<p>Hi, I am so excited that my son will be attending Duke this fall. Any other parents what to talk about life at Duke? My son will be attending duke blue devil days so he will get a look at the dorms. I know that each one is different so we can't really buy stuff till we know which dorm. Does anyone know if they can bring a separate fridge and microwave or if it has to be a rented combo from Duke? Also, do you think a "luv sac" couch would be too big? We are not letting him bring a car first ssemester, but I know that he will be pushing to take it second semester. I just didn't want him to deal with a car right away. All thoughts would be welcome!!! CJ</p>
<p>Just me again. Aren't there any current or future Duke parents out there?!</p>
<p>I think there are- but many students are still deciding- you might check the Duke thread</p>
<p>Thanks! At least someone answered! CJ</p>
<p>Have fun at Blue Devil Days. (I didn't go, but I did get a Duke Mom coffee cup from S's (and Dad's) visit last year. )</p>
<p>I agree with E'Kity that a better way to get a feel for student life is to get it from the students directly rather than the Parents. We (parents) have to all convince ourselves that the school that our child attends is a great school, particularly if we are paying the bill. :)
The Duke thread has some interesting discussions by actual students.</p>
<p>You can purchase separate refrigerators and microwaves. My son's roommate had already moved in when he arrived, and had purchased both. He shared them, so we were lucky.</p>
<p>The rooms in the AC dorms are VERY small. My S has referrred to it as the "cell". They lofted the beds and somehow were able to fit in a futon. I don't know what a "luv sac" is, but maybe the futon has become one. I hope not. (S just reported that he met a girlfriend........)</p>
<p>We discouraged any consideration of a car. S agrees that it is not needed. Some of the more local kids do have them, and they can take the bus to Chapel Hill. I think there is a mall that they can walk to, and Ninth street has food, drug stores, etc.</p>
<p>Our s has definitely decided on Duke, and we're excited! He will be bringing a little refrigerator, but we aren't sure what else. When our d went to college she waited until she knew who her roommates would be before deciding what to get for the room. S will do the same--it is a fun way to get to know the new roommate/s and they all bring different things, which divides up the cost a bit. Also going to Blue Devil Days--one of the days focused on Pratt!! He is so happy to get into his dream school!</p>
<p>I didn't know that certain blue devil days were Pratt days. My son thought that that they were open to all but that maybe one had a Pratt emphasis. I guess we should not go on that day if he is going to Trinity. CJ</p>
<p>The accepted students are free to go to any of the Blue Devil Days, but on the 18th and 22nd there are some special programs that focus on Pratt, so we're going to the one on the 18th. We have visited the campus, but haven't seen the inside of any dorms, so we are looking forward to getting to know even more about Duke.</p>
<p>Candace and Irishforever - Congratulations on your sons' acceptances to Duke....I hope they'll be as happy there as our son is. From everything I've observed, it is truly a place where students flourish and it seems to me it would be hard for one NOT to find a niche there.</p>
<p>Like 1sokkermom, our son is in one of the newer ac dorms and lofted his bed to make room for a futon (I'll give more input on the loft another time.) We also bought a small microwave and frig once we got there. Our son didn't care about a TV, so the roomate brought his, as well as a telephone. It was an icebreaker for them to talk via the internet before they met about who had what etc.</p>
<p>It's late, so I won't write anymore now, but mostly just wanted to say "welcome to the unofficial College Confidential Duke Parents club".</p>
<p>Thanks, dak! It's nice to know more about Duke from parents who have inside knowledge! and...that someone stays up as late as I usually do!! We feel very lucky to be a part of this "club"! Does each roommate have to have his own telephone, and does it have to be one of the "old" corded phones (that is what our d has to have where she is at college because too many cordless phones cause interference, or something). These are all the little things we'll find out over the coming months, I'm sure!</p>
<p>Our son's roomate got them a cordless phone for the room, with separate message boxes for each of them, but he reports that they NEVER use it since they both have cell phones. He says next year he doesn't want to pay for the phone hook-up because he thinks it's been a waste. I liked the idea of a room phone "just in case" the cell phone didn't work sometime (a worry wart mother here!) but truthfully, I've never called it.</p>
<p>Guess what I get to do today? Work on the FAFSA and CSS Profile - YUCK (especially when we don't really get much out of it anyway!).</p>
<p>Thanks, dak! We will have to find out who the roommate is, what the cost of the hookup is, etc. I'm with you on having a room phone, and I have called our d on her room phone, but they don't have a hook-up charge. </p>
<p>Sorry about the paperwork you have to do--we were finishing up the taxes today! It's always something fun for parents!</p>
