Dorm Rules?

Prep School Admissions Prep School Parents
1

Anyone elses kiddo having a hard time adjusting to all the rules?

2

When my daughter was a freshman, the first few weeks were a huge adjustment. She’d been away from home for extended periods, but just keeping track of the schedule and the rules were a challenge at first. There were a lot of expectations. At one point she said she felt she was always doing something wrong and always late or not in the right place at the right time… The first few weeks are hard! But this too shall pass, @dreamcatcher!. By the time Parents weekend rolls around, they are generally happy and totally in the groove in their new surroundings.

3

One good thing about “dorm rules” is that everyone is subject to the same ones… unlike at home where every parents seems to have different ones from each other. In time, the rule structure seems normal - most kids adjust remarkably well.

4

The first few weeks can be tough - there is so much going on and everything is new. One good thing about something like dorm rules is that everybody’s going to be adjusting to at least a few new rules and ways of doing things that aren’t the same as at home. So, in that sense, everyone is in the same boat. It takes a bit of time, but the way of life becomes second nature. Older students are also great sources of help and advice for stuff like this if there’s anything that a new student is too shy to ask a member of staff.

5

My DS isn’t complaining to me anymore - in fact he isn’t calling home at all unless he needs something - but his advisor keeps me up to date.

All the kids are struggling now. Advice I got was to stay out of it, and if pushed by DS turn the discussion to how he can fix it (rather than me fixing it for him, which I’m inclined to do often).

I think that’s the reason parents weekend is 6 weeks after arrival. They will be confident and in the swing by then, as opposed to the timid deer in the headlights they are at first.

6

I’ve complained to my mom and older brother. Mostly about my roommate being loud in the morning and the lack of natural peanut butter in the dining hall. :wink:

7

Natural as in all-natural, minimally processed, fresh ground peanut butter with no added ingredients? Or natural as in from a classier container than a giant dun-colored beach-toy pail with the words “Peanut Butter” on it.

8

@GnarWhail Natural as in only made of peanuts and salt. None of these hydrogenated oils or added sugars. X_X

9

“All the rules”?

What rules?

10

Here are the rules:

  1. Use common sense.
  2. Read the handbook.
  3. Don't do anything dumb (like violate any of the rules in the handbook).
  4. Graduate.
11

Also:

  1. Remember why you chose to go away to school. Living in the dorm is part and parcel of that experience. Embrace it. And know that, at least in boarding school, all the kids live with the same rules. They might be stricter but at least that is fair.
12
  1. Call home once in a while.
13

I told DS,
Remember why you are here.

  • Think before act
  • Stay safe (physically, emotionally, mentally)
  • Stay out of trouble (Know your (real) friends)

If for whatever reasons,

  • stuff happens,
  • sometimes you are in wrong place wrong time,
  • could be blamed/accused for not what you did or whatever
    You can always come home.
    Life is unfair but
    It’s not the end of world.
14

Parietal rules are annoying…

15

Just to be clear. My DD wasn’t complaining about the rules. She was having a hard time adjusting to all the new rules and kept forgetting things like check-in times, etc. She got the hang of it and now a breeze.

16
  1. Call home once in a while.

… For money.

17

^^ got that call day 4.