<p>Let’s see…what do I remember about first year…my D was pretty straight edge and judgmental when she left, but go over it pretty quickly. Didn’t start drinking until junior year, and not much. </p>
<p>East campus seemed to work out nicely, but there were not a LOT of non drinkers, so she sometimes had to go west to find more non drinkers or hang out alone. There were some non drinking activities early on, and she met her future roommate there. She ended up rooming with her for almost two years. </p>
<p>Lack of AC and not having a TV does force the kids to hang out in common rooms. A good thing. D did not have a TV until junior or senior year in Central.
Something about buses. Important to know something about the buses, but I don’t remember what. </p>
<p>Something to do with when they stop running and how crowded they can be at certain times. </p>
<p>My D did a FOCUS about gene mapping or something. Overall it was a good experience, and she stayed close to one of the instructors. </p>
<p>If you are on the west coast, know that traveling in the winter can cause some problems with cancelled and delayed flights, especially at certain airports. </p>
<p>Also, family day was great, but again, if you are from the west coast, it’s awfully close to Thanksgiving break, which is sort of close to Christmas. D did not come home for Thanksgiving, but we sometimes met her somewhere in the south with extended family. </p>
<p>It will be over before you know it. Except for the calls for donations. Fortunately we did not have to take out loans, or that would be pretty irritating.</p>
<p>The blue book which you will be receiving soon contains ALL the answers to your questions - meal plans, focus groups, housing, and pre orientation trips as well as check lists and deadlines for the students and their paperwork. And yes, the pre-orientation trips are extra $.</p>
<p>My S did not do a focus group but since his roommate (who he met at BDD) did do Focus, my S is in a dorm where a majority of the kids are in his roommate’s focus group. Turns out my S clicked with those kids more than his roommate did! Personally my S is glad that he didn’t do Focus and was able to sign up for 2 more classes. One of those 2, a subject he had never taken before, is going to be his second major. And now since he is looking to double major, he really couldn’t afford to tie up 2 classes in Focus. Every kid is different.</p>
<p>Though my S was accepted ED, since we are international we have not been able to attend any of the BDD. I would appreciate any tips/feedback regarding everything in general… What kind of winter clothing would be needed… how rainy is it?.. umbrella?.. etc etc…</p>
<p>Snow is not unusual, but it is not East coast or mid west cold. Cold by California standards. The thing my D had to get used to was it rains EVEN IN THE SUMMER! Not that there is a LOT of rain, but it is not just in the winter. In fact, they have a bit of a hurricane season.</p>
<p>my3gr8boyz - been out of town for a few days and just got to this thread. Sorry I haven’t gotten back to you. Catching up with “real” world stuff today. I’ll PM you later.</p>
<p>@ dadoftwoboys -I would appreciate if you would post what you know about meal plans here
Someone has started a thread about meal plans - it looks complicated… :(</p>
<p>As someone who has never been to Duke before - will they have similar orientation for parents during move in like they did for BDD? I certainly hope so!</p>
<p>We guys should have a CC parents lunch/dinner together at move in ! :)</p>
<p>We went to BDDs this past weekend and my S fell in love with the school and has committed to Duke! We are very excited for him as the school looks to be all that we would want for him and more. My question is: we saw a number of bicycles outside upper class dorms on West Campus. Do many kids bring bikes and do they ride from East to West instead of taking the bus? Any safety issues?</p>
<p>Hey all - the link to the meal plans is [Plans</a> and Points | Duke Student Affairs](<a href=“Duke Student Affairs”>Duke Student Affairs). Click “read more” under plan profiles.</p>
<p>S’13 was told that Plan H was part of his scholar package, so that’s what we’ll work with. It looks like enough to me and adding flex dollars seems pretty easy. Don’t know what other scholar programs provide Kelowna, but I imagine the same or better. </p>
<p>As for Focus Program, S’13 liked the idea (small classes, getting to know profs, social aspect of the program, etc.) and went ahead and completed the 4 essays for his top four choices. He got an email back a couple of weeks ago letting him know he got into his first choice cluster, but that class assignments won’t be made until May/June (taking into account their preferences). I’m not sure what we do once it is time to sign up for housing since he’ll be assigned to whichever dorm his Focus cluster is in. I guess he’ll have to ask if it isn’t clear. I sure don’t think of it a “must” do as much as a “want” to do kind of thing. Just another option to consider. Everything you need t know is at [Duke</a> University | Focus Program: Home](<a href=“http://focus.duke.edu/]Duke”>http://focus.duke.edu/)</p>
<p>mygr8 - S’13 mentioned the other day that he doesn’t want to be overloaded freshman year and that it may be tennis that takes the hit. That said, he seems interested and may just have to feel out how tight his schedule seems. I’m hoping he gives it a try as it will keep him in shape and provide an outlet to academics - not to mention another way to make friends. I know your S is very interested. Is he worried about having it eat up too much time? I don’t know how they can possibly have any sense of that until they give it a shot.</p>
