I guess I don’t know enough about the history, being a relative newbie. If I’m understanding correctly, there were some message boards at Princeton Review that dated back to 2000 or maybe earlier, and people who were on them migrated to CC around 2004? I wonder who’s the longest active member, dating back to the predecessor forum - the Dean?
I mentioned earlier that I started lurking in early 2002 after the PR board dried up, but didn’t create an account until 2005. I think there are probably a few posters with accounts dating that far back, but most have taken a step back or just moved on completely.
I wasn’t on the predecessor forum. I think there are still folks here that were, though.
I think I must have found CC in 2002 when my oldest was a junior in HS. I was on that PR board before that (what a scary place THAT was!).
I was on the PR board and CC in 2000, at one point simultaneously, but there were few posters and posts on CC for quite a while, I was trying to learn what I needed to know for my oldest kid and I checked PR daily, CC maybe once a week. After I went through multiple kids and multiple grad schools and stuck around to help others with post-grad info, I was hooked. I do think there are people who have been here longer.
My profile says I joined in 2004, but I’m sure I was lurking since 2003. I took a break for a few years in between S1 and S2’s college searches, before I discovered the cafe.
My profile says I joined in 2005–probably lurked prior to joining. My favorite spot is the Parent’s Café, for sure.
I enjoy intelligent conversation from insightful posters, which is why I stay. I actually don’t know how long I’ve been here, but I have two words for you all: clam farts.
@hayden August 2004 for you (registered)
I was on the old board, and resisted moving over to the new board, so continued to post there until you no longer could. That is why my start date shows Oct. 2004. I resisted the change until I had no choice 
Hayden: 2 words : urban moundbuilders.
I started on the old board in, I think, 2002. (PR before that.)
I came on 12/2004, after my son applied to colleges. We had one day to chose colleges, download LORs, find teachers to write them overnight, and GC got everything out by that Friday, the day before winter break. All this occurred cuz son advised to apply as a junior. I only wish I had been on CC sooner, as son’s list not well formed.
OK, so maybe one of the old-timers should post a message listing the usernames (with @ signs) that they remember most fondly from the earliest days and inviting them to say hello - then we’ll see who shows up when they see that they’re mentioned. Maybe there’ll be a nice reunion with people you thought were long gone.
Several of us predate the switch and don’t show real dates. That’s ok with me…makes me feel younger.
I joined the old forum probably around 2001 or 2002, lurked a lot in many threads, contributed off and on. I’m exclusively in the cafe for 6 or 7 years. Just love the variety of folks and topics.
Not sure if I have the name right, but remember sluggbugg and Second City or Sim City?
Hey I remember sluggbugg! Anyone remember this happy place?
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parent-cafe/62644-sinners-alley-happy-hour-p880.html
Oh yes - the marmots!
Thanks to everyone who replied to my naive question about how you connect IRL from such an anonymous message board. I suppose I do not use the PM feature enough to develop those kinds of relationships; it’s great to see so many people meet IRL!