<p>I know things are usually kept pretty “Confidential” on here but I just felt like sharing some good news. My S auditioned and was just chosen as one of the new Vanderbilt Melodores! For those who don’t know, that is a very popular A Capella group on campus. Ever since he started considering Vanderbilt, his dream became to be one of the Melodores. He is thrilled and I’m very excited for him. </p>
<p>Congratulations to your son, JRMAMA! That’s wonderful. It’s always terrific to hear about a dream come true.</p>
<p>@jrmama496 Congratulations! It’s so nice when our kids find their group.</p>
<p>@jrmama496, big congratulations to your S exciting news. I welcome sharing of details here - thank you. </p>
<p>aww…that is so fab, jrmama496! Sooo happy for your son. Up for your students’ consideration a bit later one when ASB applications are opened up: Alternative Spring Break-- rightfully well regarded btw although you do not have final control over your assignment (you get to make a short list your own choices). Also heads up…you have to pay a fee for each assignment, some fees are rather nominal, some more expensive-- to cover food and transportation. As the parent of a non-Greek at Vandy …ASB is definitely a place where Greek and non Greek Vandy students enjoy taking something meaningful on together.</p>
<p>Congrats jrmama496. Also I’d like to thank everyone who has posted on this forum. My DS is doing well in Vandy, but he is a boy/man of few words, so this forum is somewhat comforting. 
Anyway I do have a question, we haven’t booked my DS’s flights for Thanksgiving / Christmas yet. If the flies in Sunday AM (Nov 30th), he will have access to the Dorm right? Also would the campus cafeteria be open?</p>
<p>Congratulations, @jrmama496 – the auditions for those groups are very competitive. Hurray!</p>
<p>@ MiWiTx The dorms officially open at 9:00 AM on Sunday morning after Thanksgiving. However, your son can return a day earlier if he wants to attend the Vanderbilt - Tennessee game on Saturday. Vandy makes it very easy for students to stay in their rooms when the dorms are officially closed. They just need to register on the housing website.</p>
<p>I don’t believe the dining hall opens until Monday morning (I may be wrong and it could open Sunday evening). Your student has meal money on his card so that he can get food off campus or pick up something at a munchie mart.</p>
<p>Congrats to your son, @jrmama496! Yes, I booked my D’s flight to return on Saturday, 11/29. Even if she decides not to go to the game, I figure the dorms will be quiet and she may get some studying done … It is so close to exams. Not only that, but the flight was much cheaper.</p>
<p>I also booked DS’s flight to return on 11/29 Sat. I had to pick an early am flight to get a cheap fare. I later found out DS wanted to go to the football game so I was really glad I booked the sat am flight.
@MiWiTx, DS also doesn’t share much details with us. I learn more about Vandy just from this and other Vanderbilt threads on CC.</p>
<p>so happy to hear your good news jrmama496! He must be talented, and that must feel great to know one of your s’s dreams is already materializing for him! My s will be trying out for the improv group…such great offerings right!</p>
<p>Have others already booked winter break travel/flights home? Waiting to hear about their last tests etc. and if they can leave on Saturday afternoon.</p>
<p>For winter break, I went ahead and booked Sunday 12/14 flight. Knowing DS, he would not pack until the last minute so I don’t think he will have time to pack on the day of final. </p>
<p>Regarding the question about sending Care Packages to your student at Vanderbilt, there are a couple of websites that specialize in this. You will get emails from one or both of them soon (if you haven’t already). My daughter loved the care package from carepackages.org that I sent her just before final exams during her freshman year. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.ocm.com/ocm/carepackages”>http://www.ocm.com/ocm/carepackages</a> (if you type in carepackages.org you are redirected to this site now)</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.carepackages.com/”>http://www.carepackages.com/</a> (I haven’t tried this one but the selection looks good).</p>
<p>Our son likes to fly home to the west coast the day after his last final or class. He doesn’t want to have to worry about getting organized and packed up until all his school work is done. There are no Vandy airport shuttles then, so he just takes a taxi to the airport (about $25).</p>
<p>He returned on Saturday after Thanksgiving and on the last Friday of Christmas break last year. He liked having the extra time to get set for the second semester. He is returning on Friday after Thanksgiving this year for the football game.</p>
<p>It is no problem to register to stay in the dorms during the breaks. The registration page opens about a week before the break begins. There is no fee for the extra days. The dining halls are not open, but there are plenty of place to eat nearby.</p>
<p>My S has been using In Shuttle, <a href=“http://www.inshuttle.com”>www.inshuttle.com</a> when the Vandy shuttles are not running for a pick up from the Airport to campus. It picks up/or drops the kids directly at the Dorm or Commons to/from the Airport. It is much less expensive then a cab. Very easy to use and the kids can reserve a pick up on line. </p>
<p>I’m getting excited for the football game tonight and a chance to see my son on TV. I’m hoping that the new SEC Network likes to show pictures of the band. Last year we had saw him during several of the football games. </p>
<p>Oh no – stormy there right now so we just heard from daughter that Anchor Dash has been cancelled. Boo!</p>
<p>Next real home game is Parents’ Weekend – think they’ll let them run then???</p>
<p>Back to flight planning . . . does anyone know what time the Vandy-Tennessee game is on the Saturday after Thanksgiving? It still says TBA, but maybe someone has inside info or good guesses based on past years? </p>
<p>My D says they won’t reschedule Anchor Dash. She’s pretty bummed.</p>
<p>Sorrento;</p>
<p>It is very difficult to predict game time. It is typically set 3 weeks or so in advance due to TV rights. It also depends on how both teams are doing, and whether the game is picked up by a major network or by SEC Network instead. If no TV (I would say marginally unlikely) it will be in the 11am to 1pm range CT. Last year there was not an SEC Network in the mix, so you could say “if major networks pick it up it will most likely be at 1/4/7/10pm with 10pm being the unlikely time–usually saved for west coast games.”</p>
<p>This is the hardest part of planning anything when visiting-- you rarely know when the games are going to be played.</p>