<p>My wife and I are very happy to have freshman S home from out-of-state college for the winter break. We're happy not only because he's home, but also because his college has been such a great fit for him. He loves his dorm ("like a family"), is active in student govenment, plays in the baskeball band, plays club tennis, and most importantly, made very good grades the fall semester. He already feels like college is "home" (much to my wife's distress).</p>
<p>Last night, he invited several of his friends over (with whom he graduated from HS last year), and it was interesting to hear how different their college experiences were this first semester. A couple reported that they haven't made many new friends, instead just hanging out with kids they knew from high school; a couple announced their plans to transfer ASAP; a couple reported they weren't involved in anything outside of class; others, like our S, reported that they were loving college.</p>
<p>I was really surprised at how distinctly different the college experience has been, in just the first semester, for kids that I know to have fairly similar viewpoints, personalities, and goals to my S. I wonder how much of that is attributable to my S going to a college where he didn't know a soul, and where no high school (outside of the town in which the college is located) has more than one or two representatives per class, pretty much forcing students to branch out, make new friends, and try new things; there are no high school buddies to hang out with. Maybe, maybe not.</p>
<p>Anyway.. .I'm curious how the first semester expererience was for your freshmen (and freshwomen).</p>
<p>My son wanted a fresh start with no Hs people there. He got his wish and he's had a great semester. Probably also because he picked a great fit!</p>
<p>DD elected to attend college back east-no friends from hs-LOVED her first quarter. She is an only child-so-it was sink or swim situation. She gets along with her room-mate--but mostly spends time with others in her dorm-as roommate typically goes home on the weekends when DD has more free time. She feels school was a good fit, and judging from her stories she has shared, I would agree with her assessment.</p>
<p>D's friends also had quite varied experience, also mostly related to friendships. Interesting, because this group of kids are very tight but came together over many years as they grew up. They are quite different, and if you threw them together as they are now I don't think they would necessarily connect.</p>
<p>D herself had a somewhat rocky couple of weeks to start - big school, far from home, no HS buds, single room. But she found like-minded folks at dorm events and meals, watching Grey's Anatomy (the only reason I can recommend it), on an intramural team, in a sports club, (and probably at a parties - but I'm not hearing much about that) and seems to be having a blast. She had lots of AP credits, took a relatively light load, and did fine - could possibly have done even better but she never did kill herself to get all A's and is apparently not going to start now.</p>
<p>My daughter has a close friend from high school at college with her, and as far as I can tell, it has been an entirely positive experience. It may help, though, that they are in different academic programs, participate in different organized activities outside of class, and live in different dorms. They each have lives of their own, but they also do many things together. I think it's great.</p>
<p>i had a great first semester. looking back, couldn't have really asked for anything better! my only "complaint" is that i didn't do well on my chem final so i ended up with a B+ (my only non-A grade, bringing my gpa down to a 3.8) in the class--but it IS a very difficult one.</p>
<p>i love my sorority, i love doing cancer research (volunteer), get along really well with my roommate (can't say the same for one of my suitemates...), i've made some great connections with professors, have visited home a few times, had a great football season (yeah mizzou!!) and all in all am really enjoying myself. </p>
<p>i definitely missed home though, and am taking full advantage of being here as much as possible. i've only gone out like, 2 or 3 nights (i've been home for a week!) because it's just been fun to chill out with my family and our friends. plus, it's fun to get to know everyone again.</p>
<p>and yes, i agree with the OP that it's interesting to see how different college experiences have been among my friends. some love it, some hate it, and some are kind of neutral. i, for one, am glad that i love it!</p>
<p>Haha yeah, I think I have the same "problem" in that one A- might kill my only chance at a 4.0. Guess thats a problem lots of people would like to have though. Eh, no big deal. I'm home and off for a month. Not talking about school or schoolwork for quite awhile. Now I'm thinking I will go watch a movie on my couch, with my dog, my brother, a few cold beers and some popcorn. Ahhhh home is nice...</p>