<p>Are there any other class of 2013 parents here?</p>
<p>Our oldest child, a son, leaves for ND this fall. His dad and I are thrilled as he is following in his dad’s footsteps.</p>
<p>My son will be a freshman as well. We are very happy for him- neither H nor I are alumni, but we think he will get a great education at ND.</p>
<p>My son will be a freshman in the fall. ND is a new experience, as he will be the first family member to attend. My wife and I are proud of him.</p>
<p>D1 will be at ND in the fall. We are very proud of her. She is so excited. It is a very long way from home though. She is nervous she will wake up 3 weeks into the year and think OK, summer camp’s over I want to go home now! Anyone else’s domer have fears?</p>
<p>Congratulations to all of your children. My son is awaiting the start of school. Make sure you attend your local Notre Dame Club’s student send off if there is one in your area. This is an excellent chance for the students to meet others from your area and also upper classmen who can lend valuable insights about campus life. The local club can also be a source of scholarship aid (often administered entirely by the University, in the local club’s name) and perhaps football tickets.</p>
<p>^sorry, I am not a parent, but I will be attending next year. Should I contact the club in my area, or do they know who is going and do they contact us or should we?</p>
<p>My son will joining the ND family in the fall as well. He is looking forward to seeing that gorgeous basilica every day and going to the football games (of course). </p>
<p>What area of the country are you from?</p>
<p>Hawkswim, I think the club contacts you directly. That is what they did in my son’s case anyway. He applied for the club scholarship and received 2 invitations from 2 different clubs. They were not a send off though… more like a fundraiser, but he would have been their guest if he went.</p>
<p>My son will be attending this fall. He is the first in my family to attend. aunts and uncles are pumped. I am a single mom who is incredibly proud of the choices my son has made academically. He has been to South Bend twice (it is 11 hours away by car) and my first trip will be for orientation. The distance is stressful for me but the opportunities that a Notre Dame education will provide more than make up for it!</p>
<p>Each club has access to the list of new students from their club area and should contact the student if there is a student send off event. Hats off to blzmom for the sacrifices to obtain an ND education for her son.</p>
<p>My second born D will be attending in the fall. We are very excited for her. We are from Minnesota. She has wanted to attend ND since she stepped foot on campus as a 10th grader. I know our Club here in the twin cities is having a send off event Aug 2nd. No formal invite yet but iti is on their website.</p>
<p>Best Wishes to the class of 2013!</p>
<p>Gymmom2007</p>
<p>It’s great to see so many other parents posting on here. Our youngest is heading to ND this fall - she is our 3rd child to attend. #1 just graduated, and #2 will be a senior. My kids are 4th generation Domers. </p>
<p>If anyone has any questions, let them fly. </p>
<p>My daughter just found out what dorm she will be in (Welsh Fam), and has gone onto Facebook to send messages to the other girls on her floor. That helps in the beginning because at least you have a name and a face you’ve seen before and you can get to know your roommate a little better. It’s natural to be really nervous starting out, but ND does a good job with Orientation weekend so the kids have time to just hang out and get to know each other.</p>
<p>Most ND clubs have a send-off party. Our local club only has two students going this year but they always make a big deal over the kids and have a nice party for them. Call ND if you’re not sure if there is a club in your area. </p>
<p>By the time Orientation weekend is over, you will be sad about leaving your child (and if you tend to sob loudly at times like this, sit next to ME in the ACC), but you will be so proud that your child is going to ND that it will make the years of tuition payments seem worthwhile.</p>
<h1>3’s mom:</h1>
<p>You obviously have had two children go through the First Year Studies program. Can you give us some of the pro’s and con’s from a parent’s standpoint? Obviously, students who get into Notre Dame are highly intelligent, energetic and driven, but there is that “getting used to all the changes” time period when it might seem overwhelming, class load and all. Do you have any tips for the parents, (best to stay completely out of it?) or do you have anything special that you did to help them get through the rough spots?</p>
