@marg928 So funny - your Jersey girl headed here and my CA girl headed to Connecticut. That’s a good idea about booking Thanksgiving ticket now. I should look at that too. Might as well go ahead and book Christmas ticket as well! At least for that break she gets a nice long visit home.
Make sure you know about rehearsal schedules before you book, though. we ended up paying twice for one trip home freshman year because we didn’t know he had to be back a week and a half before classes.
Also, make sure your child checks when they will be able to leave for Thanksgiving Break. Often families will want to book flights before the last day of class before the break (particularly for schools that have classes through Wednesday), but some schools and teachers are strict about not missing the last day before Thanksgiving.
Arranging travel home and back from college can be exasperating: in my d’s experience, class and rehearsal schedules are routinely fluid. We have ended up making changes several times to d’s plane flights home due to last-minute rehearsal and even performance schedule alterations, theatre department end-of-semester activities, as well as class test schedule changes (as profs decide the final is optional, or cancel the final, or hold the final early). College theatre departments seem to be pretty notorious for a somewhat casual approach to organization and notification. It has worked both ways, sometimes d has had to stay longer than anticipated or return earlier than anticipated, and sometimes she has ended up with a day or two with no reason to be on campus, waiting for her scheduled flight home.
We were surprised to discover that shows scheduled to go up early in the spring semester begin rehearsals over Winter Break, and sometimes rehearsals are scheduled during Spring Break - the last weekend of all breaks is very likely to include rehearsals.
Also, be aware that “Family Weekend” in the fall can be a real madhouse for hotels in small-to-midsize college towns, book early.
And rightfully so! says this college professor who’s quite strict on that front.
@dfbdfb 
I too a a college professor… right there with you! Particularly because we have an entire week off for Thanksgiving! <3
@EmsDad & @Jkellynh17 are spot on… rehearsals can start at the end of the winter break for the first spring semester shows, later spring semester shows may rehearse over all or some of spring break, auditions for fall semester shows can be before the start of the semester, fall semester shows that are cast at the end of the previous semester may start rehearsals before the start of the semester, etc… etc…it can make scheduling in and out of breaks problematic I am sure!
We’ve got tickets booked as well. So crazy!! I’m going out of my mind right now, the kid is working in a remote area this summer with no cell service and very spotty internet, so communication is sparse.
I just lucked out and found the most amazing Air BnB connection with the nicest hosts. They have put two boys through college and understand the stress of moving kids in. They have plenty of storage space and have offered to help us by letting us ship anything we need to them so it will all be there when we arrive. Such a relief! We may just ship all of her clothes instead of lugging extra suitcases.
We received a schedule at program orientation last year (SUNY Purchase) listing dates the Acting students would be dismissed (we booked Thanksgiving tickets as soon as we got the schedule). I understand they provide the schedule early each year (by class) so rehearsal/show expectations are is clear to the students and the parents. I didn’t want to pay twice (sorry @Jkellynh17!).
Anyone attending Columbia Chicago for Musical Theatre?
This thread is very quiet but I’m hopeful some of you will chime in again as we all get ready to move our kids in to their respective programs.
@broadwayboy223 My D is in the BFA Musical Theatre Performance program (class of 2020) at Columbia College Chicago and very happy. Happy to answer any questions we can.
@sopranomtmom Moments of every emotion possible. My S is away doing a summerstock this summer and he will be home a whole 12 hours before we head off to take him to school. I think that makes me sadder than anything.
@Ouiser Wow, that’s even more difficult. At least I’ve had my D around this summer and we are trying to spend some good quality time. She got her roommate and dorm assignment today, which really made things seem real. I’m trying not to be anxious, especially around her, but I must admit the reality is slowly creeping up on me.
My daughter and I had a good cry on the sofa last night after realizing it’s only 3.5 weeks until we take her to college. She said “where did the last 18 years go?”
Awwww…
Getting very nervous here. Don’t know how it will be without her around. Let alone the worry of what she is experiencing her first few weeks there! I am not sure either one of us are prepared!!
Well I will say we are having fun shopping for dorm stuff - a small fortune being spent but just want to make sure she can make it as warm and welcoming as possible to help ease the transition. The really hard thing is trying to shop for the weather change for a CA girl going to the East Coast. Any suggestions? What kind of boots will she need?
@sopranomtmom I suggest doing what we did for my D who moved from Oakland, CA, to Chicago, IL: give her a budget to buy the late fall and winter gear when she gets there. She will probably find that the stores stock a different selection than they do out here, and she will probably need to live through a year of seasons to truly figure it out.