<li><p>Get a physical - COOT sign up is in early July and they require you to submit results of a physical (at most 6 months old). The earlier you sign up for COOT, the higher your chances are of getting your first choice.</p></li>
<li><p>For your parents - For those who need to, reserve hotels for move-in day, and getting hotels in Waterville on this day isn’t too hard, but I wouldn’t delay. Reserving hotel rooms on Family Weekend (September 25 to 27) is tough - we stayed in Augusta last year and already have reservations in Augusta again this year. The rates in Waterville for this weekend is ridiculous.</p></li>
<li><p>There’s a big sort-of yard sale (in the athletic center) on Frosh move-in day and there’s a lot of cheap stuff but be there early. Long line.</p></li>
<li><p>Buy used textbooks on your move-in day. More choices rather than waiting right before classes start. Also, textbooks bought from the bookstore can be resold to the bookstore; they won’t take used books bought elsewhere. Used books are priced reasonably.</p></li>
<li><p>Right before your parents leave on move-in day (around 4 pm), you will be asked to join your COOT group, so you’ll start being with a group immediately - have dinner with them, activities, etc. As a parent, I was concerned my shy S would feel lost. I worried for nothing. </p></li>
<li><p>For those wanting a chem-free dorm, make sure you sign up. No stigma whatsoever in Colby and chem-free comprises 25% or more of the population (I think).</p></li>
</ol>
<p>…and now we have some questions (our D is out of the country right now, so we parents are trying to figure stuff out) –</p>
<ul>
<li><p>For Family Weekend, are there events happening on the Friday, or would it make sense for us to stay w/relatives in Camden Friday night and arrive Saturday morning?</p></li>
<li><p>Can incoming first-years request a roommate? (not sure if D wants to, but she does have a friend from another state who is also coming)</p></li>
<li><p>again on the dorms–do frosh have any say in which dorm? What’s your son’s feeling about dorm “feel”? I think D wants chem-free, especially since that seems mainstream at Colby (nice change from most other schools!)</p></li>
<li><p>They sign up for all of their classes over the summer, right? So they’ll have a syllabus and know which of these used textbooks they need?</p></li>
<li><p>And, lastly, what’s your take on the Integrated Studies program? (D is planning on Bio/Env. studies major, specifically headed toward grad school and marine science.) Is the I.S. program actually good, or just something Colby likes to pump?</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Thanks so much! I hope you’re ready to be the “go-to” person for all of us!</p>
<p>Here are my responses, cadence, and I hope other Colby parents pipe in:</p>
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<p>If you’re interested in sitting in classes, then be there Friday. We did that last year and it was great. Not very many parents show up on Friday, though. A lot more show up on Saturday.</p>
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<p>I don’t know the answer to this one since my S didn’t know a soul before getting there. I could be wrong, but I don’t think this is an option in Colby.</p>
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<p>The only say frosh have is whether they want chem-free or quiet living. Colby assigns everything else. Dorm “feel” - based on my S’ experience, the dorms are very, very close-knit. Like family. Suggest to your D to keep her door open when she’s in the room so other kids can stop by and say hello. Lots of activities are planned within the dorms. </p>
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<p>They will know exactly which classes they are taking but no syllabus or list of textbooks. Some profs assign readings over the summer so they will know the textbook/s - happened to my S, but I think this was an exception more than the rule. But on move-in day, just bring the list of classes and the books are arranged accordingly on the shelves (lower level of bookstore). There are a number of people in the bookstore who will be happy to help you out. Because move-in is on September 1 for the frosh, and classes start on the 7th, you may have time to purchase them elsewhere by copying the ISBN from the books. My S bought used books from the bookstore - prices were reasonable.</p>
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<p>Sorry, I’m pretty clueless on Integrated Studies. I’ll zap an email to my S and see if he knows how kids perceive this.</p>
<p>And please ask away. A Colby parent was so helpful to me last year, she was a blessing. I’m more than happy to return the favor.</p>
<p>Mountains, Thanks for your help! You are a great resource!</p>
<p>Since we will be flying from California for move-in day, we won’t be able to make it back for Parents weekend three weeks later. What will we be missing? Maybe we can make it next year.</p>
<p>Family weekend would allow you to see your D/S in their new environment, a little bit more settled than move-in day, I guess. Last year’s family weekend was in mid-October, so I’m actually a little surprised at the dates this year. Also, we moved in S in late August last year.</p>
<p>It was nice to attend classes, meet some of their friends, attend lots of talks, eat in the cafeteria, attend church services, etc. in a much more relaxed pace than move-in day.</p>
<p>Colby should have a family weekend schedule posted sometime in the summer.</p>
<p>Mountains, you continue to be such a help! You know we’re going to bug the heck out of you before too long!
I was wondering–where did you attend church services? On campus or in town?</p>
<p>The beautiful Lorimer Chapel is located right on campus. While we didn’t hang around on Sunday to attend the Catholic mass, there definitely was a mass scheduled. I can’t recall now if there were also services for other faiths on that particular Sunday. Every Sunday, there is a Catholic mass at 4:30 pm. </p>
<p>Ask away. I’m more than happy to help out in whatever way I can.</p>
<p>For those of you interested on the dining halls’ daily menu, here’s the link. Colby’s food is excellent and my kid definitely eats better than we do!</p>
<p>Foss tends to serve more “gourmet” food than the other dining halls. Also, the kids are allowed a certain number of guest passes on their meal plan. I think it’s 6 for the semester but I’m not sure; do avail of this during family weekend.</p>
<p>Kind of an odd question:
What is the styling inside the library? Is it darker woods, lighter woods? carved woods, anything unique or historic. Is it “cozy” are there study nooks or is it huge and open?</p>
<p>Thanks so much! She’s out of the country right now, so we’re doing a little investigating for her, but she’ll have to be the one to talk to the profs. That was one of the things that impressed us on admitted students day–the faculty was noticeably warmer and more open than at some of the other schools. Thanks again!</p>
<p>Treworgy is part of the frat row dorms (although there are no longer any fraternities in Colby) and here’s a quote from website I cannot post the name on CC:</p>
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<p>I think Pierce was recently renovated.</p>
<p>Here’s a link on Colby’s website where they have a general description and some pics of the dorm buildings:</p>
<p>Mountains, would you say that chem-free dorms are more likely to include students that are dry or students that merely don’t want to have excessive drinking in their dorm? I ask because I am considering chem-free living, but am not completely averse to drinking, so long as it is responsible.</p>
<p>S is home and this is his response - I’m paraphrasing:</p>
<p>There’s a mix in the chem-free dorms but those who drink are definitely not into excessive drinking. There is absolutely no drinking allowed in the chem-free dorms (and rooms), but kids who have had something to drink outside the dorm can still return to the dorm. No one is shut out because they’ve had a drink.</p>
<p>Chem-free dorms tend to be quieter and cleaner over the weekends.</p>
