<p>Exie,
As a second time parent of a college applicant, there is more truth than you think. I recently sat down to breakfast with a friend whose son was also applying to college and we discussed the process. After a few minutes he just shook his head and said that everything I had said ( most of it learned from CC) was what he had heard only after he had paid $3500 to a consultant. This consultant was used by many in our area and when the parents compared notes they found out that the 'unique list of schools" she put together for their child was the same for almost all of her clients!!!
From the little nuances and strategies re applying early vs regular and what tests to take and when, it (CC) was extremely helpful. My only regret was that I didn’t find the site a few years earlier…Water over the dam…</p>