<p>Napolean Hill, my favorite success author, wrote about the mastermind principle: “No two minds ever come together without, thereby, creating a third, invisible, intangible force which may be likened to a third mind.” This is a place for those of us with an interest in college admissions (and raising teens) to share information to enrich ourselves and others.</p>
<p>That, and the fact that its a fun place to waste time…</p>
<p>I think the members - especially here - are really interesting and witty. They’re fun, in other words.</p>
<p>Comeraderie.</p>
<p>Support.</p>
<p>Humor. </p>
<p>Intelligence.</p>
<p>Emoticons.</p>
<p>And of course, that whole college acceptance thing…</p>
<p>Now if I could just graduate from “junior member”.</p>
<p>I think you’re only 18 posts away from that goal m&s–starting a music thread should put you over the top by dinner time.</p>
<p>You know how children can be described as sponges waiting to absorb knowledge and life experiences, or as a blank page waiting to be filled? Unfortunately, many sponges get saturated or pages get filled too early in life and I think this limits not only one’s life choices but also one’s growth as a person. </p>
<p>I like to think of myself as a life-long learner and hope I can keep my page open throughout my entire life. However, by nature I am also quite shy/reserved/introverted and it is difficult to find physical/non-academic social forums to allow continued personal and intellectual growth. </p>
<p>Forums like CC serve a very real psychological need, they demonstrate the diversity in how people think, feel and approach life and life’s problems. they allow individuals, including people like myself who typically just “lurk” on the fringes, to “give and take” in a safe (anonymous) environment - or to just observe and learn. CC posters provide a diverse wealth of information and perspectives on life that continually opens my eyes to the fact that the rest of the world does not think the way I do (which I sometimes need to be reminded of), and it also allows me to sift through these diverse perspectives and take from them what’s best for me and my life situation.</p>
<p>OK, probably too serious of a rambling – so, in other words, it is a great place to “people watch”!</p>
<p>wis75:
</p>
<p>So true! I like that too.</p>
<p>I guess I like to think maybe I’m helping people a teeny bit on here. As much as I like the Parent Forum and the Cafe I try to head over to the student sites now and then because many kids over there really seem like they need help. (Although, unfortunately, I’m not the best one to help because I don’t know much, but I try!)</p>
<p>I try to not actually talk that much about my own kids - because they would hate it - so that sort of limits me on some threads. (I’ll post something if I ask their opinion and tell them what it’s for.) But I try to encourage people to think a little about college options outside of the “CC norm.” Maybe it helps people to realize that there are other great schools out there besides the top US News lists, I don’t know.</p>
<p>I stumbled on to CC two years ago this month when our DD was in her junior year of high school. I’m sure it all started with a Google search that pointed me in this direction. I was hooked from day one and, last year at this time, I spent more time on this board than was probably healthy. I appreciate so much all the information, suggestions, support, etc. that I have received here. My DD (our one and only child) is at a school where she could not be happier! What a relief it was to get through the application period, scholarship deadline period, acceptance period, etc. Thankfully we will never have to go through that again … well, except when she applies to law school but that won’t really involve hubby and me, right? Right? Please someone say “right!” </p>
<p>My husband is constantly volunteering me to speak with friends who have children approaching the college years. He thinks I’m so smart and very knowledgeable about the application process, etc. Little does he know I would know nothing if not for CC. So many here are so very helpful, and if I can make a difference with one post about something I might be familiar with, it would make me feel good to know that I am contributing.</p>
<p>Driver,</p>
<p>Sadly, Parent Cafe posts do not count towards the “total posts” counter.</p>
<p>One more reason I find CC so fascinating: </p>
<p>Hot NJ women who are mistaken on line for men.</p>
<p>So Driver’s hot, too?</p>
<p>Sigourney Weaver hot, or so I hear.</p>
<p>Garland is also on the mistaken NJ woman list…</p>
<p>Only on the internet…who knows whether a Sigourney Weaver lookalike is really a hairy old man (nothing against Driver, of course)?</p>
<p>Thanks for the image. :rolleyes: Yuck.</p>
<p>I thought the description was more along the lines of Ann Coulter… ;)</p>
<p>m&sdad - Thanks for the very good laugh.</p>
<p>A great question! I have not posted too often, but I enjoy reading the variety of opinions. Plus I like the advice on teenage and child raising issues in general. I have an empty nest too, so this helps me pass my time.</p>
<p>I’m with SplashMom - stumbled onto this one day a couple of years ago and probably haven’t gone more than a couple of days without checking. It’s very addictive! I learned a ton of useful information to help my son pick and evaluate colleges not to mention information about housing choices, financial aid, and more. He’s an only child so now I mostly ■■■■■ for the fun of it and also to find out how common his current problems are and how other students solve them. I’m not one of the in-crowd; have tried giving advice in the specific college board but there’s a fanatical student who takes great offense at anyone who doesn’t praise it to the skies so have backed off for fear of getting flamed. I often peek into College Life to see what the students are talking about, and always am checking the Parents Boards.</p>
<p>Well, everybody’s right so far, about why it’s fascinating (and addictive), of course. But I just wanna say I love the way joev put it
for advice on any topic from serious to silly, to rant and vent, to get or give a laugh…</p>
<p>I’m pretty much sick and tired and burned out on the college admissions process. I enjoy the personalities on this site.</p>
<p>joev put it very well, I agree.</p>
<p>I have puzzled over my own “addiction” and laughed with a father who confessed to his when we discovered we had this vice in common. He has since “recovered” (he says…) but I remain thoroughly habituated. I currently have the “cover” of a sophomore daughter–but the truth is I find the subject interesting and the company irresistable.</p>
<p>This was also my first venture into cyberspace in any way and I must say, as I’ve explored further, there are not all that many appealing alternatives for the engaging computer interaction.</p>
<p>With others who’ve posted, I agree–there are others here with whom I laugh, sometimes shed tears of relief/joy/sentiment. I have acquired fascinating random and often useful knowledge. And there is something about this international intersection of (mostly) good-hearted, well-intended folk and it is reassuring to know you are all out there in current times…</p>
<p>Here’s to many more laughs among the “addicts”…</p>
<p>One reason why the quality of discourse is so high on CC is that it is moderated. Without moderation it would, like many other on-line forums, turn into a cess pit in very short order.</p>