<p>Another empty-nester here–haven’t quite come to terms with it yet. Auditions for ensembles/chair placements this week and for the first time ever I will not be waiting in person there afterwards to give hugs and hear how it went. Feels very strange!</p>
<p>Juilliard move-in was Sunday. It was an exuberantly well-organized experience, from the moment families arrived at the loading dock on 65th Street. (Students were greeted with cheers and applause by the orientation team, much like arriving at Stagedoor Manor, but less interesting costumes.)</p>
<p>There was the usual and expected bottleneck at the elevator as families, suitcases, and giant cardboard bins filled with dorm fridges and boxes of clothes snaked their way along the corridor and up to the 11th floor, where one needs to switch elevators to the dormitory floors, 22-infinity. D3, who had not made any specific housing request, was placed in a suite with 7 other violinists, a number of whom she already knows. That was a bit of a disappointment, as she had been hoping to mix it up with dancers, actors, jazz musicians and singers. She arrive already knowing about 70% of the string players at the school. But her roommate (whom she had not met before in person) is lovely and seems like a good match, so she feels quite lucky. The room is about the size of Pop-Tart box, so small that it took some thought as to where to place the violins. </p>
<p>There was a 2-day parent orientation concurrent with the very long (IIRC, classes start September 9) student orientation. We went to about half of the meetings, the rest of the time spent helping set up the room and making multiple forays to the huge Bed Bath & Beyond across the street. That store is the largest of its kind I’ve ever seen and was chockablock with Columbia students, who were arriving in busloads.</p>
<p>The school, and the rest of Lincoln Center, is finished with the extensive 4-year renovation. Everything sparkles. The new grass roof on the building across the street is cool and alluring in the 95 degree heat. The Met is broadcasting free outdoor HD opera casts every night to throngs of happy New Yorkers. It’s kind of like heaven, except more taxis.</p>
<p>There is no wireless internet in the dorms. This seems quaintly incongruous because the building itself looks as if it were lifted from the set of Futurama. </p>
<p>The parent meetings that we attended were content-rich and upbeat. The school is very small, 120 entering students, including grad students) so the president and deans were at many meetings, cheerfully fielding questions from parents (my favorite, although not representative of the parent vibe was “Is there a service for cleaning formal wear?” The dean who fielded that one did not bat an eyelash: there is a great dry cleaner on 66th Street, but the school does not provide dry-cleaning services. </p>
<p>Every administrator we heard and/or talked to was personable and friendly. The theme most prevalent in every discussion was the “cross-pollination” of the disciplines at Juilliard. President Polisi (“Joe”) and Dean Ara Guzelimian repeatedly stressed their hopes that students would not spent 4 years locked in a practice room, but rather that they would avail themselves of the rich cultural environment throughout New York. President Polisi brandished a Metro card, swearing that its $2.50 price would be the best investment a student could ever make. Both men (as well as other administrators) spoke of their own families and their experiences as parents sending their offspring to college, as well as their experiences parenting children in New York. Another prevalent theme was that students learn to be flexible, entrepreneurial, and creatively forward-thinking. To that end, the Career Services division offers umpteen programs and colloquia designed to support fledgling artists in the brave, new 21st century. The tone was consistently warm and reassuring. </p>
<p>One parent meeting concerned the mentorship and outreach programs offered by Juilliard. These programs were one of D3’s top reasons (other than her teacher, whom she adores) for wanting to attend Juilliard. With luck and some work, she will be able to enter programs in which she has 1) a faculty mentor from another department (e.g., dance or theater); 2) the opportunity to have student-initiated chamber or mixed-media group under a sort of quasi-management; best of all, 3) the opportunity to teach students at one of several NYC outreach programs. </p>
<p>We were also introduced to the heads of counseling and health services: parents were urged to urge students to make use of the resources at hand, including in-house physical therapy, psychological counseling (“even if you only issue is that your roommate’s snoring is causing stress”), and other services. The head psychologist reported that first years often come to him expressing concern that their parents might not be thriving now that they have left home. We were told that students’ biggest anxiety, other than how parents would fare without them, was that their homes would not be the same when they return. Therefore I have scratched my plans to convert D3’s room into a Lorikeet sanctuary.</p>
<p>As we left for our trip home, our daughter was in a mass writing placement exam. The topic (students were emailed a link to the article they would discuss a month ago; D3 did not give it more than a cursory glance, or print it out. Now with her computer not able to go on wireless and no ethernet cable, she had been unable to review it and was feeling somewhat panicked)-- the topic was “zoo politics”. Let the chips fall where they may!</p>
<p>Oh, I enjoyed your report! I was never able to go with my S to move-in day - Every year - including first - he arrived by plane with two suitcases, back pack, and horn. So I never knew what went on. The overall vibe of your post is that you feel comfortable leaving her there, and that is great.</p>
<p>Quote: “It’s kind of like heaven, except more taxis.” Perfect description! Thanks for your post, and best wishes to your daughter.</p>
