<p>So here we are with our Freshman about to finish their first year of school. Since many of us shared the process of watching our children go through preparation, applications, rejection, acceptance and decisions, I'm curious....</p>
<p>Did they pick the right school? </p>
<p>Are they happy?</p>
<p>What was the toughest part for you? </p>
<p>Toughest part for me= Getting my chemistry/eng loving son to write a essay that didn't read like a manual and actually share something about himself. I used more profanity in the month of December last year (trying to challenge him to dig deeper) than I have in any other 5 years combined in my life. My son and I laugh about that now (not then).</p>
<p>Yes, he picked the right school. He’s happier than I would ever have imagined possible.</p>
<p>The toughest part was letting him go. I was pretty mopey for about a month. I thought I’d never get used to it.</p>
<p>And now I’m actually apprehensive about having him home this summer. If you would have told me in August that I’d be anything other than deliriously happy to have him home, I wouldn’t have believed you. It’s just that he’s so darned nocturnal now! He always had the night owl tendency, which I also have. Senior year I’d have the best conversations with him at 12:30 am. Spring break and Christmas break of senior year, those conversations happened closer to 1:30. I’m not that much of a night owl!</p>
<p>Yes, he did, and is VERY happy there. I wanted him to wait out a waiting list for a far away adventurous place, but he chose a college closer by, and he seems to be having the experience college students should have. Having a little too much fun I think, but his grades are fine and he seems finally to be taking advantage of all that college offers–those concerts, multiple sports activities, enrichment stuff. I cried most of the day that we sent in the deposit money (because I just did not feel right about the decision) and I had as another institution fell by the wayside, but I have learned to bond with his college reasonably well, and continue to remind myself that it is HIS college experience, not mine.</p>
<p>My biggest concern is that while he’s happy, he is so serious, I don’t think he leaves himself enough time to have fun. He took 18 hrs Q1, 21hrs Q2 and Q3, that along some other stuff and working in a lab seems like too much. He goes to school 30 minutes from our home and we <em>might</em> see him once a month.</p>
<p>My D went to her 1st choice school and IMO was a wise decision! Initially, I was concerned because she didn’t turn 18 until well into her Freshman year. But I am proud to say she was actually listening when I talked to her over the years and kept a level head. She has done very well academically, made some great friends, and enthusiastically completed the schedule for her fall classes!!!</p>
<p>DTDad, my S is like yours! He has taken 19, 19 and 20 qtr hrs this first year. He doesn’t like to party, goes to bed early, gets up early – and is deliriously happy! He studies, runs, works out, has plenty of friends, and his first choice school is everything he thought it would be and more. He has really liked all of his professors, and feels academically challenged but not overwhelmed. He has a compatible roommate lined up for next year. All is well.</p>
<p>I used to be concerned that he was too serious, but he has shown me that he is living exactly the life that he wants. Now I can sit back and relax because I know he won’t get into any crazy trouble. My only concern now is his choice of a major – I hope he will be able to get a job when he graduates. The schools always tell parents to let their kid go with their passion. However, the school isn’t around after graduation when the kid doesn’t get a job!</p>
<p>S2 made the right choice. Fall semester was an academic debacle but an “everything else” success. He’s doing better academically this semester (it really helps to go to class regularly). He really likes it there…so much that he is not coming home for the summer but will attend summer school and work (hopefully).</p>
<p>great topic—Son is very happy with his choice…definitely thru the transition and early adjustments and college is now home. doing great academically, making strong friendships, exploring new paths and interests. wonderful to see…good reminder for me as my daughter prepares to leave for her freshman year.</p>
<p>Yes, she is really happy but I’d probably be saying the same thing if she had gone to her number 2 and 3 schools. The student body profiles aren’t that different and she wants a common enough major.</p>
<p>Yes she did, she is very happy with her school. She feels challenged and hang around with the right kind of people for her. The toughest part is to get her through all the Comm Application in Dec while she was doing all her ECs. For me it felt like I was hugging a cactus.</p>
<p>Definitely picked the right school. It is if possible a perfect fit, he has made lots of friends, is enjoying courses and doing well. Has already etched out a graduate school scenario he is working towards and has learned to handle things pretty much on his own. Now and then an email for MHO!
He is so happy there he is trying to recruit younger brother! and can’t understand why it might not be THE place for his brother as well!
Toughest: leaving after drop off and the first time he became truly ill…but he handled it well and has learned about health insurance, co payments etc!</p>
<p>The jury’s still out on my D’s school. She has had a tough time adjusting to being on her own-- she’s a real homebody and chose a school halfway across the country. I know she has learned a lot about self reliance and being open to new experiences and has made some good close friends. She has learned more about who she is, for example, she is NOT really a “partyer”, and seems to have come to terms with it. (It’s hard when you feel like you’re the only one not “pre-gaming” on Thurs. night.)</p>
<p>On the academic front, she hasn’t been very impressed with her profs so far which is a real disappointment to us. Her school is SUPPOSED to have wonderful, accessible professors. The advisor who was originally assigned to her seemed to take his responsibilities rather lightly. I’m hoping that she’ll meet more engaged teachers once she’s past the intro level classes. (One of her teachers announced on the first day of spring semester that he was looking for a new job! She was not impressed, needless to say.) </p>
<p>The hardest thing for me, other than missing her, is to try and not advise her too much. I’m trying to just be a sympathetic ear, but it’s hard to keep my mouth shut when I’m full of such good practical advice!</p>
<p>Son didn’t get in to his first choice school, but his second choice seems to be fine. It’s not perfect, but he really seems happy. I believe kids can adapt to make the best of their situation.</p>
<p>My wife cried the first time our son came to our “home” and when it was time to leave he said… </p>
<p>Dad can you take me “home”, meaning campus. She didn’t cry right at the time but an hour later when I got back I could see she had been crying. I asked her what was wrong she said, “he asked you to take him home”. It was then it hit us, he might not ever live under our roof again, really. He may come visit in the summers or on holidays, but he was gone, she made me cry too.</p>
<p>oh DTDad–I know that is tough, honestly I try not to look at it as never…maybe just my own avoidance of it. but I see the summer and holiday visits as a time to reconnect and continue to develop that adult to adult relationship. I’m enjoying the intelligent and open conversations we are having and how respectful it is on both sides. that balances it out a little for me…</p>
My only concern now is his choice of a major – I hope he will be able to get a job when he graduates. The schools always tell parents to let their kid go with their passion. However, the school isn’t around after graduation when the kid doesn’t get a job!</p>