general parent questions

Colleges and Universities A-Z Tulane University
1

<p>Just some questions that have come up in the last few days. How necessary is it to have a car for moving in. What hotels besides the Hampton have free parking?
What bank do your kids use? Cell phone company? What mealplan did your kids end up getting? Do the freshman mainly end up eating in the dining hall? How much did your kids budget a month for extra spending. I know it will vary based on your kid but D is trying to figure how much she needs to make this summer.<br>
D takes some prescription medication on a regular basis- is there a problem filling out of state prescriptions? Do they use a local pharmacy or can they do that through the student health center?
Grandparents want to buy a laptop for her for graduation any suggestions?</p>

<p>Husband doesn't see the need to go back a month later for parents weekend. How heavily attended is the event. Will we regret not going and will D feel left out that her parents arent in attendance.
Thanks in advance</p>

2

<p>Just wanted to say thanks, mom60, for all the great questions. They're the same ones I have so am looking forward to the great parents out there in the know responding!</p>

3

<p>wow, lots of questions:</p>

<p>Car for move-in = good, especially to run to B,B &B and market for the things you forgot.</p>

<p>Hotels w/o parking fee = don't know, but most at the airport are that way.</p>

<p>Bank= the one on capus with a brach office, i forgot is name.</p>

<p>Cell= same plan he was on at home, AT&T, now Cingular; it is always a "local' call for familiy, and his plan is "free" after 7:00pm</p>

<p>Meal plan= My son had the caret blance & $400, cut back to + $100 in Spring; he loves Bruffs and ate most meals there.</p>

<p>Extra $ = about $200 a month</p>

<p>Rx= I filled and sent from home, there is a rite-aid very close to campus</p>

<p>Laptop= we bought through Tulane, the Toshiba. great computer, great deal, came with a full 4 year warranty and lots of extras. Look up computer concierge</p>

<p>Parents' Weekend= Wife and I went, and it was awesome. Son was so happy to show us "his" town and his friends, went to a hooka bar, a comedy club, the tailgate party, some classes, etc. Also made my wife so happy to see him so settled in and happy in his new life.</p>

<p>CD</p>

4

<p>I noted down the ATM's on campus when there for Eng. Schol Days-Whitney, Hibernia,Bank1</p>

<p>Laptop - see current thread on Parent Forum</p>

<p>Cellphone - Our Cingular (was AT&T) had great reception while there</p>

<p>ConcernedDad - assuming that $200/mo spending $ was ABOVE the +$400 greenbucks on the dining card?</p>

5

<p>Whitney is the bank with a branch on campus. There is a pharmacy on the corner of Broadway and St Charles. You kid will know where Broadway is within an hour of hitting campus.</p>

<p>I would definitely bring a car for move-in unless you want to carry your stuff the length of the backup plus up perhaps as many as six flights of stairs in August in NOLA.</p>

<p>For a laptop make sure you get a wireless card in it. They have wireless connectivity around campus in the classrooms and library etc. You'll need a cable in the dorm - get a long one too like 15' because the connections are not necessarily well placed. As my carpenter father-in-law says "If you cut a board and it is too long you can always cut it again. But if you cut it and it is too short no matter how many times you cut it it will still be too short."</p>

<p>Also at the health clinic on campus they will not take your health insurance prescription card. However the price they charge is pretty reasonable.</p>

<p>Also remember to bring proof of insurance unless you want to be forking over another couple grand to Tulane. It is yours or theirs. </p>

<p>We didn't go to parents weekend but was a little sad we didn't. Kind of an expensive trip that time of year. Soph year we sent him down by himself but drove down a few weeks later - just after the hurricane.</p>

<p>One other bit of advice. If you get kid a laptop have them bring it home at Christmas, Thanksgiving, or whever the campus dorms are officially closed.</p>

<p>Your kid is about to embark on one heck of an experience. A year from now you are going to say to yourself thank God they didn't get into .... pick any of those schools they did not get in.</p>

