<p>We are now officially TERP parents!</p>
<p>OKAY ...now we need help on where the best spot is for TAILGATING!</p>
<p>Whoo-hoo! Congrats!!! 2 of our cars have "Terp Parent" magnets; the other has a UMD license plate!!!! Welcome (back) to UMD!</p>
<p>Depends...are you planning on buying a season parking pass and tailgating on campus?</p>
<p>I am sure Bullet will be investigating all of that now! Any opinions or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>Welcome to the fold!</p>
<p>Yes, congratulations! I'm still hoping for a MD decision but the kid has a mind of his own and actually wants to visit all campuses first.</p>
<p>The thought of being able to rendezvous in Georgetown for dinner sounds awesome.</p>
<p>bullerand pima - if you are not planning on buying a parking pass, then I would suggest the visitor center's/armory's parking lot (next to the rugby fields) or the church parking lot up across from lot one. Both are good tailgating spots. We have friends that park in both of those lots. I think the church charges $10. The visitor center lot/armory parking lot is one of the few places on campus that doesn't require a parking pass on game days.<br>
If you decide to go with a parking pass which requires a Terrapin Club membership, then where you park will be directly related to how much you give to the Terrapin club. Since we have two kids in college and can't afford to donate a lot, we prefer RDG. We arrive early and claim one of the lower level spots next to the grassy area which is right next to the football practice fields because you are not allowed to cook in the garage. You can use the bathrooms in Hornbake until 5 on Saturdays. Lot 1 and Lot 2 are also popular tailgating spots. Lot 9 is supposedly a younger crowd and can get fairly rowdy. My husband and I are both Maryland grads. We haven't missed a home game in the last 7 years. We are so happy that we finally have a kid that is going to be a Terp!</p>
<p>marylandmom, I'm guessing from this conversation that there are single game tickets available for football (as opposed to basketball) if DH and I wanted to attend. I'm also presuming we would not be seated with our S who would be in the student section?</p>
<p>There are single game tickets. We actually have bought singles before, with no problem. The only exception is they must be bought in pairs.</p>
<p>I just can't believe that 20 yrs later (bullet grad. in 87) and we are back again! Had you told me that 20 yrs ago, I would have laughed. DS will also be in the ROTC det. that Bullet was in. The only difference is Bullet lived in Annapolis as a fresh, which is now gone, and Easton as a soph. DS is going in the scholars program so he won't be in the Easton dorm!</p>
<p>Thanks for the parking info. I am sure Bullet will start picking the brains of everyone!</p>
<p>Hey pima, how did the open house go?</p>
<p>worrywart - there are single game tickets available for football (actually this year there were a few basketball games that had single tickets available). It really depends on who they're playing and how the season is going how available single tickets are. Florida State will be a big game this year. Last I checked they hadn't offered single game tickets to that game to season ticket holders yet. We are able to buy single tickets for all the other home games though. I am pretty sure that students can usually buy reduced rate tickets for family members and friends. These tickets are for the student section. So if you wanted to sit with your S, you might want to look into this. I'm not sure how it works. I know a few years ago we needed some extra tickets and an old student of my husband's bought us a couple of the student guest tickets. Also on the messageboard before each home game, <a href="http://www.terptown.com/messageboard%5B/url%5D">www.terptown.com/messageboard</a>, people will list extra tickets that they have for sale. People usually offer these at face value to fellow Terp fans. We have bought and sold tickets there.</p>
<p>Bullet here (the guy who took DS on the open house expedition):</p>
<p>Guess it went pretty typical from what I saw. All the admitted incoming freshmen and their parents met in Cole for a free continental breakfast and some speeches from Admin folk welcoming everyone to Maryland. Best part of that was watching the really smart Maryland students sneak in for a free breakfast of muffins and coffee (must have remebered there was free food when they went last year!). Lots of very excited newly admitted students and very proud / nervous parents with a look of "I better get a free donut for the price of admission here" :)</p>
<p>Went to DS's selected Department next (Gov't and Politics in the College of Behavorial and Social Sciences Dept). Held in an old classroom in the Shoemaker Building. (Really Old! Like 1950's school desks and linoleum floors, and I had to show DS that the huge lever on the wall was actually a thermostat like they used to have in the 1920s. Kind of disappointing that they didn't put this "first impression" of the Department into something a little more up-to-date, with a least whiteboards. Even heard the comment 'They still use CHALK to teach here?") LOOOOTs of future lawyers in the crowd. Quickly turned into some very bored future students ("who cares what I need to study, I want to see the Dorms!"), plus us overwhelmed parents ("DS can do an internship OVERSEAS?! There goes the retirement home!").</p>
<p>Went next to Stamp Student Union for a look at all the campus organizations they could join. They gave out a "bag to carry your "freebies" in", which got filled with highlighters, magnetic frig calenders, and water bottles. Best comment overheard from a confused parent in there: "Why does everything have a turtle on it?" </p>
<p>Went to the Maryland Scholars open house next. Learned a little more about the program, saw the dorms they would be staying in (more on THIS subject later), and (most importantly) they officially released the scholars assigments (which was the main reason most of us went). BTW, he is going into Intn'l Studies (his first choice, and which will fit nicely with Gov't and Politics. Great, now he'll want to go to Oxford before going to law school!)</p>
<p>Lastly, we stopped by the AFROTC office to chat with the faculty there (our #1 reason for going, as he really wants to become a pilot after Md, and wants to see his chances.) That went so well, our next stop was admissions to pay the deposit and turn in his planner. OK, second generation Terp on the way, and someone else in the family who can finally "get it" when I throw the pillow at the TV when the basketball team loses another 20 point lead in the second half. TO CLEMSON! (got to stop that train of thought now, before I suffer an anuerism.)</p>
<p>Last stop before the 4 hour drive home: Stamp book store for "soveigners" (more sweatshirts, bumperstickers ("Terp Dad") and such for the entire family (I can see MY parents now: "You mean we get even more stuff with Turtles on it? I thought we were done with that 20 years ago.") </p>
<p>Now, about the dorms. Walking through the North campus towers, all I kept thinking was "20+ years later, and they haven't even touched them? I mean, I probably could still find the beer stain I left behind on my old room floor!" I understand they fixed up / are fixing up the south campus dorms, but I look at Comcast Center, the performing Arts Center, additions to Byrd, an Alumni Center (plus all the other new-and-only-used-for-sports-or-stuff-other-than-teaching-or-living), and I couldnt help the feeling that what would really impress new students more would perhaps be some better living conditions. Lots of comments from parents and potential students alike ("Wow! Smelly, old and dingy, what a great combination!") I almost felt like part of Maryland's reason for the scholars program was that it was one of the only ways they could convince new students to live in those buildings (just a nagging thought, not my real opinion). Again, something I was a little disappointed in from the University. My hope is we just didn't get a chance to see the better dorms, but I know that adequate housing is a problem. </p>
<p>All in all, a tiring (but successful) day. GO TERPS!</p>
<p>Thanks for the report, Bullet. My son will be in Wicomico Hall, which I read isn't the nicest dorm on campus either. However, it's in the south campus, and they can stay for breaks (which is helpful since he'll be a long way from home).</p>