<p>Hi everyone,
Happy Pesach and Happy Easter! </p>
<p>Just checking in–
DS is deciding between Elon, and U Miami, which he will be visiting for the 1st time this week, a very quick trip. (It is SO hard getting decent/affordable flights there from Boston! especially during our spring break time.) He was going to take another look at UVM this weekend, but we had a family medical emergency and things felt too stressful, and I guess he has never been consistently interested in it. Drexel I guess is out–he had gotten into the videogame design program (he applied to a different major at almost every school!) and now he’s realizing that’s probably not a viable career choice if you haven’t been programming since you were 2 years old.</p>
<p>I have a feeling it’s going to be Elon… the first school we checked out, and the only one he seemed to fall in love with… but we’ll see what happens with U Miami.</p>
<p>mnm111, can I ask how your daughter decided on Elon vs. U Miami?</p>
<p>I want thank this forum for so many good tips. I am one of the many, many goy who lurk on this thread looking for great ideas and have been rewarded with many. You’ve helped lots of people so keep up the good work!</p>
<p>naggymom, I think my daughter made the Elon decision when she was offered a position as an honors fellow. Miami did offer her some merit aid, but the Elon package was even better.</p>
<p>My daughter was tough to read through this whole process. She is very indecisive. When she flew home from Elon after her second visit and told us she wanted to go there, I was just relieved she had made a decision.</p>
<p>This may not help you, but we know two of her good friends at UM who both love it. My daughter has met some nice people and loves Elon. As a parent, I can’t say enough about the great Hillel. Sadly, the director just announced that she is leaving, but I am confident they will find a great replacement.</p>
<p>Your son really can’t go wrong with either school. Good luck.</p>
<p>Yes, many thanks to RVM and to all of the incredibly responsive parents who continue to give feedback even after their kids have finished with this process.</p>
<p>mnm111, that is helpful–my son has been also hard to read throughout all of this. Thank you!</p>
<p>Hi, all, I have been off the site for a while trying to enjoy the holiday & give everyone a break from my neurotic approach to the college search process. Hope you have all been well. Good luck to those making final decisions this week. I remember the angst with my first son and I still have buyers remorse though he is very happy with his choice.</p>
<p>My second son has decided that he wants to study computer programming at college. He has a 3.4 GPA and 30 ACT score. We will need merit aid from a private or OOS college. Any suggestions? He has good leadership & extra curriculars; has held 2 jobs during school year (basketball referee for park district & Sunday school assistant teacher) and is an all-round good kid. He would like a school with good sports teams to root for & doesn’t want to go smaller than 8,000 - 10,000 undergrads. Help, please! Thank you!</p>
<p>I don’t think this thread will die out, I just think for those of us with seniors who have made a decision we are not quite as obsessed at the moment. My younger son will be a junior next year so I will inevitably be back in the obsessed game, but with a bit more experience this time around. FYI…We received several emails from Jewish parents of Elon students offering to share any info that might help us decide? I appreciate them reaching out, it seems they are certainly trying to attract more Jewish students (great for those of you with kids who have chosen this great school). I am personally working on coming to terms with letting my oldest go in August, and appreciating every moment with him while he is still under my roof. It’s bittersweet for me, but I am slowly turning the corner and becoming more excited for him then sad for me (the way it’s supposed to be). So many exciting moments around the corner for all of our kids!</p>
<p>@LINYMOM Narrowed it down to 3 schools for my S and it looks like UMiami is at the top. Would like to look around on the facebook link. Can you send it to me?</p>
<p>It has been awhile since I have been on this page. My S is still deciding between 3 schools. Frost school of Music at University of Miami, UMass Amherst and Tufts. He loved Tufts but not the music department and it is the most expensive (with the package we got) of the three, he seemed to connect with the Hillel people at there. UMiami seems to have everything he wants but wouldn’t be able to get home that often - Only been on Campus once and that was for an audition so he never got to see campus. Umass is the least expensive and drivable - Going there again tomorrow and Friday to check everything out including Hillel.
Any thoughts are welcome</p>
<p>Tootired, I also have a junior son interested in CS. I feel like I just got my daughter off to college and now need to start all over again.</p>
<p>Mine is also a B+ student but got a 35 on his ACT with little effort. Only time will tell where he winds up. We would prefer the southeast but willing to look in the northeast at the right program.</p>
<p>RVM, I agree with Collegefor3, PennyLane & MomentsCaught…your “baby” is not dying or fading, merely taking a break till the next go 'round.
I’ve been an avid follower, but non-poster, ever since my DD began attending college last Fall. My fondness for this warm community thread, which helped me through stressful times, brings me back time and time again.
With an up-and-coming hs sophomore DS, I’m sure I’ll become an active poster once more. </p>
<p>Glad to see the enthusiasm! And I do think it is important to step away from the college merry-go-round periodically and de-stress.</p>
<p>I’m still planning to post a collection of Birthright tips - just need to find time to compile. I would say that so far, I am impressed with how organized the process has been. We are attending a parent meeting at the local JCC next week, and I will combine my notes from that presentation with everything else and post.</p>
<p>@cluelessbass, I have heard that the Hillel at UMass is very active. I know a number of kids there with different levels of observance who are involved, and I’ve only heard wonderful things about it. Good luck!</p>
<p>We have discussed quite a bit as this school is a great fit for “B” students and has a significant Jewish population. This article is from today’s Washington Post and details conflicts between SC’s conservative government and the more liberal climate at CoC. I’m not taking a position here, just sharing the info. Hopefully the link works.</p>
<p>I haven’t clicked on this thread in a while and was happy to “see” some familiar faces! I can’t imagine this thread will ever die - it provides great information for so many parents, Jewish and non-Jewish and it feels like a community.</p>
<p>RVM - how are the boys?? Hope they are doing great!</p>
<p>Boysx3 - you moved to DC?? We are now neighbors! Hope your boys are great too. We, along with RVM, had “bonded” over our older kids job search process - hope your son (I think he was your youngest) is still enjoying his job. </p>
<p>Hope everyone else is well too. Best of luck to all the parents in the search process! </p>
<p>@mnm111, those were my oldest son’s stats: 3.6 GPA, 35 ACT, NMF - computer engineering (not as interested in programming though he likes it). He is Freshman at University of Illinois in ECE & likes it. He was offered full ride at Miami Ohio, very nice package from Case Western, admission to U TX- Austin (no $$) and wait listed at CMU. Those were the only schools where he applied. In the end, he went with our state flagship since it was highest ranked. I sometimes think a smaller school would have been better for him but after a rough start 1st semester he seems to have settled in nicely.</p>
<p>2nd son would consider U of IL but does not want engineering & right now engineering is only CS major so we must look further afield for him. He just took ACT (IL mandatory test) yesterday & we hope he got a few more points. Also hoping that GPA will improve a little after this semester but will probably still fall short of 3.5</p>
<p>DS still wavering… between U Miami, which he says he is “leaning” towards, and Elon–where he so liked the vibe, (as well as all the Bojangles)… says he will decide by tonight.</p>