's Reddit or DCUM. DCUM comes up near the top of google search for most college questions, so the audience here has grown.
Reddit seems to have more students (and lots of international students), so if you want feedback from other parents, DCUM is a good resource.
It only works if parents with current college students or recent grads continue to contribute to the community by answering questions.
And frankly, it makes us feel useful as our parenting role diminishes.
Isn’t it the most active board in here with majority of responders outside DC?
Anonymous
11/30/2025 13:39
Subject: Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
My thoughts:
College Confidential used to be the go-to, but after a disastrous redesign, they lost most of their audience.
For parents in search of user-generated or first-hand information, it's Reddit or DCUM. DCUM comes up near the top of google search for most college questions, so the audience here has grown.
Reddit seems to have more students (and lots of international students), so if you want feedback from other parents, DCUM is a good resource.
It only works if parents with current college students or recent grads continue to contribute to the community by answering questions.
And frankly, it makes us feel useful as our parenting role diminishes.
College Confidential used to be the go-to, but after a disastrous redesign, they lost most of their audience.
For parents in search of user-generated or first-hand information, it's Reddit or DCUM. DCUM comes up near the top of google search for most college questions, so the audience here has grown.
Reddit seems to have more students (and lots of international students), so if you want feedback from other parents, DCUM is a good resource.
It only works if parents with current college students or recent grads continue to contribute to the community by answering questions.
And frankly, it makes us feel useful as our parenting role diminishes.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 13:23
Subject: Re:Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Some of us really enjoyed college and want our DCs to do the same.
How does a majority of posts bashing other colleges to prop up another help this? Asking for a friend.
If you don't engage in this behavior and only look for the good comments, you don't have this problem.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 13:18
Subject: Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
Anonymous wrote:College admission and consulting are huge global business.
This. Like weddings or home renovations, there are lots of people trying to make money of off insecure suckers.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 12:49
Subject: Re:Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
Anonymous wrote:Some of us really enjoyed college and want our DCs to do the same.
How does a majority of posts bashing other colleges to prop up another help this? Asking for a friend.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 12:48
Subject: Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
Anonymous wrote:^many are college "consultants" or podcast hosts
That's frightening considering some of the stuff posted here.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 12:48
Subject: Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
The problem with the thread is there are some kids that really should go to a cheap in state option and there are others that should go to Dartmouth or MIT or Pomona. But we’re all on this same thread together. And one just cannot fathom the other.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 12:44
Subject: Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
Many of us were fortunate to attend (mostly private colleges and top flagships) colleges where the “experience” was an important part of it. We want the same thing for our kids. The difference is that it’s become more difficult to obtain for people unwilling to expand/open their college search and the college “experience” looks very different now. That’s why there’s so much angst and anxiety and validation-seeking.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 12:39
Subject: Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
And yet here we have another thread to attract all the toxic people on DCUM. Have fun.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 11:42
Subject: Re:Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
Not every kid is cut out for college. Many parents are overly obsessed.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 11:36
Subject: Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
Anonymous wrote:It’s active because it’s really the only board where there is a new large group applying every year, and it’s also not divided into private vs public and DC vs MCPS vs VA like the boards for K-12.
And the DC area has one of the highest concentrations of college graduates in the country, so all of these people are invested in their DC’s education.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 11:31
Subject: Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
It’s active because it’s really the only board where there is a new large group applying every year, and it’s also not divided into private vs public and DC vs MCPS vs VA like the boards for K-12.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 11:23
Subject: Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:How we approach the admission process, and by extension the four years of college, says a lot about what we value in life. Values aren’t easy — they come into conflict with one another, sometimes forcing hard choices. We let go of some in favor of others.
The college process is a microcosm of that conflict — one that sets our kids on a path. It’s interesting to see not only what people choose, but how. It has helped me work it out for myself, so I can be of more use to my own kids as they make hard choices.
This is drivel.
I'm the PP. Curious what your experience is, since it seems to be different from mine.
Anonymous
11/30/2025 10:14
Subject: Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
Anonymous wrote:a lot of insecure people trying to justify their spend on crappy LACs and shit schools like emory/northeastern/wake
It is true for northeastern / Tulane etc but Emory has some features
Anonymous
11/30/2025 10:13
Subject: Re:Why is this board so active? Are this many people obsessed with college?
Some of us really enjoyed college and want our DCs to do the same.