<p>amdmom-- I was wondering the same thing. If you go online for the Duke Stores, there is a little more information about products than there is in the catalog. I figure for the convenience, we will just give it a try. I don’t expect great things, but I doubt that my son will be able to tell the difference.</p>
<p>DukeDoc99-- thanks for joining the conversation! It sounds like you will have my son in one of your classes next year! I have two sons who are graduating this year, so I have had the opportunity to compare a lot of different universities throughout the application and admissions process. I have to tell you that Duke is one of the best schools at communicating not only with the students but also with the parents. In addition to print media, whoever handles Duke’s social media does a great job! That is a great feeling when you are sending your kid all the way across the country for school! We are looking forward to a great four years at Duke! So as far as what my expectations are for having a freshman at Duke, I expect him to be more excited than nervous, more liberated than scared and more powerful than Zeus. What a scary thought for a 16 year old! They are ready to conquer the world and I know that Duke will help them get there!</p>
<p>GreekMana - that’s great to hear (all of it; good stuff about Duke, having a cross-country student coming in, Jovian abilities)! I think the social media channels have done a great job too – my Facebook newsfeed gets just the right number of great stories from a couple different Duke groups, and there are Twitter accounts for all kinds of general and specific news tidbits.</p>
<p>Has your son/daughter already chosen the roommate yet?</p>
<p>In regards to mobile service, I would highly recommend AT&T or Verizon. My D had another carrier and by sophomore year we had to switch. Due to the solid construction of the buildings on West, she had to go outside or hang out of her dorm room window to get a signal. We went with Verizon and they offer a Duke discount.</p>
<p>Can anyone give me more specifics about Families Weekend? I know that it is October 25-27. I have to buy plane tickets, so I am wondering if I should plan to arrive on Thurs. Oct. 24? What time do the festivities end on the 27th? Better to fly out that evening or wait until the next morning? TIA.</p>
<p>GreekMana - the registration form from last year is available at <a href=“http://evm.auxserv.duke.edu/iebms/docs/FWRegistrationForm.pdf[/url]”>http://evm.auxserv.duke.edu/iebms/docs/FWRegistrationForm.pdf</a> and gives an example of when events might be. If the schedule resembles last year, most planned events do not start until a bit later on Friday and then are <em>mostly</em> done by Sunday afternoon (there was one music concert late Sunday last year). </p>
<p>The most economical (saving two room-nights) would be to come in early Friday and head out late Sunday if those are options - and you shouldn’t miss any of the programming that way. Coming in earlier or leaving later would give you the opportunity for another meal and evening with your student (though, keep in mind, Thursday and Sunday are school nights (heh heh heh))</p>
<p>Recently got a link for parents access which I haven’t followed through on yet. My husband commented that our d. gave us access to everything but her grades. I’m a bit uncomfortable with this. She says if we want to know her grades we can ask her. We know that most all Duke students are high achieving and have stellar academic records. We have never had to prod her in any scholastic pursuit or performance ever except when it came time to write those college essays. How do you feel about this? How can I make my case for access.?</p>
<p>I think you have to know and trust your kids. My S has given me access to the Bursar and that is it. He shares his grades with me after each paper and test he has and we discuss his grades all the time. Lol, he did SO well last semester that I asked if I could just SEE the grades to enjoy his success with him. He flashed them to me to glance at for one second. My opinion is, this is now their lives and we need to step back and let them take over.</p>
<p>@zoeisadora - This is my 3rd child that I am sending off to college and I just want to let you know that no other school even gives you the option of seeing your child’s grades. The assumption is that the student is an adult and responsible for his/her choices and will show the parents their grades at their discretion. I never saw a “score report” for either of my other 2 children but they freely told me their grades when asked. That’s an arrangement you need to make with your child.</p>
<p>@zoeisadora
As stated by other parents, that is something you will need to work out with your child. If you’re contributing financially, make it known that you except to see the return on your investment. (I may be confusing schools…) but I think if the student’s grades fall to a certain level the parents are contacted. </p>
<p>Duke’s graduation rate is very high. And, I think most students transfer out, if they’re struggling academically and/or socially, as oppose to flunking out.</p>
<p>Another conversation parents may want to have with their child is about them allowing you to have a medical authorization release in case they have to be treated for something serious.</p>
<p>Here’s the official academic calendar for Fall 2013.
[Academic</a> Calendar 2013-2014 | Office of the University Registrar](<a href=“http://registrar.duke.edu/academic-calendar-2013-2014]Academic”>http://registrar.duke.edu/academic-calendar-2013-2014)
I’ve heard it’s a good idea to go ahead and buy tickets home for Thanksgiving if that’s an issue for you. They sell out fast and get more expensive as time goes by.</p>
<p>Was anyone else’s child upset about the little “housing mix-up”? My S was checking the website every hour or so for updates so he could find out his room/roommate only to get the message about “Patience is a virtue”. He was not a happy camper!</p>
<p>Upset - not so much. Annoyed - maybe a little.</p>
<p>So housing info is not up yet? My son is on the other end of garetville’s and could care less… he expects his roommate will be a guy and they will say, "Hey, I"m ______ " and things will be fine and peachy. Who knows? He could be right! Do they find out their rooms now, too? For some reason, I thought that came a little later… please correct me if I’m wrong. Our Big Blue Book is now in his hands and I have to relinquish a little control. Any e-mail he gets should come to us, too, though, so at least I have an idea of things the school deems necessary to e-mail him about, like the health insurance thing…</p>
<p>OK. As for the Blue Book, I just found it online. I’m sure you all knew that already! 
Does “Bookbagging” really matter, or is it just a way to organize and they give you a while to organize before registration, or is there a benefit to bookbagging early?</p>
<p>Bookbagging - I’m not sure what the real value is, but I know S’13 spent part of today looking at courses and “bookbagging”. He did, apparently, find out what his 2 Focus courses will be - well 2 courses and a 0.5 credit Focus seminar.</p>
<p>I know that the kids can’t always know in advance when they can leave for home. What do you guys usually do about making air arrangements. For example, over the Winter break, do you usually get a ticket for the Friday when the break begins (like in the evening) or do you wait until the Saturday so they will have some time to pack since they will have had finals in the immediate days before.</p>
<p>Also when do kids usually come back to school after a break? As late as possible on that day before? Earlier in the day so they can get ready for school to start?</p>
<p>Any thoughts would be much appreciated!!!</p>
<p>I don’t know if bookbagging is important or not, but it forced my DS to look at the courses 
He knows his two Focus courses plus a seminar, knows he has to take writing this fall which only leaves room for one other course. Physics does not fit the schedule at all so he is looking into one of the initial courses in Economy…</p>
<p>About the flights - I am sure the kids will find more as the year progresses, for now I am buying the ticket for the day they have the last meal on campus. I have heard that Duke offers transportation to and from airport during breaks, would be nice to know what days exactly …
Just asked DS about roommate assignment and he thinks it comes out tomorrow ?</p>
<p>Kelowna - how does he know he has writing seminar first semester?</p>