<p>I've had little contact with UB (son is not yet a freshman) but it's not been good. I hope this is not a refection on the entire university.</p>
<p>Called the contact name for Honors College. Left him voicemail on his own phone. He never called back. </p>
<p>Ordered my son a t-shirt on line. It's taken a week and when checking the status on line, it is not yet shipped. The bookstore has been open for 40 hours now and still, they have yet to put the shirt in an envelope. I called 2 numbers. No person answers. I can leave a voicemail but why bother. </p>
<p>My experience at my older sons college has always been first rate. I hope this is not a reflection of things to come at UB. With budget cuts next year, they'll be able to blame everything on that. </p>
<p>Now to call the engineering dept with a question. If that goes poorly we may have to rethink attending.</p>
<p>Any are fine. Not everyone has a computer and you can use a computer lab on campus.
If your computer does not run a program use the computer lab on campus.</p>
<p>Upon much further questioning what it really comes down to is this:
Programs on campus do not run on Vista so make sure to download Windows XP.
If you have a MAC then be sure to get Windows so you can run the programs. </p>
<p>I’d rather this was all known before purchasing a computer and getting to campus and having to deal with it.</p>
<p>Our contact with UB has been infinitely better on campus (in person) than by email or voicemail. We’ve dealt with several offices, plus the pharmacy school faculty/advisors. Voicemail and emails often take a week or more. Generally, if you can get to a live person they do usually know the answer or can quickly get you to someone who does and our experience has been positive in that respect. Have talked with at least a dozen current students and they all seem happy with the attention they get as well. I have noticed that D gets plenty of response/attention (asst dean called her cell phone the other day during class to discuss a question D had), me not so much, and that’s how it should be, IMO. I try not to call (she sometimes wears me down though, as she gets nervous and forgets to ask everything).</p>
<p>UB Micro is the on campus computer store. It’s like a mini Best Buy with all sorts of electronics and the staff there are very friendly and knowledgeable. They sell good (business class) computers - pc’s and macs - and I thought their prices were good as well. They also do onsite service, offer upgraded warranties for a reasonable cost, and you’re guaranteed a 100% UB compatible system. We decided to just buy D’s laptop through them when she goes for orientation. Just a thought…here’s a link to their site:
[UBMicro</a> IT Support Services](<a href=“http://www.ubmicro.buffalo.edu/1/]UBMicro”>http://www.ubmicro.buffalo.edu/1/)</p>
<p>Actually, it’s been about a month since I left voice mail for Honors.</p>
<p>I have an older son (sophomore elsewhere) and I have no reason to call the school. He takes care of everything. I think questions come up before deciding on a school and then as a parent, making sure everything is done before drop off time!! Kids seem to love UB, so hopefully things run smoothly up there.</p>
<p>Thanks for the computer links. I’ll pass it on to my son. My mother buys all the grandkids laptops for graduation. She has her IT man do all the shopping for her and he/she do not skimp on a thing. Older sons is a 17 inch Dell, top of the line. My soon to be UB son is a computerphile, so I’m sure she’ll tell the IT man to make sure it has everything he’ll ever need. My son can let her know about the system requirements for UB. (Kids are lucky. Grandma buys the laptop, case, extra battery, and a scanner /printer. IT man loads all the programs.)</p>
<p>Thought I read on CC that the freshmen speak to advisors by phone and register for classes while at home. Is there any reason to attend Orientation over the summer. Not looking forward to an 8 hour ride each way. Could fly if it is worth it to attend. </p>
<p>Link to dorm rooms. Wow, closets are tiny! Guess the kids need to pack light. (Older sons freshman dorm had 5 foot closets.)
Microwaves/refrig allowed?
No shelves/etc for books above desks?</p>
<p>I’m sure I’ll have more questions for you. Thanks.</p>
<p>crazed – my D has handled all of her interactions w/UB, and while some have been a bit slow, ultimately nothing has impeded her from getting what she needed. But she has learned the value of persistence in the process! </p>
<p>You might want to research the pros and cons of having grandma buy the computer stuff through UB, even though you’ve done it differently in the past. I believe that the UB IT dept offers and provides special connections and customizations (I’m sure I’ve got the lingo wrong) for the UB network that might make the set up easier and more seamless. Plus there’s some kind of tech support for the systems that they have set up. Just a thought…</p>
<p>I think I was the one who mentioned my D’s telephone conversations with her honors advisor over the summer. We still went to summer orientation and found it helpful, though I’m sure it’s not necessary. My D found several kids she continued to text and email over the rest of the summer, and reconnected with them when she arrived on campus in August. H and I found the orientation for parents (run separately and parallel to the kids’ activities) very well done. We also spent a little time exploring Buffalo and Amherst to check out the shopping resources, etc nearby and a sense of the area in general. (But our drive was less than five hours one way, and it was my H’s first visit to the campus) YMMV</p>
<p>Fridges are allowed; no microwaves in the room (there are communal kitchens on each dorm floor)</p>
<p>Can the kids have hot pots to heat water (like we used in school) and my son sneaked into sleep-away camp? I’m sure he’ll want to use it for hot cereal, easy mac, soup and hot chocolate, etc. </p>
<p>Too bad about the microwave though. I know lots of schools allow the micro/fridge combo.</p>
<p>o-mom, I was planning to take D to orientation because she doesn’t care to drive 3 hours on the Thruway by herself. How much time did the parent’s thing take, and was it worth doing? I’m actually hoping to have a little time over those 2 days to relax, sightsee, visit friends in Rochester, etc. and was planning to take my son with me.</p>
<p>The parents orientation is a full day, but certainly optional. Lots of parents (especially those living locally) dropped their kids off and did other things. Some did part of the day only. Others (like us) did the full day. Many families doing the orientation had younger kids with them.</p>
<p>Here’s my hazy memory of the schedule:</p>
<p>The orientation begins in the morning with checking the kids in at the Ellicott Complex, getting their overnight room assignment and dropping their overnight gear off. Then a large assembly for parents and students. Welcome from the President and senior academic and adminstrative staff, history of the school, UB pride, university initiatives, etc. Then the kids leave for their activities (broken up into smaller groups). Parent stay put and have a couple of sessions devoted to things like moving in FAQs, leaving home, academic issues, housing, student services, etc. There are tours of the campus. Meanwhile the kids are having their own sessions on similar topics (but geared to the students’ perspective). Parents have lunch together, kids have a separate lunch. In the afternoon there are choices of smaller group sessions that parents and students can choose, on topics like campus security, dorming, academic areas, technology, library services, etc. The kids have the opportunity to meet with their advisor at some point during the day, and also representatives of the department they’re entering (if that’s set). There’s a family picnic dinner for family and students at the end of the day. Then the parents leave. The kids have activities during the evening. Next day pick them up in the morning and check them out after breakfast.</p>
<p>We had the time, and H hadn’t seen the campus, so we were glad to go through the whole drill. Ours was the first orientation group of the summer, and I was impressed by how smoothly everything went. UB made an effort to be informative and make a big school feel smaller and more accessible. I think in some cases the orientation groups are clustered around major or special interest; our group included mostly Honors College pharmacy kids.</p>
<p>We drove to Buffalo the day before orientation started (which was a Sunday) and spent that day exploring the area.</p>
<p>About hot pots- each lounge in the res halls has a tap near the sink that only produces hot water. In conjunction with a microwave (for the purpose of thorough cooking) easy mac, ramen, etc. are all easy to make. Don’t waste space with a hot pot. It’s more of a pain than anything else.</p>