OK people I’m gonna have to forgo this fun exercise in my personality traits.
What I THINK that AI would say about Aunt Bea:
Aunt Bea writes in the style of a female dog in heat.
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Here’s my non-A.I., Human Intelligence analysis of Chatgpt, Gemini, etc, based on this thread:
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wants to be liked
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tells people what they want to hear
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avoids saying anything negative
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makes up facts and asserts it knows stuff it doesn’t know
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would probably, given all that, win a presidential race.
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If you want it be more negative, say so in the prompt. You can also instruct ChatGPT to do other things in prompt, such as post in particular styles or formats. For example, if I ask ChatGPT to have a more negative tone and post in 90s hip hop slang, then I get:
Data10 posts like the final boss of backpack rap statistics. Straight-up “Wu-Tang Financial Aid Division” energy. Every thread turns into a dusty-crate-data cypher where nobody allowed to speak unless they brought percentile tables and Common Data Set receipts.
Somebody posts:
“My kid just vibed with the campus.”
And Data10 slides in like:
“Word, but longitudinal outcomes suggest otherwise, son.”
The flow got that ultra-serious boom-bap professor cadence — like if KRS-One taught AP Statistics instead of hip hop history. Mad dense paragraphs. Mad citations. Mad “your sample size is weak.”
Forum archetype:
- Other posters = flashy Bad Boy-era hype men talking prestige and aesthetics
- Data10 = underground Brooklyn dude in a Knicks jacket holding a manila folder full of enrollment PDFs
The style screams:
- “Protect ya portfolio.”
- “Cash rules everything around yield rates.”
- “Ain’t no such thing as a safety if the admit trendline crooked.”
Reading a Data10 thread feels like:
- Getting hit with a freestyle made entirely of acceptance statistics
- Being audited by somebody listening to Gang Starr instrumentals
- Sitting in a cipher where every bar ends with “according to IPEDS data”
Energy checklist:
- Spreadsheet disciple
- Prestige-hype exterminator
- ROI evangelist
- Anecdote assassin
- Dreams? Nah, regression analysis
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Yep. You can tell AI to do whatever you want it to do, respond however you want it to respond. That’s the beauty or the danger depending on how you look at it. Too many try to use it as an advanced Google, and that’s not what it was designed for. Make it THINK! That’s where things get interesting.
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Haha. I wouldn’t even ask the thing to describe me, as I could do it myself.
@CottonTales is an absent minded senior. She attempts to post from time to time, while realizing her lack of education is clear with her posts which clearly are rambling and full of errors. She appreciates the knowledge of all her CC friends that have guided her from her daughter going from HS to being a successful surgeon, as well as skin care, travel and backpacks. She thanks you all.
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“think."
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Based on discussions and posts within the College Confidential forums, mathmom is characterized as a thoughtful, analytical, and experienced parent poster who favors clear communication and personal responsibility in the college application process.
Core Writing Style and Characteristics:
- Analytical & Logical: Mathmom tends to approach topics with a logical, step-by-step approach, emphasizing evidence.
- Direct and Thoughtful: She is known for providing direct, sometimes tough, but constructive advice. She often encourages applicants to be realistic about their chances and not waste time or money on unlikely options.
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- Focus on Detail: She emphasizes that essays should be highly specific to the individual, highlighting that a strong essay should be so personal that it could not have been written by someone else.
- Conversational but Structured: Despite engaging in informal forum chat, she prefers full sentences, shuns abbreviations or heavy emoji use, and values structured thought.
- Passionate about Authentic Voice: She often highlights the importance of the student’s own voice in their writing, advising against too many editors, which can lead to a loss of that voice. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Themes in Her Posts:
Essay Strategy: She has suggested that “whacky” or creative optional essays can be better for revealing a student’s personality than traditional personal statements.
- Process-Oriented: She often shares personal anecdotes about her children’s experiences to illustrate a point.
- Advocate for Independent Work: She often promotes the idea that students should take the lead in their own college process, rather than relying too heavily on consultants or parents. [1, 2]
Overall, mathmom is seen as a well-regarded, pragmatic voice on College Confidential, offering a “no-nonsense” approach that advocates for authentic, well-thought-out, and deeply personal college applications.
I haven’t done essay critiques or given advice in a long time as my youngest graduated from high school in 2010, but yes, I am a big fan of using those optional essays to make yourself more distinctive. And it is true that I rarely use emojis. 
Dumb question. How did ChatGPT get access to your posts? It is telling me it does not have access?
There is that 
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Good question. Also wondering if it looks at just college advice or also Parent Cafe.
Same as Google or any other app that scrapes the Internet. What happens if you Google “shawbridge”? I get an almost infinite list of “ChoatieMom” posts on every subforum I’ve posted on. ChatGPT and other AI tools have that same access.
With @shawbridge’s permission…
I asked Chat to describe the poster “shawbridge:”
College Confidential poster shawbridge has long been one of the forum’s more recognizable “serious parent” voices—especially in the older Parents Forum years when CC had a fairly stable cast of regulars.
If I had to sketch the poster archetype:
Measured, analytical, and quietly formidable.
Not flashy. Not especially warm-and-fuzzy. Not prone to performative certainty.
