<p>UConn has better teams, but it’s harder to get tickets, and also a shlepp to the football games (in Hartford). My son enjoyed the football season at UDel, and spent most of his Sunday evenings during NFL season at Wild Wings watching the games.</p>
<p>Yes, our tour guide at UConn was very upfront about the basketball ticket situation, which is done via lottery, and many of those games are also in Hartford. S will be happy to remain in the Philadelphia sports orbit, since he’s a huge Eagles and Phillies fan.</p>
<p>If you are staying overnight, you can probably get a good deal on a hotel on Priceline. Last year we were getting the Hilton for $40-45 (of course they also bumped us on parents weekend, but that’s another story). The on-campus Courtyard is very expensive.</p>
<p>Freshman Fest is excellent, the kids get to meet many of the other Jewish kids before classes start. Being able to move in early is a plus, although it will cost you $200 ($100 to Hillel, $100 to UD for moving in early) and you do get rushed on the move-in. Of course you could stay overnight and do some shopping and sightseeing until Saturday and go back in and get stuff finished up.,</p>
<p>My son hosted one of the full scholarship winners in his dorm a few weeks ago (his roommate has a full scholarship). The kid’s other choice was Michigan State, where apparently freshmen also do not get tickets.</p>
<p>My son went to most of the football games this year.</p>
<p>Traveling down this weekend with D who is deciding between UCONN and UDEL. She was accepted to the business school at UCONN and is an Organizational and Community Leadership major at Del which is closer to what she see herself doing down the road. It seems that the classes are a bit smaller at UDEL. As Connecticut residents though, UCONN is definitely less expensive. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>I can’t give input on this as D got in to both but was OOS at both (UDel is slightly less for OOS - but that wasn’t why she chose UDel).</p>
<p>It’s good you are going this weekend. We just got an itinerary in the mail and there’s an opportunity to meet the faculty and deans for the various majors on Sat morning. Regardless, I’m sure finances are a concern… and only you can make that decision based on what your financial picture looks like and your own philosophy about spending for college.</p>
<p>Money is a factor but UDEL does come out better than Syracuse for example. She would have no debt at UCONN and some at UDEL but that is her choice. My hubby and I have discussed the benefit of getting away, we are only 45 minutes from UCONN and she knows many kids who are going there. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, but would being 4 1/2-5 hours away foster independence and growth as an individual? Maybe I am being too Psycho-babbly there. 
I am looking forward to hearing the presentation from the faculty because her major is rather small. We just booked the trip on Sunday. I hope they get the materials to us on time.</p>
<p>We’re going! Honors program starts at 7:15AM (This will be our 2nd visit.). Decision Days regular program starts at 9:30AM. UDel is up against 2 other schools but my D is saying that it is her first choice. Unless something really goes awry, she is intent on enrolling. She already wants a UDel tee shirt.</p>
<p>For those of you who attended today, did they give you a free brunch pass for the Russell cafeteria or did you have to pay yourselves? My son said the brunch there was much better than usual – “they had fresh fruit salad, chips and guacamole, french toast sticks and other stuff they don’t normally have”. He did see parents in there before 11. Not sure if that was the only cafeteria open early for prospective students.</p>
<p>misterbill: They gave us free breakfast this morning - divided everyone up (not sure how). We were assigned to breakfast in Perkins Student Center. For lunch, they had free box lunches set up out on the green (south green? - I’m still learning the lingo). Also, free ice cream from UDairy! We also got free parking at Trabant (nice after paying for parking a couple of times yesterday).</p>
<p>We had an awesome two days at UD! D is so psyched to be going there and it is such a perfect fit! She met a lot of people (including misterbill’s son and jbevangelista!) and loved it, loved it, loved it. </p>
<p>Except for the fact that they couldn’t get the video going in the presentation for University Studies, the presentation was excellent. I was impressed with the advisement available to undeclared students. My D walked out of there with even more interests than when she walked into the presentation.</p>
<p>Well, this week we did Syracuse, Maryland and Delaware. What a week!</p>
<p>Admitted students day at Syracuse was very impressive. My son was admitted to Arts & Science and Newhouse Communications. We really liked the session given by Newhouse. My son left feeling like the other schools needed to “wow” him.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Maryland was not a hit. We stayed for part of the day, but left early when my son said it was not for him.</p>
