<p>I think there’s more tension at this forum than others I frequent because of the topic. Other ones, centered around common hobbies and interests, don’t have the inherent competition. Arguments are about things like politics, or a poster’s attitude, but not something that affects people IRL as it is here.</p>
<p>I find myself more polite online, because anything negative I say is going to be around for a while. I’d rather leave trails of nice around the internet.</p>
<p>Never go the Cafe. It is a H. Bosch painting come real. Light does not escape from there.</p>
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<p>That made me laugh. Actually I sometimes post in those threads. The reply I almost always post is: You (just like so many others applying) have a shot. Good luck!</p>
<p>Who am I to say that you are ‘definitely in’ or ‘way out of your league’? I sometimes suggest trying to raise a particularly low grade (a bad SAT2 score for example) but I never try to tell others ‘what their chances are’.</p>
<p>There are some pretty nasty posters out there and some nice ones. The Graduate School forum generally has civilised discussion, you very rarely find any problems in the Stanford forum and usually the posts in the College Search and selection and the engineering forums are decent (note I said most of the time sometimes things turn ugly). Those (along with the parents section) are the only places I go to.</p>
<p>There was one Ivy forum that I found to be particularily offensive. Surprisingly, rude remarks were from recent graduates of the school to high school candidates. It was so bad, I reported it to the admission office and many of of those posts were pulled. </p>
<p>I have also been very surprised by many sensitive and mature posts by some young CC students.</p>
<p>snoop, you’re a sophomore? Wow.</p>
<p>Oldfort, it sounds like you found some of the same posts I did. Many of the most strident and rude posts I have seen have been from recent graduates of a particular “Ivy”. I too have reported threads which have deteriorated due, in large part, to “his” participation. </p>
<p>It seems, though, that recently this particular individual has toned some of that down. I am very, very glad. He actually has had some very helpful things to say!</p>
<p>Churchmusicmom - yes, that’s the one. It’s a great institution and it didn’t derserve that. I got a thank-you email from the school.</p>
<p>Oldfort, I am so glad you thought to report it to the school’s admin! The poster of which I am thinking purports to be an alumnus interviewer for prospective students! He has, in the past, said such potentially (IMO) destructive things about this particular school and its affiliates, that I was very worried that potential applicants would be driven away. </p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>
<p>As something between the average student and a parent, closer to the student side (recent college alum), I find the “student life”-centered boards on this forum to be pretty much intolerable. The parent forums are generally okay, though the political threads can get a little hairy, and the MIT board is usually okay. The “College Search” and “College Admissions” boards are variable.</p>
<p>I’m always really surprised when the posts on a college’s forum get out
of hand. I would think someone from the college administration would
take a peek at CC every once and a while and just make sure the discussion
is helpful, if not flattering to the college.</p>
<p>After all the money they spend on marketing… coming on here
would be a good way to check on their reputations.</p>
<p>cmm and oldfort - I know the alum of whom you speak and I believe that he has never said a destructive thing about the school. You may not agree with the manner or tone in which he gives advice/comments, but he is usually right on target.</p>
<p>He never said anything destructive about the school, but he was derogatory to perspective students, that’s not the kind of image any school would want. I think the school agreed with me. </p>
<p>I don’t know what it is really like going to Yale, but I visited the forum this Spring, they had some of the nicest postings from their current students. School is made up of students. I think each school’s forum on CC gives you a lot of indication on what a school is like. I would strongly suggest any seniors/parents to visit each school’s forum, same with Facebook, to get a good sense on what the student body is like. They tell you a lot more than a campus visit.</p>
<p>I am not going to re-hash anything here, but this individual HAS, in the past, misrepresented some particulars about the facts regarding the relationship of this “Ivy” and its affiliates. Such as making broad generalizations about the respective populations of the different institutions. Particular (factual, “real life”) expamles are brought up that refute his “claims”, but the rhetoric (at least in the past…this has not occurred for a while now) continues.</p>
<p>My concern, as I have stated on that board repeatedly, is that fine and qualified applicants (to the encompassing university as well as the various colleges/affiliates) would be driven away by the “tone” of the posts, as well as the perception that those views are widely held on campus. </p>
<p>Again, I have noted that this particular poster has seemed to move away from the previously extreme nature of his posts…and I am very happy to see this. He does have, as you say, advice and comments that are indeed often “right on target”. It’s a shame that such good advice could be missed amid all the negativity…</p>
<p>(running behind on reading messages . . .)</p>
<p>Quote: I’ve seen “what are my chances?” posts answered by HS sophomores!</p>
<p>When Son was first looking at colleges, I checked one of the very high, elite non-Ivy boards. There was an 8th grader asking for changes – based on his predictions of his high school career. Down to predicting how much he would grow so that he could be the captain of the varsity basketball team all four years and take them to the State Championship all four years. He told us what his grades were going to be all four years – all A’s, of course. And what his SAT score was going to be.</p>
<p>One of the most fun threads I ever read!</p>
<p>I think the Parents should be submitting their stats up for group evaluation. </p>
<p>Weight: 15% more than before but still on a safe BMI graph</p>
<p>Eyes: 4 counting the 2 behind my head</p>
<p>Ears: 6, er, LOL guys, I mean 2 per cellphone + 2 for front and back doors late at night + 2 for nuance between lines at h.s. teacher conferences</p>
<p>Test Scores: cholesterol fine but need accommodations (Lipitor)</p>
<p>Recommendations: my Mom still likes me</p>
<p>Chances to survive until I’m a grandparent??</p>
<p>^You betcha. Those would be a lot more useful.</p>
<p>
I’m just a mysterious being, aren’t I?</p>
<p>May I describe you as sophomoric? :P</p>