MODERATOR’S NOTE:
It should come as no surprise to some of the posters here that I deleted the back and forth posts on PSU as having nothing to do with this thread. Please stay on, or close to, topic.
The threads I find annoying are ones where posters have strong opinions or thoughts about a school that they’ve never visited or visited almost a decade ago, but fail to reveal that to the OP as they try to explain why that school is not a good choice for them.
Finances were first and foremost upfront with all 3 of our kids. We had the “instate flagship rule”—if you get enough aid from a private school such that the private school is equal to or cheaper than our instate flagship, then go for it!! If not then hello state flagship or directional state u… Worked out for 2 out of 3, the one who attended the flagship loved it and it was the best place to be given their major.
We were not going to bankrupt our children/family or ruin our retirement for an unaffordable “dream school”.
The ED threads have begun. I guess the " How do I get out of my ED commitment" threads will be showing up in the next 4-5 months.
MODERATOR’S NOTE: Please don’t link to threads.
If I ask students how much their family can afford, many times it’s because I’ve glanced over their posting history to get a better understanding of their situation. Stats and how much parents are willing to pay matter.
There was a kiddo here last cycle who led posters on a merry dance. If posters had only followed the student’s lead by comparing programs at elite colleges and answering other pointed questions that skipped over affordability and stats, the kid wouldn’t have the affordable option they were guided to by dedicated CCers. The student is thrilled with the outcome. The process may be imperfect, but when it works out the results are rewarding for everyone.
I remember another student a couple years ago gunning for an elite school because their low income family couldn’t afford college without help. The student didn’t have the stats for the schools on their list and kept making new threads to try to avoid the money/stats issue. Eventually, that student was guided to an affordable option too.
Another assumed from the parents’ income that they could contribute 3x what they could actually afford. It’s often a wake up call for students who haven’t had many financial limits in high school to run into that when applying for college.
I think some gentle tough love can be helpful. It really doesn’t do children any good to be indulged in looking for a Tessla when the parents can only afford a Honda, or to be seriously comparing colleges when their stats are nowhere near competitive. Better to guide them to realistic options from the beginning.
What has become increasingly annoying to me are these book smart students that don’t use Google, search this website, or look up information on the schools’ websites before posting very general questions that are easily answered by doing any of the foregoing. I really worry about this generation sometimes.
^^^^And if you respond “Google is your friend.” others will accuse you of being insensitive!
It is worse when the next question is about freshman research opportunities at a school.
In a few weeks the questions regarding how to get in-state tuition for an out of state student will begin.
“Google is your friend” is my favorite response.
I just got back from orientation, and several kids couldn’t figure out how to use their room keys… the instructions were printed on the key. I hope that’s not representative of my school.
Back to the original “most annoying threads” idea - anything with a title in all caps.
I really love the site “let me google that for you.” Very helpful links.
Threads where the OP only makes an account because they’re being paid to hype up their school - one of the only schools that is nearly universally looked down upon by CCers - and the thread gets closed.
I wanted to participate, darn it!! 
Threads that start out “Don’t go to X University, it is awful”. Likely started by a rejected student or a student who flunked out.
I find annoying constant battles on Meningitis vaccine tread that get derailed by one poster.
Chances threads that ask about only Duke, Columbia, Brown, NYU, Dartmouth, etc. - “top” schools that are all completely different aside from that “top” status.
A student who with mediocre grades and test scores who insists on applying to only 4 schools, 3 of which could be classified as reaches/far reaches and one which is unlikely to meet her full financial needs as a low income applicant. Then gets defensive and insulting when posters suggest she broaden her list. #-o
I talked to a student yesterday (in person), who lives in Alabama and who wants to apply to a lot of California schools for biology. Knowing the family, and know the gal is not NM, I believe she will end up at Univ of Alabama (which will actually be a fabulous experience for her but she doesn’t know it yet)…Not sure when she will wake up and smell the coffee - she has 5 other siblings…
Ones where new posters clearly have not read the TOS or believe that they apply to everyone else but not to them.
The college application process is the first time that many of these young people have ever been told “no” and that they cannot have what they want. This is either due to academic qualifications or finances. And it will come from both CC’ers or adcoms later on
Threads (like one that was recently closed) where the OP is basically only soliciting posts along a narrow line of possible responses. If you disagree or point out weaknesses in their argument, you are then accused of being “off-topic”.