<p>Weather - I’m not from Carolina and didn’t go to Duke, but I know that weather is one of the nicest parts of being there. Definitely gets all four seasons - long spring and fall, some winter, but not like anything up north. Summer is hot and humid, but most of the kids won’t be there for the worst of it (will they??). Hadn’t even thought about rain as an issue (particularly summer rains), but I don’t think there is a “dry” or “rainy” season, is there? maybe my vision of “hot”, “humid” and “rainy” are skewed by too many years in FL. Somebody with more first hand experience should pipe up if I am off base on the weather thing.</p>
<p>Thanks dadoftwoboys! Looks like you already have more info about the scholarship than we do. I guess I will just wait until May 1 and then the news/info will start coming in
As to the Focus program, DS said it looks interesting but then he is not sure how beneficial it will be to him. There are other freshman seminars, I believe? Plus they have to take this freshman writing course? He is investigating, at least I hope so before making some kind of a commitment.</p>
<p>I am really waiting for dorm assignments, hoping that someone on fb will let him know how big the room really is, then we can decide what he will be taking . He is thinking about taking EVERYTHING ;)</p>
<p>Someone mentioned microwave and a small fridge as possible purchases for the dorm. I think mine will need a toaster - he goes through a ton of bread/bagels daily !</p>
<p>Kelowna - not sure if a toaster is “legal”. It may be, but I remember hot pots and things with heating elements were not allowed in college dorms in general. I know for a fact they cannot have candles, and can be written up if one is found!</p>
<p>Kelowna - is your hope that someone on facebook can let you know how big the actual room he gets assigned is? The room sizes, even within dorms, varies GREATLY! Here is a cute video they suggested during BDD to watch about move-in. How far is your trip? Does he have to fly? I’m sure there will be lots of similar stuff for parents at orientation that there was at BDD.</p>
<p>YES!! We all need to meet up at orientation!!!</p>
<p>I think I already asked, but are any of your kids interested in the pre-orientation programs? </p>
<p>DadO2 - Huh… the person I spoke with on the phone did not give the impression that we could be assured of acceptance into a cluster until later… still thinking he won’t do it since the electives he gets are minimal… Tennis is a definite for him, although there is the making the team thing. He has improved, though, and is pretty confident. He is also very interested in Mock Trial, which also involves try outs (he’s a bit overconfident on that one!), so maybe he’ll be more free than he plans! “talk” to ya soon!</p>
<p>Garetville - Congrats on the decision and welcome!! A parent at BDD asked about bikes and kids definitely do bring them and use them. When our family was there for our first visit back in September, my hubby and I walked from East to West! There is a sidewalk the whole way. I really don’t think there would be any safety concerns, like if you are worried about Durham? I wonder if our sons ran into each other!! Some of the kids on FB prearranged meeting at BDD… we parents could have done that, too! (at least for those of us who went. Looks like a lot of kids went on their own!)</p>
<p>@my3gr8boyz - yes, I do have a feeling that toaster will be a no no
Do they have kitchens in the dorms?
And what about laundry - does every dorm have one? </p>
<p>As for the room size, yes, I am hoping that someone on fb will be able to answer more specific questions about the room size etc. once the assignments are in. I have heard that older dorms have larger rooms, though no AC. DS impression after visiting the dorms was that every room had several fans in them :)</p>
<p>Pre-orientation programs: I am not looking into them as DS has one that he has to attend as part of the scholarship he received.
Here is what I have found, I believe this is a current info:</p>
<p>We are also thinking about shipping a bike along, not sure how much use he will get out of it though. How long did it take you to walk from East to West Campus?</p>
<p>I have read somewhere that there is a special app. that shows you where the bus is right now and when it will arrive at your nearest stop, but I have also heard (Shrinkrap !) that they are extremely crowded during peak times (I don’t think I mind that though, one finally has to learn how to ride a subway in London or Tokyo )</p>
<p>I have read somewhere, that there is a shuttle system between the airport and campus during fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring breaks but nothing on move in and move out days.
Can someone local tell me how do you get from the airport to Duke?</p>
<p>Kelowna - I swear that info was not on the pre-orientation page when I looked it up a few days ago! Maybe I was just in the wrong place… I had remembered May 6th and am glad to have that confirmed. Thanks!</p>
<p>As for the rooms, the dorm itself doesn’t really matter, at least the older ones. Within the dorm, rooms can be a variety of sizes. The one my son visited (his host’s room) was tiny, but the next room over was decent sized. Not only are they different sizes, but differing shapes as well! Every dorm has laundry and kitchens. Students can get AC in the old dorms with a doctor’s note (like for asthma or maybe allergies), and then there is a fee.</p>
<p>And it was a loonngg walk! (It’s about a 1 1/2 miles I think)</p>
before making some kind of a commitment.</p>