I find that I am bored for the first time ever here.
Tough to post and tough to enjoy.
I’m a new member and find that my visits are limited because the page layout is horrible and the font choice is awful. It’s really one of the worst designed forums I’ve seen.
I’m really puzzled what is motivating CC’s management to seemingly be unwilling to listen to their customer base.
- *Many long time users have repeatedly expressed frustration with using the new site.*
- *The activity volume on the site has dropped considerably, begging the question "Will the annual influx of new customers show up in spite of the challenging User Interface?" *
- *The stats on www.trackalytics.com for CC show site activity began plunging when the new UI was put in place this past spring.*
While it’s clear they are implementing isolated micro fixes, I don’t see those turning the site around to give it the welcome feeling it desperately needs.
I probably log in as much but I can’t stay long. My eyesight is not great in the best of times and this font makes it impossible for me to read for more than a few minutes at a time. I could probably live with everything else but why make it so that people who don’t have perfect eyesight can’t even read the posts! I’m on my desktop with settings I cannot change due to work considerations so I can’t even try to "fix’ it. I’m sad there aren’t as many posts. I can log on in the morning and then later in the day and not much is new at all anymore. So sad.
Posts don’t load very fast on my computer. I look at a thread, and half the posts are not loaded on a page at times. My computer is newish and have no such problem elsewhere.
I have been posting with the HS class of '09 folks since 2006 or 2007. Lately, I searched and searched for the thread on my phone with no luck. Someone on Facebook finally sent me a link.
I’d love to participate in more lively exchanges of ideas here. But the topic list is currently so BORING!
Start a thread! Or 2 or 5!!!
Littering the forum with threads we start ourselves just to hear ourselves talk won’t fix the problem. If the site isn’t getting new users and the ones who come don’t stay, random threads we start won’t generate enough traffic to make a difference. When every page of the Latest Threads forum has either “moved” threads, site sponsored threads, or threads created just to generate traffic it feels stale and boring.
My comments refer to the Parent Cafe. This is largely the only spot I spend time here.
I do not understand “littering” with threads we start ourselves. If users don’t start them, who will? How did any of us get drawn in? We read something that peaked our interest once - or many times - and we stayed.
How much more of a good example are we setting for new users or new posters by having threads like this where we are complaining for days? THAT’S not inviting!
Maybe Latest Threads isn’t the best way to use this site. Try going directly to the forums you enjoy or spend time in the most.
It’s interesting that CC seems to be trying to fix at least some things now that have been complained about. Maybe too little, too late, though, as it seems the website visits continue to decline. https://www.trackalytics.com/website/collegeconfidential.com/
i am making a concerted effort to become involved again with CC after a summer hiatus but the forums I used to frequent are much less active.
The summer hiatus was due to the new format.
Well, analytics don’t necessarily lie, but as far as the Parent Cafe goes, my reading time has increased the last week or two because it seems the interaction (new threads and more posts) has increased. High five to those who have contributed to new and interesting/varied talk on a lot of topics!
@CTTC I literally only come on to post on the Romani Jr thread so I haven’t seen changes - what has been changed lately?
They added the save draft button! The date and time are now at the top of the post instead of at the bottom. There is a list of “highlights” that includes many forums, bookmarks, latest posts, etc. there are a few other things…and I have to say…its the first time an “upgrade” has been done here where the PTB have actually listened to the users, and made changes. Big thank you to them.
I agree, there have been several improvements. Is it enough though? I looked at trackalytics, and maybe my eyes are playing tricks, but it seems as though there might be a very small upward trend in a couple of the markers.
It is interesting. I used to approach the site from various directions, but now I just go to Latest Posts and most of it is not of interest.
I should add - I learned so much here over the past few years when my son was getting ready to apply and applying, I really feel an obligation to give back, but it’s a challenge and I feel I will give up pretty soon.
Echoing the sentiments of @tkoparent above. I feel extremely lucky that my twins’ high school journey and college application process was completed just before the format changes implemented by the powers that be of this website. I have been trying to give back, but it’s so hard to read and so hard to find things I find myself, like others, just opening new posts. I find myself coming her less and less.
@ThinkOn , your post captures the frustration and disillusionment we’ve all experienced since they relaunched CC. I think it’s fair to say that it’s been a disaster and it remains to be seen if Cc can recover. But someone IS listening, because there have recently been a series of noticeable improvements to the format. In particular, the new Highlights listing makes it a lot easier to find stuff and was much needed. Maybe give it another couple of months before giving up entirely.