<p>Congratulations on your D's decision, myau. I understand how hard it is. My own D decided on Harvard last night over several other good options - including Stanford on the West Coast. It does feel good to have the decision finally made, doesn't it?</p>
<p>Imagine that! Kids agonizing and debating, and in the end choosing Harvard or Princeton over other great options! Who would have believed that?</p>
<p>Why, if this keeps going on, I'll have to start believing that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west!</p>
<p>Yup, that's the word on the Street!</p>
<p>myau -- Congrats to D on her decision!</p>
<p>Congratulations! I know a couple of really nice Northern California kids who will be there with your daughter:).</p>
<p>Doesn't it feel really really good to be done? Celebrate!</p>
<p>congratulations!</p>
<p>Congratulations!</p>
<br>
<p>Why, if this keeps going on, I'll have to start believing that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west!</p>
<br>
<p>:)</p>
<p>Yea, we see the world slightly upside-down from our western point of view. ;)</p>
<p>Thank you all, guys. You really helped me to come in terms with letting my baby go so far away. ;)</p>
<p>JHS--if you need to get that out of your system, have a got a thread for you!</p>
<p>
[quote]
She consciously made a decision NOT to have it easy way.</p>
<p>Now, I'd like somebody to enlighten me about those famous (or infamous? ) differences between two opposite coasts of America. What to expect? </p>
<br>
<p>Sounds like my D's high school.
</p>
<p>First of, congratulations on the choice -- it may be a good sign that she has decided to take what she perceives as the tougher route. She'll be more prepared to deal with the small disappointments that are inevitable at any college -- since no place is perfect. </p>
<p>My d. went to a public arts school, so she did have plenty of time to relax and socialize in high school, since often the school activities and academics were focused on either being a planner, participant, or enjoyer of theatrical productions, concerts, art shows, etc. It was not an academically competitive place, because students were just as likely to be focused on getting into a conservatory program or moving directly to a career post high school as to be striving for a highly competitive college. So I think part of the problem is that she misses the artsy element from her high school -- she was a dancer but fell in love with a jazz musician and his friends. </p>
<p>Anyway, as noted above --that is just one person's experience. You shouldn't draw anything from it other than the fact that it is very possible for a student to thrive academically and be happy with a choice that really wasn't the perfect "fit" for her personality. My d. said she thought about transferring her first year, but realized that any college that had what she wanted academically would have the same problems socially. </p>
<p>Also: she absolutely hates the east coast winters and weather. Not much to do about that.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also: she absolutely hates the east coast winters and weather. Not much to do about that.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I think it kind of worked out well in my household: one going to socal, the land of eternal summer, and the other going to NYC. I told them they can hop back and forth via JetBlue--one to NYC for Broadway plays and pretty falls and springs, the other for respite from the gray and ice of NYC in winter. And no one will have to pay for hotels! :D</p>
<p>I though the main difference between east and west coast is that on the west coast they stop for pedestrians. </p>
<p>What I really enjoyed about my time in California was the architecture and the landscape. The people weren't that different. Though I did love working in a very laid back office where we all had a beer at 5:30 on Fridays and went home to enjoy the weekend. NYC architectural offices aren't like that!</p>
<p>PS Congrats to your daughter. I hope she loves Princeton - I'm sure she'll find A Capella groups there too.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I though the main difference between east and west coast is that on the west coast they stop for pedestrians.
[/quote]
Yeah, that's the part that my son really hated about the east coast. ;)</p>
<p>I think it's good for the California kids to go east--makes them appreciate what they took for granted for so long (amazing, gentle weather). I truly enjoy every single day in northern California and have since I came back from Massachusetts 34 years ago. I would never have been so grateful for our climate if I hadn't had to suffer through a few winters in New England.</p>
<p>Two things.</p>
<ol>
<li>Tiger Lilies (a cappella)</li>
<li>Down coat. Longish. Hat, gloves and scarf that match for morale. </li>
<li>Boots with fleece in them that are waterproof.</li>
</ol>
<p>Should be OK:P).</p>
<br>
<ol> <li>Tiger Lilies (a cappella)</li> </ol>
<br>
<p>She has actually set her heart on "Katzenjammers" and had already been anxious about getting in there ;).</p>
<p>Congrats!!!</p>
<p>(I was told to buy the boots in NE, not in WA (or CA :))</p>
<p>Boot, shmoots. My kids live and went to college in the East, and never owned boots (or down coats,either). You California types need to toughen up a little.:)</p>
<p>EDit: now, I'm going to go outside and look for signs of spring--it's gotta be out there somewhere, right?</p>
<p>Tell your daughter not to lose heart if she is turned down the first time she auditions. My daughter didn't even get called back when she auditioned for dance groups freshman year. Sophomore year she auditioned again, for a group more suited to a ballet dancer, was accepted, and now is happier than a little dancing clam:).</p>
<p>And I stand by my statement. A long down coat:). Why suffer needlessly when modern technology can help? And at Princeton you don't need the stuff for the North Pole. Because I do concede, it ain't upstate New York....OK. Garland you are right. We are big wooses out here...</p>
<p>Women's</a> Reversible Quilted Down Coat from Lands' End</p>
<p>Alumother I totally agree about the down coat. This is, however, based upon
my total comfort while attending frigid Stanford night baseball games in my LLBean down coat this year. Everyone kids me (I think, despite being thin, that I resemble the Pillsbury doughboy in my white down, although I think of myself as wearing a cloud) but I am toasty warm while everyone else complains about being freezing. When sitting in 35-40 temps for 3 hours at night, believe me the cold just seeps in and chills the bones and down coats are the only protection that works.</p>
<p>Garland: the signs of spring we saw in NYC (the banks of daffodils everywhere, and the flowering fruit trees) in mid-April made Barnard/Columbia completely irresistible to both D and me! Don't tell me they are gone and winter has returned???</p>