<p>Today was Delaware and the game is on! My son was accepted into the honors program and University Studies. He is undecided as to a major. Well, the program did “wow” him.</p>
<p>My son is going to sleep on it tonight, but Delaware seems to be in the lead. It also helps that he knows someone there. Also, since my husband and I are alumni, he has visited campus multiple times. Wherever he goes, my husband and I want him to pick the place that he thinks will be the best for him.</p>
<p>Good luck to all of the students and parents during this exciting and stressful time!</p>
<p>Let us know what he decides!</p>
<p>Dang, I should have PM a few of you to meet everyone. Everything was on the house for us. We got a UD parking pass (like a credit card) and they swiped that for our Honors hot breakfast at the Trabant Center. We used the card for a 10% off merchandise in the Student Store for a tee and sweatshirt. Even the box lunches on the green were good.</p>
<p>The Honors presentation was excellent and it was stressed to meet up with advisors for personal guidance in course selections since there are so many choices. We went to Gore for a more in depth view of the language studies.</p>
<p>We did visit Russell to see the dorms and watched everyone having fun on the “Beach?” adjacent to it. A kind, (non-official tour guide) woman with keys granted us access to the Center for the Arts so we could see the recital hall. It is simply gorgeous. Everything we saw on campus was in tip top shape. If I am not mistaken, honors students get free music lessons.</p>
<p>All the Blue Hen ambassadors were so helpful that we didn’t need a map. We got “hellos” no matter where we went. Everyone seemed genuinely happy to be there. We met 2 of D’s classmates who will also be attending in the fall. D was thrilled with everything and kept thanking us. It was even more of a “fit” than when we visited in Nov. and D felt like it could be home. That was more important to us than anything else.</p>
<p>I consider UDel a medium sized university with a smaller feel to it than most of the huge state schools. There are a lot of choices in everything from academics to ECs. </p>
<p>A perfect day and the right decision.</p>
<p>We felt exactly the same way last year when we went to Admitted Students day. I can happily say after one and one half semesters at UD,D is so happy there and we are still thrilled with our decision. It is such a wonderful school and they really try and genuinely care. When we went to Admitted Students day last year we wondered if they would really hold up to their promises, and they did. The honors college is excellent and D has learned a lot more than the courses in her major. She has become incredibly open, tolerant, patient and (shocking to us) involved. They do a tremendous job and I just cant say enough. You made a great decision and best of luck to your daughter!</p>
<p>We really enjoyed our day and felt that UDEL put out the red carpet for us. The Blue Hen Ambassadors even WOOHOOed when they saw our Connecticut license plates. D is deciding between UCONN and UDEL. The individual program presentation with the head of the Organizational and Community Leadership program was so impressive that my normally cynical husband was convinced that the extra money/difference in tuition between the two would be worthwhile. We will visit UCONN next Saturday and see the program at their business school.</p>
<p>Well, decision is final. Deposits are paid and more UD clothes have been purchased! We are very happy this decision is done and now he can finish up his senior year and be excited for the next step.</p>
<p>congrats! As you know since you and husband are both alum, its such a great place. D is having a great freshman year. A lot more work than she anticipated but is so happy with the school, her decision and her life there. Best of luck and dont forget to read all the posts about all the free stuff (shirts, mugs, pens, car decals, planners, etc) on main street when you go back for orientation during the summer.</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>lucky& blue, I know when my older son went to school they gave free stuff away the first few weeks of classes. I am curious about the posts you said are posted for Delaware, so I can tell my son. Do you know what to search for?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Leibermans, Delaware Book Exchange and National all give free stuff during Delaworld.</p>
<p>they also gave my younger son a tee shirt at Grotto pizza (I think thats what its called) when we went for luch while D was moving in. As the_mom indicated, they gave free tee shirts at Leibermans and Delaware book exchange. We got car magnets at Peace a Pizza and car decals (UD parent, UD mom, UD dad) at leibermans. At national they gave out coffee mugs and other things (I cant remember). WSFS bank gave out lanyard key chains and coupons for lunch (dont remember where). The cucpake store was giving away free mini cupcakes (yummy) and I will try to think of the rest. When I find the old post, I will post it! It was so festive on main street and a lot of fun. They really made a great impression and went out of their way to welcome the new freshman.</p>