Yes, I’m from PR and the old version of this forum.
Came here when my 02 HS grad was looking at colleges. Did some supportive postings in the 3 respective schools threads at times but mostly in the Cafe since 2006.
The criteria is that we once or now have/had a child in college, right? 
@VaBluebird I think there are some cafe posters who have never posted about college kids!
That I had found the site when looking at colleges! We were in the final stages of deciding for my '07 grads when I signed on. The closets and drawers in my old as well as new house would be in far better shape if I had never found CC.
However, you all were so smart, so erudite, and I was intimated for a time about posting. Feeling up to posting and stating my opinions has been a growth of sorts, and the depth of discussion adds interest and amusement to many of my evenings. In addition, I have met posters, offspring of posters and my life has been very much enriched and warmed by the diversity of new friends made.
I have tried getting off CC during every stage of my education. Done with high school? Gotta leave. Oh wait, there’s a college part of this site. Done with undergrad? Gotta leave. Oh wait, there’s a cafe (how did I end up here?). Done with Masters? Oh who am I kidding, I’m not going to leave… why even try?
And now we’re starting to think about a little Romani… it’s never too early to start thinking about THEIR college, right? 
It is not really an exaggeration when I say that CC saved my life. It was thanks to those on here who yelled at me a few years ago to get my butt back to the hospital ASAP when I was having bad stomach pains. Turns out, I needed emergency gallbladder surgery and they were shocked it hadn’t ruptured yet.
I’m curious about whether people are open with their CC addiction with other people in their real lives. Is it a shameful secret (red-facedly raises hand), or do your friends and family know about your participation in real life? When someone asks to borrow your phone, do you furtively clear the cache before handing it over, lest someone discover your online life? Do you post from the bathroom at dinner parties?
(In my defense, I went to Catholic school, and a lot of perfectly ordinary things cause me to feel shame and guilt).
My kids don’t know my post count. And that is for the best.
I have wondered whether I should leave but…no. I too have made real friends here. In my view (from the west coast) most of us see the country as fly over Obviously not. In the end we are an intelligent group that gets different kinds of people.
My son tells me I don’t have to say “I read a thread on College Confidential”; I can just say “I read a thread…”. He knows where I read it.
Re: post # 65, I don’t mention CC to others but I do find myself sharing knowledge I pick up here. Don’t take credit but find myself saying, “I read that…” or “I was told that…” Not sure why I elect to not mention CC but, yes, there does seem to be something somewhat shameful about it which, as I write this, makes no sense!
I tell others that my Internet friends discussed this or that… My immediate family knows that “Internet firends” are CC. I have no immediate plans to leave… I am all over the real estate threads at the moment. And I dig MOG/MOB dress threads. And my exercise buddies rock! 
H knows about cc, my kids do not. If I quote someone I just say “A friend said…” . I am FB friends with several people here and have met up IRL with some folks. I feel very connected to several regular posters especially on the health/fitness thread and HS Class of 2009. Thus my use of the term “friends”.
I no longer have to say “College Confidential” to my DH; I just say “CC.”
And I refer to you all as “acquaintances,” unless I’ve met you IRL and we really are friends.
I’ve sent the links of a few threads to S1, who has appreciated the insights here.
And my sister knows about my addiction and doesn’t understand it at all.
Re: #61,
Its understandable why many of us who have had or currently have kids in the educational pipeline stay here to share thoughts, insights, deals, you name it. Its a little harder to understand why some (other than the spammers, or those who llike to hear themselves speak LOL), who haven’t been in school in decades, have no kids, etc, fill the bandwidth here.
My DH thinks I need a 12 step program for my CC addiction! I have a friend in IRL that was active on CC when her oldest was looking at colleges and she can’t believe that I’m still on CC. She was able to go cold turkey, left one day and never came back. DH humors me and always asks, “anything interesting on CC today?” With grad school I figure I’ll still have kids in college for at least another decade so I have an ‘excuse’ to hang around.
Been here since 2006, not going away. DH and guys know I always ask for advice here on any major travel or household purchase. It’s nice to be able to vent semi-anonymously. Have also met a bunch of CCers IRL and count them among my dearest friends.
DH knows I’m still on CC and even asks what advice posters have about things. My kids knew I was still here a few years ago, but since they made such fun of me about it, I haven’t fessed up to still being here any longer.
I have learned too much from this intelligent, well read group of adults to ever consider leaving. I do not often post in the college area since my last kid has been out for some time and some info has changed. However, I will share if it is relevant.
One of my kids has met more than a few CC posters. When she was a student ambassador at her college, she very kindly gave some private tours to some CC posters whose kids were looking there.
In addition, she has met some of my IRL friends who started off as poster friends here.
OMGoodness, Thumper1 said it perfectly, “you don’t, you pay it forward”. For those of us currently going through the process, all of you have been such an incredible help. Thank you☺