<p>Going to orientation with my S tomorrow and Saturday - they have a parent program and I will be attending that. I realize today that I am a total college "nerd" cause I am quite excited to spend the night on the campus, even in the dorm! </p>
<p>I love the college atmosphere, the buildings, the FEELING of a campus. Just love it. Love the exploring, the opportunities - all of it. I know I already had my turn, but admit, I could probably do it all over again in a heartbeat given the reduction of age, etc. :)</p>
<p>I suppose that's one reason I'm hooked on CC - more college talk - kind of the next best thing?!! </p>
<p>Anyone join me in just loving the college experience????</p>
<p>Yep, my H and I always had those same feelings, abasket! But now we are out of kids :(. Nice we won’t have tuition, room and board bills any more after this next year, but we will miss going to S’s campus and the wonderful vibe of it all. We will miss talking with his friends and roommates - it certainly gives you another view of the world!</p>
<p>We loved the whole search process, visiting colleges, comparing, the student’s selection, orientation, move-in, etc. Maybe it keeps us young! But I know I will miss it.</p>
<p>Me. too. My H was a college professor for 30+ years but at a community college. I loved the community college but I would have preferred more of a campus atmosphere.</p>
<p>I enjoyed D’s sorority parent weekend and was amazed how well they organized it. I stayed in her room. She is not in dorm anymore. After 2 years in dorms, her comment:“No more dorms in my life, yeye!!” I share her excitment about moving out to apartment (college suits). She has very comfortabel queen bed now, her own huge bathroom and overall college suits are pretty much luxury accomodations for students. Campus is very pretty, one of the reasons she choose to attend there. We had great time! Other than that, no, I do not miss college and D. is always home sick when she is there during academic year. One more year, but then it will be Grad. School.</p>
<p>For those of us with kids out of the house…we might soon be ready for Elderhostel/Road Scholar! Small doses of college life…without the pressure of papers due or reading that must be completed! Dorm life with almost no rules! And the opportunity to be on beautiful campuses we might not have considered as an undergrad.</p>
<p>Elderhostel - Adventures in Lifelong Learing! Recently re-named Road Scholars.</p>
<p>U.S. program started about 30 -40 years a go and was originally modeled after some programs in Europe. Before there were so many summer programs on college campuses…most week to 2 week long elderhostels were held at colleges. Adults could attend themed courses with professors and stay in dorms. Fees were usually quite reasonable, and included meals, lodging, teachers and some field trips.</p>
<p>Now programs are all over the world and year-round. Not just on college campuses, either. Fees for ones with lots of travel and at resort-type locations are higher now. But there are some with fees under $600 per person.<br>
[Road</a> Scholar: Educational Travel and Learning Vacations for Adults from Alaska to Italy](<a href=“http://www.roadscholar.org/]Road”>http://www.roadscholar.org/)</p>
<p>I’m lucky enough to work every day on a college campus; I love the atmosphere.</p>
<p>We have been having a series of new student orientations this summer (we have around 100 students at each one). I love seeing the students and their parents on campus.</p>
<p>We don’t have that whole parent/student orientation. We drop off first day and leave at 4. I do have to say I am enjoying everything so far. Got the roomie/dorm notification today and had fun checking out the actual rooms online. His room is in a dorm I didn’t get to visit during admitted students day.</p>
<p>I read all this stuff on here about visiting various colleges and finding your fit and I feel envious we (at least I) didn’t do this in my day. I applied to one super “reach” (never heard of such a thing then) where I didn’t get in, and the UC system where I ranked my favorite schools, and was pretty much assured of getting in where I wanted because I met the minimum standards. I never visited either school before I applied. My first day at UCSD was when my parents dropped me off with my suitcases, a week before school started.</p>
<p>Of course, that’s how I feel now that I’m an adult. I seem to remember my mom had to push me a little just to complete those two applications when I was a kid.</p>
<p>abasket - We’ll be attending son’s orientation in a few weeks. Since we will be back East for vacation anyway it was easy to add parents too. I am suprisingly excited to be sleeping in the dorm, but with AC and only for 2 nights.</p>
<p>bovertine: I didn’t have/do this either. Never set foot on “my” college campus until orientation, and it was only 45 minutes from my home! My parents just weren’t interested, though they were satisfied that I got into and would attend the state flagship, so they had some bragging rights (it’s a top school, though I didn’t know that).</p>
<p>But I really loved the experience when our son was looking. I envy all of you.</p>
<p>Love seeing college campuses. Went to son’s orientation 4 years ago for the parent program and H and I stayed in a dorm room at my alma mater. Brought back memories and the realization that college life is for the young. It was nice not to cook and clean, but- down the hall bathroom, dining hall lines, hills… Remembered the exams and papers I don’t miss. It was nice to be there but also the needed reality check to not be jealous of son getting his turn. There is a reason we don’t keep the same lifestyle forever after college…</p>
I do have to say I am enjoying everything so far. Got the roomie/dorm notification today and had fun checking out the actual rooms online. His room is in a dorm I didn’t get to visit during admitted students day.</p>