<p>Hi Duke Moms, I wish that I was going to Blue Devil Days, but my husband will be going with my son. I need to stay home with my daughter. I hope to meet you guys on move in day. I will not miss that! My son will probably only use a cell phone. I hope that there will be good reception in the dorms. My son will probably be rooming with a friend next year. He is a best friend who lives across the street! It is the first time that two students will be atttending Duke from our high school. And they live on the same street, pretty amazing. He is happy to be rooming with a friend. I know that he will still be open to meeting lots of new friends. At least, they will know what items each one will be bringing. And they have known each other for 10 years, so no bad surprises when they live together. CJ</p>
<p>Any thoughts about rooming with a friend? Good or bad? Also cell phone service in dorms? Thanks</p>
<p>I see that there is a thread about move in day. I was wondering about stores near Duke. Is there a Target, or a Bed, Bath and Beyond? I was thinking about buying stuff when we get there, but I guess it is better to try and bring it with us. My husband and son would not like a crowded store experience. CJ</p>
<p>We will probably bring most things with us, rather that buying there on move-in day. Having done another school with our d we have a good idea as to what the needs will be, just waiting to hear more about the rooms (or check them out at Blue Devil Days to see what kids have, what the general set-up is) and who he will room with. There are several kids going from his school, but he thinks he will see what happens with getting a roommate through the regular process. I think he's ready to meet new people. I will check out the proximity of Wal-Mart/Target, etc. while we are there for BDD, as there are always last minute needs, and if the car is too full of the regular stuff for moving in, we may head to one of those to stock up on things like water, shampoo, detergent, etc. so he doesn't have to buy it at a campus store! I'll report back about what we find!</p>
<p>Irishforever- Please post about your BDD experience. I am afraid that I will not find out much from my son and husband. My husband is actually visiting business contacts while my son hangs out with an incoming freshman that he met online. So I don't know how much I will hear. Also, I know that they will not be checking out the local stores. I have not made a hotel reservation yet. Does anyone have a recommendation? Thanks CJ</p>
<p>I know what you mean about not getting store information from your husband and/or son--it's a guy thing (not to offend any of the Dads out there who are more observant!) Why do you think I'm going also?? to check out all the details they will not be noticing! </p>
<p>As for hotels, several were mentioned in the BDD flyer as offering a special rate for BDD--Millenium Hotel and Marriott to name a couple. Marriott has a big presence in the area--Marriott Hotels, Courtyard, Fairfied Inn, Springhill Suites and Residence Inn are all owned by Marriott and are on their website (no, I don't work for Marriott!) There are others--Holiday Inn Express--nearby, too. Checking the hotel chains' websites is an easy way to compare prices! You can also start comparing prices and making reservations for Move-in and for Parents' Weekend. We learned from having our d at another school to make those reservations early!</p>
<p>We've fallen in love with the Brookwood Inn - it's right across from the Duke Medical Center, so proximity to campus is wonderful. We initially picked it off the internet because it was the cheapest place we could find close to campus. What a great find (I almost hate to share the info for fear it will become so popular that it's never available, or they raise their prices!). They have a very accomodating, friendly staff, and a small onsite restaurant. I think they really cater to families of patients that are being treated at the Duke Med. Center.</p>
<p>As far as stores...we chose to shop after we got there since we were traveling all the way across the country (we shipped just what we had to). I will say, that it was somewhat of a hassle in an otherwise busy schedule. Of course, we didn't know where we were going, and got lost numerous times which didn't help. lol We finally picked up a sheet from the Bryan Center information desk that gave very clear directions to all the popular spots (ie: malls, Target, Wallmart etc.) Unless your family is different, it wasn't the favored activity of my husband and three college age sons. :-) I guess I would say that for a few things, like microwave, frig, and futon, it was necessary, and because of the distance we had to come, it really wasn't practical to haul everything. Remember that there will ALWAYS be things you didn't think of, too, after you start moving in the room (sticky stuff for posters, containers, cables for computers, FOOD etc.) so a shopping trip is probably inevitable.</p>
<p>Oh, and I forgot to mention - cell phone service for our son is very good in the dorm and all over campus. We have Verizon. I think there are other carriers that don't have adequate coverage. We'd be lost without our "family share plan" having three kids in college! I find that the boys call much more often than they would if they just had a room phone. I'm "used" to pass the time while they walk across campus many times - I love it!!!!!</p>