LongPrime

I was out strolling with the cpu one day, early 2004, sophomore son. Darn machine sniffed and rolled into CC and haven't gotten the link off the machines. I have tried to detrain the cpus when son leaves academia. He hasn't yet progressing from successful undergrad to grad school to internships in academia and research institutions and now employed as gofer/researcher at UWashington. When DS leaves academia, I leave. Promise.

oldfort

D1 asked me if I would leave CC after she is off to college. It was 2.5 years ago. My excuse is I still have another one in high school. I am going to have come up with another excuse fast.

I have met some very nice and knowledge people on this forum. Many CC'ers reached out to me when D1 was sick last spring. Because of CC, I think I have become a kinder and gentler person.

lefthandofdog

I found a reference to this board from the 'other board' about 5 years ago, I think, back when this site was much harder to navigate. I don't even remember what the old board was - reading through other posts, it might have been PR. I'll have to see if it still exists. Like some others, I found it AFTER 1st one was through the process, but I stayed hooked and now 2nd (and last) is in her 1st year and I'm still here. I check it in the a.m. at home after I've read e-mail, and usually at night. When I'm away on vacation, I don't e-mail or check computer at all.

There's no better way to connect with someone who might have had the same particular set of circumstances/problems/questions that you are facing when you're new to admissions (or wisdom teeth, car insurance, travel, etc. etc.) and it's wonderful to be able to draw on such a huge body of experience.

There are posters that I especially look for because of their humor or knowledge of particular things. I miss jamimom terribly - she was a poster when I first came over here who eventually 'retired' but had some of the funniest, wisest posts ever. Surferdude's mom was another.

aibarr

A young woman I mentor was a high school junior and had some questions about what was being said on the engineering forums. I took a look and said, "Someone's wrong on the Internet! I must save it from this mis-truth!" I registered, logged in and discovered that my advice was occasionally useful.

The young woman graduated from high school, graduated from college, and got a job. I graduated from grad school, I got a job, I got a different job, I got married, and I'm still here.

Why am I still here? Well, I like being able to provide students with reassurance about what it's like to be an engineer, both from a student's perspective and from a young professional's perspective. I find that the late-twenties perspective is one that is typically missing from the boards, since most posters are either parents or students.

I've also faced a few parental deficiencies lately, as my parents are just getting over their divorce and are moving on with their own lives. I'm glad that they're both happy, but there have been times that I've needed parental advice and haven't been able to break out of the "peacekeeper" role and slip back into the "parent/child" role... It dawned on me one day that I had a whole forum's worth of parents to ask advice from. How wonderful this place is!

And of course, there was LTS.

BunsenBurner

I really have no excuses for being on CC - I don't have any college applicants in the q. My lamest excuse is that there is supposed to be a graduate/ medical school forum somewhere on CC... I've just replied to a bunch of my boss' e-mails, and right now I'm sitting on the sofa and pretending that I'm watching the news. CC is my place to take my mind off of the stuff I deal with at work. I come here to chat about pets, recent fashion trends, sales at Macy's, yummy recipies... What other forum has all of that and more? Interestingly, my H got used to my CC surfing, and even asks periodically, "So, what are your people up to tonight?" "His people" are asking for help with their science homework, as usual.

CBBBlinker

What? We need excuses?

S calls you all my "internet buddies." He was particularly tickled that a bunch of us actually met in person at WPI. H gave me grief for quite a while about spending time here, but has pretty much stopped. I think he's periodically amazed at the stuff I find out here. More than once I've scooped him on some breaking news -- he'll start to tell me, and I'll say, "Oh, I read that several hours ago on CC."

jym626

Interesting to see how many of us old timers are still around. While I am here less often than before, when s's were in the college search, I enjoy reading, learning and laughing with like-minded people. Its sort of like being in college--people with similar interests and goals for ourselves or our kids. I recall having clever banter with quick-witted friends in college. Chatting here often brings the same feeling s and experiences. The pol. forum is another story. I am a happier person for no longer wasting much time there.

wbow

i just realized how long i have been hanging around. i don't have any kids at home any more, and my youngest is a senior in college! where did the time go?

i got my toes wet when googling early decision. i got some great answers when i had questions about the whole fasfa and profile process.

i keep coming back--usually i check the new posts in the parent cafe every morning and evening. sometimes i sneak a peek or two during office hours.

i really enjoy how we can ask questions of "like-minded" and sometimes not so "like-minded" parents--it makes us think about what we feel and why....i really value the different ideas and opinions you can find here.

jym626

^^^ To clarify, for me, "like-minded" refers to our shared interest in, and focus on education and related intellectual pursuits. The other stuff, well, clearly opinions run the gamut around here, and does cause one to think and reflect, which is a good thing.

somemom

Aibarr brought up a good point- LTS was dynamic and charismatic and interesting on CC, others are also amusing, intelligent, etc. It seems there is often a poster who strikes a chord both emotionally and practically- SlugBug, Jamimom, LTS are old timers, I won't mention any one who is a current poster for fear of leaving some people out, but there are definitely threads I click on because of the OP or last poster and knowing I like to read what they say.

rom828

Found CC spring of S's sophomore year in HS. Googled some school he had heard of. I'm hooked. I have become fascinated by all of this. I look every day...sometimes twice a day. Sometimes it is like watching a train wreck . Most of the time I learn more here that will benefit our children than I could any where!

geomom

I found CC when my DS1, as a sophomore said, "I'm sick of high school; I want to just apply to college." Interesting concept. He actually did apply that year, but then decided to spend 4 years in HS with some college courses on the side. And now he's a freshman at a great school for him. What a ride!

In the meantime I've read a lot of interesting conversations, learned a lot, become a better writer, and met one of my best friends .

I mainly look at CC in the afternoon as a way to hangout while DS2 is doing homework, or late at night to wind down.

oldfort

It's better than reality TV sometimes. I do get upset when people don't come back to update.

Youdon'tsay

Agreed. Or when you help out a kid by reading his/her essay and they don't say thank you.

fireflyscout

I like coming to these boards because they are very well-moderated and full of amazingly nice people who share my interest in colleges. My kids couldn't believe I made virtual friends and then met some of them in real life!