6

<p>Thanks I knew this was the place to ask. She already has AT&T cell phone. I guess we will need to change her to a nationwide plan. Do most kids who already have a cell phone keep their existing number.<br>
Thought we wouldn't get away without a car. Husband drives alot for work so hates driving if he doesn't have to.
So wireless is on campus but not in the dorms. I assume most students also bring a printer. Concerneddad- did he pick up the laptop once he arrived at Tulane or do you order it and have it sent to your home?
Years back when I was in college most students went to the health center for minor ailments and if you needed anything more in depth I used my private insurance off campus. The health center was not extra just part of what was included in our fees. I assumed Tulane was similar. It sounds like at Tulane you pay extra if you are using the student health center. So if you already have private insurance you would go off campus to see a Dr.
Concerneddad- what sort of things did your son use the extra money on each month?<br>
Thanks everyone</p>

7

<p>No the health center is included but if you cannot show that you have major medical they won't let you enroll. If you don't have major medical then you have to take a plan out through the school.</p>

<p>The student health center is just for routine stuff. Strep throat, flu, that kind of thing. If they get a prescription through the student health center the health center will not take your private insurance prescription card but what they charge will be very reasonable. They don't want to deal with the paper work. It can be charged to the students university account.</p>

<p>You probably don't really want to know what they spend their money on - just imagine it is books :-)</p>

<p>Seriously though one thing is laundry - soap, machine, dryers. Another is snacks and incidentals. Then there is the Boot .... Lets just say entertainment.</p>

8

<p>mom60: My son used his 'extra" money for: bar hopping, comedy clubs, eating out with friends, concerts that were off campus, and local transportation. One thing I would always insisist on that is your D have enough $$ on her at all times to take a cab back to campus.</p>

<p>We ordered tha laptop and had it sent to the house before he left for N.O. he had lots of stuff he wanted to laod on the computer from the home desktop computer.</p>

9

<p>patuxent: The Boot = entertainment is an understatment. My son got to briefly dance with Lindsay Lohan at The Boot this year. For him, that is a life-long memory!!</p>

10

<p>Mom60, my son worked an internship this summer before his freshman year, so he paid for books and spending money.</p>

<p>We drove in from Texas, so we used my husband's truck that we lovingly call the bandmobile since it has hauled more tubas, drums and ice chests than anything else.</p>

<p>Luckily, my son did not need the clinic last year. I was pleasantly surprised that he was able to remain healthy. Many pharmacies, such as Walgreens - and I suspect Rite Aid - allow you to renew prescriptions by phone or online and pick them up at any store nationwide.</p>

<p>My son banks with Hibernia, which is a NO based bank. There's a branch a couple of blocks from our house, which makes it convenient for me to move money from his credit union account to his checking account for him. As patuxent mentioned, there's also a Whitney branch on campus. The closest Hibernia branch, I believe, is on Claiborne. </p>

<p>Parent's weekend. Wow, that's a tough one. My husband and I went, but frankly, we could have done a different weekend and had just as good of a time. The game was fun, but we could have done just about anything with him and enjoyed it. The point for us was seeing him in his school environment after he got settled in. We felt it would have made better sense for us to go on a weekend when the hotels weren't full with a convention and Tulane homecoming participants. We will probably in the future pick a weekend when rooms are more plentiful and rates a little lower. (Not to mention our daughter is in marching band and we would like to go on the weekend they don't have a game.) Also, it was was only about a month after the Ivan break. I wouldn't discourage anyone who wants to go Parents Weekend and attend homecoming from doing it, though. As to whether or not your daughter will feel left out - my son wouldn't have. It's a little different atmosphere at Tulane than on game days and events at big state universities.</p>

11

<p>Car for Moving In: Very helpful. In our case, we waited until arrival to purchase most dorm items rather than shipping. Rented a car and went to the local malls in Metarie. On move-in day, everyone drove right up to the dorms, emptied out their cars, and student volunteers helped to carry the things upstairs. </p>

