toneranger

I don't remember how I found this board cause it was over 5 years ago when son was a junior in college. I lurked for months before I started posting...and got hooked.
I'm usually in the Parent Cafe now, and find most folks to be friendly and really helpful. I've gotten all sorts of great tips on travel, diets, shopping, even fashion. I sometimes post on the board of my son's school, usually with some advice. And I love to argue about public vs private (just kidding!).
I work mostly from home, and do lots of writing...so I jump on when I'm bored or slow. I find it very addictive...but in a good way. Lots of nice folks!

vballmom

I found this board via a post on the parents' forum on my other favorite online community, gardenweb (hope it's ok to post the name). I initially came searching for financial aid information when DS1 was a high school junior. Wow did I get an education. I've found CC to be invaluable and so appreciate all the posters who take time to share their knowledge, both on the boards and in private messages.

I keep the page open and check throughout the day when I'm not at work.

I occasionally cut & paste information or funny items to pass on to other parents who have kids at my sons' high school, but I try to keep that to a minimum. Some people simply aren't as obsessed interested in the process as I am.

Longhaul

I found CC last year doing Boarding School research for son.

I now come on under a different user name to help my niece thru the college search process.

Initially CC terrified me with so many over-achievers. Yes my high IQ kid is a real slacker in comparison. It has been a great reality check for us.

I stop in during lunch time at work & while watching TV at home.

Great guidance always!

10smomlc

Add me to the ones searching for NMSF cutoff scores. D1 now in college, S1 a HS Jr and D2 a HS Fr. Each has very different priorities, so it'll be interesting...

binx

I found CC (the old format) when living in Germany, trying to figure out what S2 should wear for his college auditions. No music board then, but the theater folk helped me out.

CC then went on to help me through D's college search process a few years later (while still in Germany, no PSAT, not on any college mailing lists, no counselor available, and unable to visit anywhere). S2 is now in his last year of grad school, and D is a college junior.

My home office faces the front of the house, so I can sit here on the computer while waiting for piano students to arrive. Many of my hobbies and avocations use the computer (genealogy, freelance writing) so I jump between forums when I'm needing a brain break. I am here less often than I used to be. My need for info has decreased, and my ability to help others is also lessening. My info is now "old" and there are those who are much more current.

But I have made many friends on here, and have met quite a handful in person. My favorite story is when my D was walking across her campus, and a friend (a year younger) called out to her. "I want you to meet my parents." Then she turned to her parents and said, "This is binx's daughter." She told my D that her mom was a lurker who followed all my posts about D, because her D was so similar. And that her D is at my D's school largely because of me! And they ended up being friends.

She wasn't sure if my D would be embarrassed by that, but my D thought it was cool.

mousegray

Came here via Google search too, but forgot what it was for---something college related, no doubt. D was a HS senior at the time.

I've actually changed my user name from the original. It was too revealing and I started to feel uncomfortable, especially since I've shared information about my family. Not because of anything that happened specifically though.

I like the general chitchat over at the parents cafe because I am a "sole proprietor", working at home, and I miss all the informal cooler talk at the office. Also, I've learned a lot about just about everything, not just the college process. People are very generous with their knowledge here.

btw, what is the alley? (Someone mentions it on the first page.)

mousegray

oldfort, this made me laugh! How do you know when your name is mentioned if you put the phone on mute? I wonder how many of the others are doing the same thing?

atomom

Can't remember why I first got on CC summer before kid #1's senior year. (Curse that day!)

I've wasted countless hours on here--just to hear intelligent (most of the time) adults discussing all kinds of things. There is usually a laugh or two here and there. CC has given me a sense of stability during some of life's upheavals. I haven't met any posters in real life, but many screen names are familiar to me, and I have a sense of certain personalities out there.

Kid#1 is now a senior in college, #2 is a freshman. My youngest (#7) starts kindergarten next year. I'm at home. Avoiding housework..

I can quit any time I want to. I just don't want to.
I find CC so addictive, I give it up for Lent every year!

binx

Sinners Alley is a thread on CC that is almost like a forum within a forum - a virtual bar where folks drink virtual drinks, wear virtual lampshades, and carry on about marmots real and otherwise. I've ventured in a time or two, but never quite connected. I peek in the windows sometimes, though. There are some regular fixtures there.

ebeeeee

Google searching for something (can't remember what now). For me, it is great to connect with others who have kids in college. I worked for many years after being a SAHM when my kids were infants/preschoolers. Lots of moms in my community never went back to work after their kids were born. They have HS/college kids but don't work. I don't really connect with them due to time issues. DH gets tired of me talking about kids/college/issues with kids in college. Nice to have a place to share information and vent.

maineparent

I too ended up here when another board got too nasty....I too was searching for information on thresholds.... my H was convinced a 690 SAT was not enough and a 700 was exponentially better.... and I needed to understand if he was right..... and wanted to research the ramifications......

I have since had the first child go off to college and graduate and now another one (and last) started this fall..... so, why do I keep coming back?

I come back because the voices here are solid, kind, knowing, consistent, interesting, varied, useful, helpful, smart, funny, caring and objective. I have learned a lot....and I have tried to pay it forward. I have recommended CC to others, including guidance at school. Sometimes I think of CC as being invisible friends!!

PackMom

I found CC five years ago while doing a Google search for colleges. S1 was a h.s. senior,S2 a h.s freshman. I check CC from home usually before work and after work or in the evening if DH is watching something totally uninteresting on TV.

I've learned a lot on a wide variety of subjects here and "met" some really nice people.
One, who only posted a few times a couple of years ago, sent me several PM's and has since become one of my closest friends.

S1 grad. fr. college in May. S2 is a soph. I keep telling myself it's OK to keep hanging around since I still have a kid in college

oldfort

mousegray - I put myself on mute, so I could hear them, but they couldn't hear me typing. I am on right now with 8+ people. At the end they are going to ask if they have my approval(vote), I'll just say yes.

lilmom

I think one of the first threads I ever started was about home insurance covering broken windows. My DH broke someone's window while golfing. I received good advice and ended up paying less.

I needed somewhere to go where I could vent about my S's up and down GPA and rebellious behavior (which, in hindsight, wasn't really that bad). I feel like people on this board really understand. Now, S is a senior and I'm grateful that I've hung out here - I've learned that I'm not the only one going through the ups and downs of raising a normal teenager!

DD is a sophomore and sooo different than DS. When she sees me on cc, she teases, "Are you chatting with your virtual friends again?"

I've also been hanging out in Sinner's Alley...mantori is always there to make a drink suggestion!

worknprogress

I stopped in here after DD applied to college and ran her numbers on the AI. I looked at the discussion sites of some of the schools where she applied and was sure she wouldn't be accepted at any of her top schools when I kept reading about Early Writes.

Fortunately, she didn't know CC existed and her dad is terminally optimistic, so I just drove myself crazy.

I don't think I posted until after she was in college. She is now a junior and I confine myself to the Parent Cafe for the most part, and I never venture into the political discussion.

I do a lot of work out of my home, so it is a fun way to take a quick break. I am don't have real co-workers, so this replaces those little chats most people have at work. I avoid any serious discussions as I have enough real stress without taking on virtual stress.

I have had a lot of fun on the Dressing Young thread. Good banter, lighthearted comments, and an upbeat place to visit.