<p>S got the nicest call tonight from a U of Chicago student. Unfortunately, she hadn't gotten the word that he had been accepted to Penn ED along with Chicago EA. She said I was the second call in a row to tell her that Penn had won out. Since my son is away at school, I had a nice chat with the girl, who was given my son's name because she attended a prep school in the same conference as my son's school. I was impressed.</p>
<p>Whitney!</p>
<p>We haven't heard from you in quite a while. How is Reed treating you other than in the application process? I seem to recall you were very pleasantly surprised to be able to attend there.</p>
<p>Yes Whitney! Do tell! Inquiring minds want to hear the rest of your story. Hope you are doing well.</p>
<p>Pomona was the nicest of all the schools during the period after acceptance but before May 1. They also sent a survey asking why S1 had decided to go elsewhere. Their director, Bruce Poch, is very serious about getting it right.</p>
<p>Wow! :) I didn't think anyone would remember me, heh. <em>waves to everyone!</em> I guess it has been some time since I last posted. </p>
<p>Reed is treating me... well, pretty good in all I guess. I've been lurking a lot lately because I've been sort of worried in all. Reed is an academic heaven for me. I love my classes. I love my professors. I ended up getting paired up with Wally Englert as my advisor (he's also my Greek teacher) and have come to the conclusion that he's the most amazing man in the entire universe (and the nicest). One of the funniest things was coming to Reed worried about finding a major (in the lettre Reed had me write to my advisor I think I talked about that being the part of college that frightened me the most) and ended up deciding after the first week of classes that I was most definitely a Classics major. </p>
<p>And, with such a glowing review of the academics... what could possibly make me worried? I'm thinking its just taking me a bit longer to adjust. If college were all reading/writing/working I'd be set. However, I've had a really hard time trying to fit in. I've had a hard time actually making any friends, and when I seem to they almost immediatly get boyfriends/girlfriends and I never see them again. I've spent almost all my weekends sitting in my dorm room doing nothing, even though I've been trying really hard to get to know people/ try to join activities and whatnot. I hate parties... so... it makes things harder in all. Also, I ended up getting paired with a room mate who just doesn't work very well. We're completely opposite personalities, have wildly different schedules (I go to bed early, she comes in with loud friends at all hours), and can't communicate/never talk. I guess that could be worse though... I know a few people who fight with their room-mates. :P A lot of times I just feel like I don't fit in. For a while, I even played with the idea of transferring (especially since I know way more about college admissions now than I did then... ;) )</p>
<p>However, after being home for break, I realized that I really do love Reed. I love the Reed Classics department. And, I'm already falling in love with the semester abroad option I'm thinking of my junior year (a semester in Rome!!!!). And so, I'm going to give it another try. Already, I've decided I'm going to try harder to get involved. I'm going to try out for the orchestra if they need a flute, and if not try out for the chorus. I'm going to keep trying to get involved in theatre. And, well, keep trying to get to know people. </p>
<p>So, all in all, things have been good with a little bit of rocky bits here and there. In all honesty, I've always had a hard time fitting in and probably idealized the notion of easily fitting in at college too much. At the same time, Reed has opened my eyes to so many opprotunities out there. At this time last year I was losing hope and thinking I'd probably just go to one of the nearby state schools and be a teacher (not that that's bad... I think I'd be very happy teaching) whereas now, even after a semester, I'm confident that I'll be applying to grad school at some point and really go chasing some of my farthest out dreams. </p>
<p>Hah... long reply. Anyway, I'm flattered you all remembered me. I hope life has been treated all of you well! :D</p>
<p>Whitney, First, congratulations on deciding on classics as a major. My 10th grade son is very interested in classics and I think Reed would be a good fit for him in other ways, so it is wonderful to hear that you're enjoying the department.</p>
<p>I wish I had a magic wand to cure your other problems...sorry to hear that you've had a hard time getting established socially. Hopefully, however, you'll find your niche this semester, and a happier living situation for next year. As I recall from Emeraldkty, Reed has lots of singles available. In the meantime, hang in there. </p>
<p>Thanks so much for the update --- and please feel free to lurk less and talk more here, I know we'd all love to "see" you more often. :)</p>
<p>Thanks Carolyn!</p>
<p>The Reed Classics department really is amazing. I could go on and on and on about it really. All my poor floormates have probably learned more about Reed Classics then they ever cared about (mostly science people) and are then suspicious that I'm trying to recruit them. I've heard again and again that Reed is an ideal place to be a Classics major and I've found that to be true. A lot of people seem to think its a cool thing, especially since they've all taken Hum and there's a lot of support. The major is growing and they're actually hunting for a fifth professor right now... heh... yeah. If you ever want more information, feel free to PM me and I'll give you my e-mail. I love talking about Reed Classics or Classics in general. By the end of this next semester I'll have had all but one of the professors. ;D</p>
<p>And, thanks. I'm feeling really confident about this next semester. I think that things were starting to look up by the end of second quarter and, well, taking a more proactive attitude should help. ;)</p>
