<p>I thought it might be helpful to get some initial impressions of how things are going even though classes are just starting. How are students finding their classes? How are students doing adjusting to their dorm life? How are parents doing with their children away now at school? Any frantic calls? Just silence? Are you planning on visiting in the near future? Any comments or suggestions regarding anything?</p>
<p>Daughter is adjusting to the new schedule that has large gaps in between classes and weekend labs (ugh!) She is also working as a lab assistant this semester along with a part-time job in the evenings. It’s more than I would want to juggle but she thrives on the busy schedule.</p>
<p>My wife and I are heading to Newark on Sunday morning for breakfast and to drop off her papasan chair - it wouldn’t fit in the vehicle on the initial move-in trip. Maybe a little shopping afterwards before she kicks us out and gets back to her life at UD.</p>
<p>Freshman year was a bit of an adjustment for us but this year seems to be much more relaxed. Having her live on-campus over the summer probably helped us to get used to the empty bedroom.</p>
<p>Hopefully some new freshman parents will join in the discussion.</p>
<p>It was really encouraging to me to see the level of school spirit at the football game last night. There were 19,000 in the stands against a team from Florida. The student section (cockpit) was jammed with a number of students covered with Blue/Gold body paint. Granted it was the first game of the season but I have not seen this level of student support at a football game for at least several years. Perhaps this is a good omen for things to come throughout the semester. UD did win the game by the way and will hopefully continue to do well the rest of the season. Hopefully this school spirit and enthusiasm will carry over into the classroom. Have a great semester everyone.</p>
<p>I’m the parent of a Freshman. Each day seems to get a little better, as he adjusts to college life. It’s the first time he is away from home, so that is a major adjustment, as well as sharing a room. In addition, the first days of classes were scary because the faculty discusses the entire semester (mid-terms, finals, papers etc) on the first day. Different from high school. Unfortunately, he missed the football game because he had a lab. He was very disappointed but I’m sure he wasn’t the only one. Any other Freshman parents to report?</p>
<p>My senior daughter had an epic meltdown yesterday and changed her ENTIRE schedule.</p>
<p>THankfully, she was there, I was not, and we both lived.</p>
<p>I remember one thing our D commented on after she had been at UD for about a week was that she never really appreciated the quality of the meals she had gotten at home until she had to eat at the dining hall daily for about a week. In all fairness the food is really not that bad at the dining halls but it really is difficult to keep cooked food fresh (taste and temperature wise) when you are feeding the masses. One thing she did like was the ability to make her own waffles (one of her favorite foods) in the morning for breakfast. One other thing that she did like was that she could contact the dining hall the day before and make arrangements for them to put together a box lunch for her and she would pick it up in the morning after breakfast and take it with her for lunch (saved a little time from having to walk to a dining hall) which she often ate in the library (where she spent a lot of her time as a Nursing major). Luckily she was able to avoid the “Freshman 15” weight gain (she also spent a good deal of time at the gym-which also provided some rec time to balance out her studying). Needless to say by the end of the first year she had had enough of dining hall food.</p>
<p>What a difference a year makes. S was a freshman last year in Russell and now is on the Green in Sharp Hall. Certainly more central to his classes. This year I’ve noticed that communications are less frequent and way less detailed - guess that goes with his being more comfortable with surroundings. Basically, it’s “no news means good news”. That’s his directive to us. Truthfully though he, like many others, is busy already. He’s in his second year with the marching band and I’m sure he had a great time at last night’s game. Go Blue Hens!!</p>