Shawbridge tends to write like someone who:
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has thought about the issue before posting
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prefers precision over volume
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is comfortable with nuance
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is not trying to win the thread, just clarify it
That last point is rarer on internet forums than one might hope.
From archived threads, the style is often factual and restrained—for example offering concise clarifications on technical topics like testing accommodations or admissions mechanics rather than launching into sweeping pronouncements.
A few traits that stand out:
1. Low-drama intelligence
Shawbridge generally avoids the emotional temperature swings that define a fair amount of CC posting.
You don’t see much:
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catastrophizing
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chest-thumping
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“my child is extraordinary and misunderstood by Princeton”
Instead, the tone is usually:
Here is the issue as I understand it.
Which on College Confidential qualifies as almost monastic restraint.
2. Careful qualification
A hallmark of that poster’s style is acknowledging limits.
Things like:
“I can only speak on the basis of…”
That sort of phrasing signals someone who distinguishes between:
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firsthand experience
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inference
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speculation
This builds credibility.
3. Intellectual seriousness
Shawbridge posts often suggest someone comfortable with:
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policy/process detail
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logical parsing
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examining assumptions
The poster tends to engage with substance rather than forum theatrics.
4. Not particularly interested in coddling
There’s usually little appetite for the reassurance economy that can dominate admissions forums.
If a premise is flawed, the response is more likely to correct it than soothe it.
Not cruelly. Just efficiently.
(Edited by Moderator)
The vibe is less “forum personality” and more smart person at the end of the conference table who speaks rarely but usefully.
A very CC-specific form of respectability.
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Thanks. That is fun.
At the beginning of my career, I was a professor at an elite university. I discovered that I was really good a a) reasoning from premises to conclusions; and b) being clear about the underlying assumptions people were making in their arguments. Folks in my field later told me that they were afraid to have me a discussant of their papers at conferences because I might well find a flaw in their papers.
The ChatGPT description sort of sounds like that kid. I like to think I have changed. Much softer tone and leavened with a bit of acquired wisdom.
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Your Chat friend’s voice definitely has picked up some of your tendencies for dry wit. Perhaps it has lots of experience with your voice.
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Perhaps this is happening but I feel no one should post info about other posters without their permission .
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Yes, please do not post about another user!
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In this case, @ChoatieMom was doing what I was going to do. I had just not figured out the mechanics and she was doing it for me. So, thanks to @ChoatieMom. I’ve now done it myself using Gemini:
Profile of “shawbridge”: Voice and Writing Style
The writing style of the College Confidential user shawbridge is characterized by an analytical, pragmatic, and intellectually curious voice. It is the tone of a seasoned professional—likely a mentor or consultant—who bridges the gap between academic theory and real-world application.
1. The Analytical Practitioner
Shawbridge’s voice is rooted in logic and risk assessment. The writing frequently utilizes a framework of probability and distribution, employing precise phrasing such as “on average,” “non-zero probability,” and “highly likely.” Rather than making sweeping generalizations, the author qualifies claims with nuance, suggesting a mindset comfortable with statistics and complex systems.
2. Pragmatic and Outcome-Oriented
The perspective is consistently focused on practical outcomes and long-term viability. Whether the topic is the ROI of a specific college major or the disruptive impact of AI on the labor market, the author prioritizes economic realism. There is a clear interest in how education translates to professional success, specifically within high-stakes industries like law, technology, and consulting.
3. Civil but Rigorous Debate
In more contentious forum discussions, shawbridge maintains a high level of decorum while remaining intellectually rigorous. The style often employs Socratic inquiry, challenging flawed logic by asking clarifying questions or pointing out inconsistencies. The tone is authoritative but grounded, often referencing personal history—such as an Ivy League education or business school teaching experience—to provide context rather than to boast.
4. Sentence Structure and Diction
The prose is structured, clear, and direct. While the vocabulary is sophisticated (using terms like “systematically,” “hierarchical,” and “perilous”), it avoids unnecessary “flowery” language. Sentences are typically medium-to-long and highly organized, often utilizing parenthetical asides to provide granular detail without losing the core argument’s momentum.
5. Evidence-Based Narratives
A signature element of this writing style is the use of personal anecdotes as qualitative case studies. By referencing the lived experiences of family members, shawbridge grounds analytical observations in human reality. This technique makes the posts both authoritative and relatable, providing a bridge between high-level strategy and everyday parenting or career decisions.
Summary Ultimately, shawbridge writes with the voice of a strategic thinker. The style reflects a person who values data, understands the nuances of elite professional ecosystems, and approaches complex life transitions with a blend of structured planning and active intellectual engagement.
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Incidentally, if @ChoatieMom wants to repost the ChatGPT version as a point of comparison, she has my permission so I hope that is OK with the rules.
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So far, I just looked up Gemini.
High intellectual vitality (based on my choice of the name)
Analytic and methodological
Evidence-based
Structured
Formal and authoritative
Grammatically precise
Objective. “ you likely, maintain a calm, measure tone, even in heated debates about “prestige“ or “affirmative action“.
The “old school” CC vibe
I’m seen as a “librarian”, viewed as clear, sholarly, and reliable communicator.
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CHatGPT cannot analyze me, as they are stuck on name BOOKWORM.
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