<p>Bank: Whitney</p>

<p>Cellphone: Cingular. Service was fine but be aware that any required servicing/plan change can only be done at the purchase city. Phone was purchased during orientation and it broke just before school got out. S was busy with exams and so waited until he got home thinking there would be no problem in getting a new phone under the warranty. Spent half of the summer trying to get help including visiting the main retail outlet in our area and calling national headquarters. Big hassle.</p>

<p>Meal Plan: Carte Blanche plus $250, then I think reduced to plus $100. </p>

<p>Extra Money: About $200</p>

<p>Laptop: Toshiba Satellite. S is a CompSci major and did much research before buying it online. Make sure to purchase a security kit for your laptop and secure it when you leave your room. If you take it out anywhere, do not leave it unattended. Sounds like common sense, but some kids need to be reminded.</p>

<p>Parents Weekend: We have not attended because we felt it was too soon after school started. Instead, we went during our school vacation in April so S2 could join us and we could all see him in a campus play. Although he was busy with classes and the play, we still got together for a lunch on campus and a Lunch at Commander's Palace (best deal in town!). We even got to meet a few of his friends. It was a better visit, I think, than if we had gone Parent's weekend. </p>

<p>Happy planning!</p>

12

<p>Blizzard- I didn't know that about the cell plans only being able to handle problems through the purchase city. I did call AT&T now Cingular and they did say that D would have to get a new phone in order to not be roaming in NO. Since her current plan is a western states plan bought through AT and T she can't just upgrade her phone to nationwide since her plan is no longer sold. She would have to switch to a Cingular plan which would mean getting a new phone and having to start the 2 yr contract anew. It is crazy how they say they are one company yet to it she wants to switch she has to pay a fee and start a new contract and since we are on a family plan we would all have to switch our phones to Cingular phones. I will have to look into whether she will get a new phone at home with our area code or one in Tulane.
I thought $200 a month was crazy but a friend just told me they their son has a budget of $600. a month in DC.
Another question- when the student travels alone is their a shuttle to campus from the airport?
Thanks</p>

13

<p>Shuttle: Yes, there is one. It's around $27-28for one, but not double that for two or more. Something like $37 for two, etc. You don't need to reserve ahead in my experience. I was hoping that when kids return to NOLA after Tgiving, Xmas etc. that they pair up at apt to save $$.</p>

<p>Cell plans: Even before AT&T joined Cingular, this craziness of having to buy a new phone when you change to certain better/different plan was going on. As a realtor, I was an early cell phone user and have bought new phones numerous times, not because I wanted one but because of this kind of requirement. Don't know if there is a current co. that doesn't operate this way. We are already on a family plan, nationwide. But I am wondering - do kids need a NOLA phone #/area code because lots of other kids don't have nationwide and they want to call each other free? Or do they keep home area code? (I think Cingular advertises free calls to all on Cingular network, so if most at Tulane are on that,maybe that's a factor). Details, details :)</p>

14

<p>There is free phone service to students for local calls. All they need is a standard land phone. It's included with their rooms along with high speed internet and cable. My son has nationwide phone service and says most of his friends do. He does not feel a need to have a NO number.</p>

15

<p>I agree with along~, we kept our original plan (It was a AT&T Nationwide plan) and he gets great service, and it seems like all his friends have "free" calling as well.</p>

<p>We did get him a cheap desk phone and answering machine for the dorm room -- but we NEVER called it, even once.</p>

16

<p>Just some questions that have come up in the last few days.
How necessary is it to have a car for moving in.
Pivitol unless you want to ship everything down beforehand and get it from a super crowded mail room. My parents rented a car for move in weekend. It's worth it.</p>

<p>What hotels besides the Hampton have free parking?
Don't know, my folks stayed at the Drury Inn and Suites on Poydras, a really nice hotel with free DSL hookups. Parking is $13 for your stay, however.</p>

<p>What bank do your kids use?
Whitney for spending money, Bank America for back home.</p>

