<p>Oh kind and wise friends - it’s update time…</p>
<p>went to the one day orientation. the school is ok, but she didn’t click with any kids. The day was only for science majors and while she was ok with her schedule and the program - she didn’t meet anyone that she would want to meet again. She IS a social kid.<br>
The agreement is - if she moves in and starts classes in August she MUST stay for the entire semester. Looks like her dad is letting her take a car - 2 hours away and her last class on a Friday gets done at 11 am. She will be home every weekend - ugh.
Now for the kicker - Penn State has a Bio Tech major and a 5 year BS-MS program. The program looks good and rigorous and Penn State will take her AP credit and dual enrollment credit. She can start this fall at a sattelite campus with her boyfriend and live at home, if she wants.</p>
<p>I do think she still wants to go away and not live at “home” - so we will see what happens. Perhaps she will adjust and find her spot as a big fish in a small sea. I am pretty sure she is going to go for a semester away and see how it goes.</p>
<p>She can never be a new freshman in the dorms after the fall semester- get her to leave home if only for this experience. Transfering later, even after her first semester is ok, but do not let her stay at home. The students she met at summer orientation she may never see again. Try to nix the car idea, make it a second semester deal. Do not let her change plans now. Let us know how it went next year.</p>
<p>Car is a bad idea for so many reasons. You already know it’s not great for her to come home every weekend. She won’t know that unless she fully experiences the campus and does NOT come home every weekend.</p>
<p>I hope you can come up with a plan that she will buy that does not involve a car on campus from the get-go.</p>
<p>Agree with jmmom. There is a reason most schools do not allow freshmen to have a car if they live on campus. They need to get the most out of their freshman year, including good study habits and being available for study groups. They also need a good feel for the campus culture and social scene and ECs that are available. If they are gone every weekend they never get a chance to bond, be part of teams or groups and make those leaps in development that come with really being away from home. One semester at least without a car and coming home every weekend.</p>