<p>Of course we remember you. I was very awkward socially in my first year of college, the stereotypical geeky Engineering student who would trip over his own tongue on the few occasions he attempted to speak to a young lady. I survived somehow, mainly by finding others with similar interests. I think if you get into the orchestra, chorus or theater group, you will have a ready (or should I say Reedy) supply of interesting and interested friends.</p>
<p>BassDad: you found other people interested in tripping over their tongues while talking to young ladies?</p>
<p>re Communications: there was quite a range of post-acceptance comms from D's school. Wellesley was very assiduous, with hand-written notes from current students who were apparently matched by interests. Smith gave a phone calls and a letter from the Smith orchestra. Barnard didn't do much at all. Skidmore sent a bunch of stuff, some of it off-beat.</p>
<p>I don't remember exactly what they said, but my S found the University of Wisconsin at Madison acceptance to be creative, warm and friendly and the UVA acceptance to be threatening. It gave a list of reasons why they could withdraw, such as grades falling, etc. Wisconsin followed up with housing info and other stuff right away, while we haven't heard anything more from UVA (where he will go ED). The difference in tones was definitely a disappointment and something S has mentioned several times.</p>
<p>TheDad,</p>
<p>it turned out to be easy to find them once I knew to look for the telltale sneaker treads.</p>
<p>BD: got it. I'm not sure I would have thoght of that. I was the target audience for the book "101 Places to Meet Young Ladies and Get Tongue Tied or Sound Like A Dork."</p>
<p>Wait a second. That ^%#^&^& published a book??? He said he was just observing me for purposes of academic research.</p>
<p>Going back to Carolyn's original concern, clearly it does make sense for the marketing to be especially strong after EA acceptances or rolling acceptances. I just wonder if the adreps are now getting into the big stacks of RD applications (just judging from some friends of mine in a nearby LAC) and have less time to spare! Still seems like for yield purposes they would indeed make a strong effort to keep in touch.</p>
<p>I think there IS a strong effort made when a student is a merit candidate. My S1 was contacted three times in the long month of April before he made up his mind, by an LAC which had offered him a full ride. One call was from the Pres of the college. However, I know they wanted to hear from S in part because if he turned them down, the award went to someone else and they wanted to get that student to come.</p>
<p>My daughter received a lovely letter from her regional adcom with a handwritten note after her SCEA acceptance. Last night she got a phone call from a student telling her about the school and offering answers to any questions she might have. She was invited to and participated in an online chat for accepted students sponsored by the school with student moderators. </p>
<p>QuiltGuru - our mailbox has been fairly empty - though Case Western (she did not apply there) still has not given up on her ... I guess they have a late application deadline? She does still get the occasional email from obsure schools. I would guess that the mail has slowed down for most students since most admissions deadlines have passed.</p>
<p>Things have been very quiet here. DD got accepted EA to one school and hasn't really heard a peep from them since (until today when she got an email saying they received her estimated FAFSA)...bleh. She was also accepted at a rolling admissions school, and they were very communicative (at least one nice correspondence a week) until the holiday vacation. We are wondering if the "mail" will pick up from them when school resumes next week. The EA school is her first choice and she has commented that she feels like they have forgotten about her acceptance. She has other friends who also got EA acceptances and have received t-shirts, bumper stickers, decals, and lots of mail. There doesn't seem to be a pattern her...I guess some schools just do this mailing and others don't.</p>
<p>D got a generic e-mail from her SCEA school inviting all the kids to an admitted students website where they could request a free T-shirt that says "Class of 2010" (sneaky way to estimate yield, doncha think?), but that's it. Still getting a few e-mails from Tulane and mailers from schools she's not really heard much about (today was UT-Dallas)...but that's it. Oh, she did get one from Cal Tech today reminding her that their RD deadline is January 1st. (?? really snail mail!) This after three phone calls from Cal Tech students and one alum the third week of December. She did not apply.</p>
<p>Hey, if it was me ... I'd order the free tee shirt either way! :)</p>
<p>We bought the $7.95 tee shirt from the local Steve and Barry's store!</p>
<p>
[quote]
S got the nicest call tonight from a U of Chicago student.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Wyogal,</p>
<p>The admissions office at U Chicago must have decided to call all the EA's who'd been accepted but who haven't given an answer yet. Our son also had a call last night. Since he was out to the movies, I spoke with the student. The student was eager to know when he'd be making his decision, and if he had any more questions. When I said that he would appreciate speaking with someone, they promised another student would call tonight.</p>
<p>For a university like Chicago that probably wants to raise their yield, this approach makes a lot of sense. They may have called hundreds of students but my son got a kick over someone encouraging him to sign on the dotted line, and he does have questions he'd like answered. Except for mass mailings, he really hasn't been courted by any school he'd actually like to attend so this is a nice change of pace. He's looking forward to the call.</p>
<p>QuiltG - Hope your dau takes advantage of the website! By the time my S was moving in, he already knew tons of kids and it was really fun for him!</p>