These forums made all the difference when my son was applying to college 5 years ago, and help keep me sane through the whole process.[The only down side was my son was “embarrassed” that I was on these forums so much- he said I was obsessed, which was not too far off the mark, lol!] Without the wealth of information that I found here, all of it freely given by parents who had already been through the college application process, I doubt he would not have had the success he achieved.