<p>As the parent of a Senior this fall, I can tell you that the FYS program can be an excellent resource and tool for academic hurdles that your student may encounter. I seem to recall that our student found the help sessions particularly helpful. Encourage your student to utilize them if applicable to the courses enrolled as well as make some kind of effort to get to know the professors. Most professors are genuinely eager to help in any way. Try to stay in contact with your student as much as possible–even if it is just a very short Hello of a phone call. It will make a difference even if they are as busy as ever–also, fall break will be a welcome relief and a chance for your freshman student to re-charge and finish the semester. It comes at just the right time! Good luck, as the years really do fly by!</p>
<p>chromedome, when our son (who just graduated) went to ND, he was there four days before we got a very discouraged e-mail. He felt already that everyone there was smarter than him (a common feeling for a lot of kids - but not necessarily true!) and he was overwhelmed. We e-mailed his rector who promised to check in on him. It took him a few more weeks before we felt that he was really comfortable, but by the time fall break came along, he seemed to have really settled in at ND. </p>
<p>Our second child (a daughter) seemed to adjust pretty early - one of her first e-mails was the thrill she and a roommate felt when they spotted some football players (I kept the e-mail and she is totally embarrased by the shallowness of it all). Having her brother there really helped.</p>
<p>I think that the First Year of Studies is great in that the students have the chance to try different classes and see what sticks. There is always tutoring available if a freshman is having a hard time - they just need to ask for help. Both of my kids attended a private Catholic high school, took honors and AP classes, and felt they could hold their own at ND.</p>
<p>My daughter’s current So. Cal wardrobe will only get her through early October in South Bend, she’d like to start shopping now for a serious coat and boots but doesn’t know what would be a good place to shop on-line. I want warm, she wants warm AND cute, any suggestions from moms with daughters are very much appreciated!</p>
<p>I am not a parent but I am also from California and can maybe help lead you down the right path. </p>
<p>As far as shopping now for winter goes I would suggest you do a bit of research, but do not purchase anything until your daughter has experienced the light winter days and has a sense of what she wants to combat the cold with. She will then have a better idea of what she wants (polar fleece, big puffy jacket, long coat etc.) You really do not need to break in the “serious” winter clothing until around mid-November when the chill starts to set in. Up until then I survived by layering my light California winter clothing. Layering light clothing also got me through many winter days in Jan, Feb, and March. Shopping online for winter clothing can also be troublesome because you can never really gauge a piece of clothing’s warmth by looks alone. </p>
<p>Also, keep in mind that Notre Dame does a great job plowing the paths and walkways throughout campus. I only used a pair of boots once or twice the entire time I was there and that was during holidays when the plow crews were off. If anything, boots come in handy when it rains and Notre Dame’s drainage problems hit.</p>
<p>I would not totally discount the need for winter clothing until mid-November; if memory serves correctly, it snowed right before fall break of "06 (when our student was a freshman) and while it was not the freezing temps of Jan and Feb, nontheless it did snow. ^^Have to also agree about the boots and walkways–our student has a brand new pair of boots, still in the box that have never been worn (will now be a Sr) and states the same thing about walkways staying cleared. However, the boots might feel nice for warmth in Jan and Feb–just can’t get our student to wear them–tennis shoes have been just fine! Layering is key, for sure…</p>
<p>try REI.com. My daughter (we live in Alaska) will be bringing her down “puffy” coat for the coldest days, a windproof, waterproof polarfleece shell for most other days and a lightweight polar fleece jacket that she wears like most kids wear a sweatshirt. Most of our winter gear we buy on sale at the Rei store here in town. It stands for Recreational Equipment Inc. and has been around for many years. Your daughter will definately find something she likes. I will warn you though, GOOD cold weather gear is expensive! It is however well worth every penny. Also, she will probably want some nice lightweight windbloc fleece gloves to wear walking across campus, and the best way to stay warm is to wear a hat. You lose more body heat out of your head than any other part of your body. Keep it covered and you will be warmer! Good Luck!</p>