<p>Cell phone company?
Verizon family share, free verizon to verizon and free nights and weekends, 1000 minutes. No fee for long distance. I never go over. I don't have 504, but it isnt an issue. I may change to 504 since my folks just moved.</p>

<p>What mealplan did your kids end up getting?
I started off with the carte blanche plus 250, but I ran out of pelican points by the end. I've done pelican 600 every semester since then bc I'm in a fraternity and live off campus.</p>

<p>Do the freshman mainly end up eating in the dining hall?
Yes, first semester. Second semester they will eat in the dining hall unless they pledge. Guys who pledge will most likely have fraternity meal plan and end up eating at the house. Your D will probably get carte blanche both times. My suggestion is to get the 500 points first semester. They roll over into the spring, so if she has a lot left, she can get 100, if she used all of them, she can get 500 again, and if she used most, but not all, she can get 250. Pelican points dont roll over during summer.</p>

<p>How much did your kids budget a month for extra spending?
I get $300 a month for extra spending. Ordering food in takes the most of this money, then going out.</p>

<p>I know it will vary based on your kid but D is trying to figure how much she needs to make this summer.
I made 4 grand the summer before my freshman year and blew through all of it during first semester. Take your kids money and ration it off to him for his own good.</p>

<p>D takes some prescription medication on a regular basis- is there a problem filling out of state prescriptions?
Rite Aid does it, its on the corner of St Charles and Broadway.</p>

<p>Grandparents want to buy a laptop for her for graduation any suggestions?
I had a Toshiba. Word to the wise, I had three stolen over the course of 3 months. (Two in my fraternity house at the same time in spring, and one over summer at another house on broadway). I decided to get a big old desktop so no one would take it. It gets chained to my desk. I have a Dell with a pentium 4.</p>

17

<p>"I made 4 grand the summer before my freshman year and blew through all of it during first semester. Take your kids money and ration it off to him for his own good."</p>

<p>Rico, I agree with you on a lot of things, but on this one I have to disagree. My son made the same money on his internship summer before his freshman year and came home after the year with $1500. He paid to set up his dorm room (with a few purchases by us), bought his books and the rest was his spending money. We did purchase the green bucks for his food plan ($250, then $100). It was necessary that he work and budget his money. We still have a daughter at home that is in braces and has music lessons - not to mention we're looking at college expenses for her, and there's not a lot left to pad his account with. I have taken him clothes shopping twice. Once at Christmas and once at spring break. I didn't spend a fortune, though, since he was very specific about what he needed and he could never be accused of being a clothes horse.</p>

<p>He's out pounding the pavement now for a summer job. His former employer for his internship apparently doesn't have much in the way of open security jobs for this summer, so he's having to settle for what will be a job and not a career move. Next summer, he hopes to have the educational experience that the technical firms in our area look for in interns. Meanwhile................</p>

<p>I do have to give a nod to Rico, though in acknowledging that his experience was real and he is right to bring it up. My son is much tighter with money than I was in college. I always looked to my parents for that little (or lot!) extra.</p>

18

<p>Jmmom: From my information, the shuttle is $13 one way: <a href="http://www.airportshuttleneworleans.com/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.airportshuttleneworleans.com/&lt;/a>. My son agrees that you do not need to reserve it to go from the airport since the airport is a regular stop, but you do need to do reserve to go from the school to the airport since they need to put you on the pick-up schedule. </p>

<p>Cell Plans: According to S, most students have a cell phone with nationwide service so a local land phone or number is not necessary. </p>

<p>Mom60: It is complicated, but because he was not in NO, which is a different market area, S had to deal with the company by mail. They had to mail him a new contract and upgrade to a new phone. Also, as best I can understand about cellular systems, they keep changing the radio networks so phones do not easily transfer with a new plan or something like that.</p>

19

<p>Is there a good study abroad program in Tulane?</p>

20

<p>Blizzard - you have jogged my memory and I believe the ground transporation costs I mentioned were for a TAXI, not for the shuttle. Thanks for the link.</p>