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jym626 · July 2019

Well, I guess my memory isn’t so good (no surprise there) as this thread seems to suggest Tulane was added to that silly category in 2018 (not sure, and don’t think that is accurate, though). FC died in 2016.

My memory is consistent with @skieurope that Tulane was on that silly list long before that. https://talk.collegeconfidential.com/community-forum-issues/2047993-tulane-university-is-now-listed-as-a-cc-top-university.html. but who knows who/how/why these changes occur. No one of the cc “updates” make any sense!

jorakid · July 2019

Do not like the new changes. Much harder to read on my phone, much more annoying to read on a web page. As others have said, way too much white space, non-intuitive heading/subheading graphic relationships. Went over to Reddit, /applyingtocollege, which seems to be taking your refugees.

skieurope · July 2019

Well, I guess my memory isn’t so good (no surprise there) as this thread seems to suggest Tulane was added to that silly category in 2018 (not sure, and don’t think that is accurate, though). FC died in 2016.

Actually, in going through the archives, I think you are correct @jym626 . My memory is getting faulty with age. My apologies. But the 'promotion" was due to volume, not FC's death.

But I still believe that whether college XXX is in top colleges is less important that, say, being able to actually read the text. And if other users want to workaround it by using BBCodes to change the color/boldness, be my guest. For me, though, taking those extra steps is not enhancing my UX. {Plus the fact that having everything in bold prevents one from providing emphasis, which is what the original intent of the bold was.

jym626 · July 2019

LOL, @skieurope, its gonna be hard to garner sympathy about your memory from many of the old geezer-ish parents on this page.

That said, I agree that the “top schools” refers to the amount of traffic the schools get on CC. Not necessarily their USNews ranking. And yes, FC did add to the high volume of traffic on the Tulane forum (not all the comments there were positive, but they were at times amusing to read). But, on sites looking for add and click revenue, negative attention is better than no attention at all.

circuitrider · July 2019

okay that's a lot of bracketing. But, at least I learned something! FWIW, my eyes get equally fatigued, no matter what I do with this font.

bopper · July 2019

@CTTC I haven't left...but am making sure to monitor my forum but that is about it. I used to watch and comment on about 6 different subforums. If the powers that be think this format is more important than experienced posters answering questions, that is their choice.

circuitrider · July 2019

On the issue of college/university lists, just about the only recent change I actually welcomed was the relocation of the Ivy League List to the bottom of the page.

skieurope · July 2019

On the issue of college/university lists, just about the only recent change I actually welcomed was the relocation of the Ivy League List to the bottom of the page.

As an aside, and I'm just using this post as an example, not picking on @circuitrider , but now that users have discovered colors (not that it was a big secret), please don't test them all out here. I'm accepting of the bold grey, but users have been typing in yellow and magenta and the like. If I can;'t read it, I doubt that many of those with older eyes than mine can either, so I've deleted.

abasket · July 2019

What has become more apparent to me that even taking out the list of desires we have all expressed and that @CCadmin_Sorin compiled in that list a few days ago, is that overall this site is just now slammed with quirks and inconsistencies that really make it a lesser webpage. Lower in quality and in fact, NOT smooth, slick or updated and modern. User issues aside, the management team really got screwed.

jym626 · July 2019

Soooo, back to the “why are some schools more prominent” question.... reading this 6 year old article from Chronicles about the way some of the things used to be on cc https://www.chronicle.com/article/College-Confidential-A-Field/138865. it seems schools could “sponsor” a discussion forum for $800

Hobsons has also monetized the site's popularity. About 700 colleges advertise here. Look, there's a banner ad for the University of Alabama, and one for Full Sail University. There's more: "At College Confidential we can tailor a custom exposure program to meet your needs," says the site. Colleges may sponsor a discussion forum ($800 a month) or advertise on the mobile application ($1,500 a month). Geo-targeting and retargeting are also options ($600 for 50,000 impressions). A student who visits a forum on visual and performing arts will surely see ads from colleges promoting such programs.

Can’t recall how the discussion sponsoring (separate form the banner advertising) was was evident, if it even was, but alas, perhaps its less about “favoritism” or conspiracy theories and even more and more about the almighty dollar. No surprise there.

soozievt · July 2019

@brantly You mention you thought perhaps Tufts was once on that CC forum of "top universities," but I do not believe so. I have been on CC for over 17 years and it was never on that list (I noticed, being an alum). It is my belief that CC has not altered that list in all the years I have been on CC. I don't think they are interested in doing so.

Anyway, while there are things like that to consider changing, I think the new forum format is a MUCH MUCH BIGGER deal and a dire situation. I think CC is going to lose what made the forums so great.....knowledgeable people willing to help others. The forums won't be so good if the blind lead the blind (sorta like the "what are my chances forum") or there is less traffic.

yucca10 · July 2019

By the way, my username was mentioned but I didn't get any notifications.

Knowsstuff · July 2019

@yucca10. Did you get this one? Might if been formated wrong?

ChoatieMom · July 2019

Plus the fact that having everything in bold prevents one from providing emphasis, which is what the original intent of the bold was.

...now that users have discovered colors...please don’t test them all out here.

Then let’s just stick to red for emphasis.

yucca10 · July 2019

@Knowsstuff I did get this one. Nothing seems different from the one I didn't get, but it's possible.

Knowsstuff · July 2019

@yucca10. This happened before and then I sent one out and the person got it also. Maybe there was a space or something. I am doing this from a android phone but doubt that is why it works now.

jym626 · July 2019

Those of you willing to make the extra effort to use bold, go for it. But too much of a PITA, especially on the phone.

lookingforward · July 2019

I think the issue is the spacing between letters. (An artist consideration when choosing fonts, not a software person.) Bolding doesnt help. It's annoying. And notice:
The workarounds all fall on us.
And what value to persisting?

Agree w @abasket. "now slammed with quirks and inconsistencies that really make it a lesser webpage."

brantly · July 2019

thumper1 wrote:

I would vote for just having ALL colleges listed in the list if colleges...and no separate sections for “special” schools.

AGREE. And there should be a way for users to pull out "favorites" into a custom section called "My Colleges."

brantly · July 2019

t seems schools could “sponsor” a discussion forum for $800

Ya know, I was going to say that I wonder if there's some sort of pay-to-play going on. Tufts is well known not to play and not to jump through hoops for ratings. But I didn't want to come across as a conspiracy theorist.

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