<p>Glad to hear your D got settled, GlassH. Your D may want to search for a wireless connection even if Juilliard itself doesn’t have wireless in the dorm, there are a number of open network connections in the area that may or may not work (the NY Public Library at Lincoln Center had a pretty good one, that I have used when waiting in cars and such). If she ever needs a cable in an emergency, there is a best buy a couple of blocks south of lincoln center on broadway, and CVS and Duane Reades in the area are 24 hours and probably have them as well:)</p>
<p>As far as turning D’s bedroom into a sanctuary for Lorikeets, I don’t recommend that, Lori’s chief occupation, besides the general mess hookbills make, is projectile defecation…she really would return to a room that has, agh, changed:)</p>
<p>GlassH - Have your daughter buy a wireless router - a cheap one. My D1 bemoaned the lack of wireless at NYU until her senior year, when I (who being in the technical field, should have come up with this WAY earlier) purchased her a router. We hardwired it into the school’s network, and she and her suite-mates enjoyed wireless without issue. Her Boyfriend who was in the adjacent room could pick up the signal as well (Make sure she creates an obscure password).</p>
<p>Thanks Beezmom and Musicprnt. The girls bought an Airport Express yesterday for $99 split amongst all of them and it’s working. :)</p>
<p>Just back from Oberlin. I haven’t really sobbed yet so I bet it’s going to be really bad when it happens. The dorm room (german house) was great. Roomy and new. Super big lounge with grand piano and projector screen TV, German library also with tv and dvd player, computer room, new laundry and nice kitchen. Really couldn’t ask for anything more out of a dorm space. Only 1/2 block to the conservatory. I was impressed with the whole atmosphere that was created. We heard over and over “get out of your comfort zone, experience courses that will challenge your brain and open new worlds. Be a part of activities that aren’t what you tried in high school.” Lots of testimonials, examples, etc. I really enjoyed it but so much was packed into a few days that I just didn’t have time to take advantage of everything that was offered. The new Jazz facility is beautiful - missed the tour but went over with D to pick up music theory paperwork. Met other moms in Gibson’s and we all hugged and cried. We didn’t even know each other but there was something symbiotic going on as we left our children. PS - heard from mine already today: she needed to know how to use the oxyclean to get red ink out of white shorts.</p>
<p>I predict: next time you use Oxyclean you will break down blubbering.</p>
<p>Funny story about moving in. Last year we get a call about 10 days into the semester from DS, the then freshman. He says, I’m so glad you guys had me do my own laundry through HS in anticipation of college. I go down to the laundry room today for the first time and the machines have two settings, color and white. Go figure.</p>
<p>YES! Just returned D’s call to help her order textbooks … and while she was polite and pleasant, it was clear she wanted to get back to her new friends.</p>
<p>NOW I’m gonna go have a nice cry.</p>
<p>So, the move in at MSM was well organized. This move was a new experience for us since it was a city move in (our D goes to Colgate - polar opposite!). They close off the street, hand you a big cart and up and down the elevator you go with all your kid’s belongings! We were there early, so it went really fast.</p>
<p>Convocation was lovely. The staff did a great job of combining laughs and a few tears and creating a very warm feeling about the school and a surprisingly family-type atmosphere. The school has undergone some much-needed renovations and purchased 79 Steinway pianos which was nice to hear. </p>
<p>There has been a very well organized 2 week orientation with activities including a boat trip with dancing on the Hudson, a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, biking along the Hudson, theater nights, jazz clubs, opera, Yankees Games, Great Adventure, Top of the Rock, Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty, Museums, etc. In between this, students have had placement tests and orientation meetings. They’ve been busy! But, it had helped them get to know their way around the city and to get to know one another. </p>
<p>The dorms are only 9 years old, so they are actually fairly nice. S has a double room but his roommate did not show, so it is a single for now. His room overlooks Riverside Park, Riverside Cathedral and the dome of Grant’s Tomb an absolutely magnificent view. His room is air-conditioned, has cable and wi-fi, is a reasonable size and there are several practice rooms on every floor. S reports that the food in the caf is not great and is very expensive. The meal plan is eat as you go, ie, they charge your card for everything you eat, rather than the kind of plan my D has which is the kind where she swipes the card and can eat whatever she wants. It appears to be less expensive for him to eat at neighborhood restaurants. </p>
<p>Classes started yesterday and so far, so good. S started with his teacher over the summer since we are local, so that is working well. </p>
<p>All in all, so far, as much as I hate to admit it, this has been an impressive start (you might remember that I really wanted S to attend another school, but deferred to his choice).<br>
So, for now, I am breathing a sigh of relief… </p>
<p>Well thats the scoop here wishing all of your students a great fall semester!</p>
<p>Musicamusica - It wasn’t Oxyclean, it was raspberries that did it. My H, who is really being overly sensitive to my emotional state, fixed my cereal on Sunday. He got out the raspberries and starting putting them on. I stared in horror - I whispered “those aren’t MY raspberries, they’re…” Cried for an hour. She LOVES raspberries. And to her credit, she has skyped, texted and called just to say hello and ask how I am.</p>
<p>tenormama: MSM sounds absolutely wonderful: do they accept and give full ride to people over 40? I’ve always wanted to live in NYC for a few months!</p>
<p>My son at McGill has the same food system: card charged for everything you eat and it is also way too expensive; it would definitely be cheaper to eat in local restaurants, but for anyone in residence the meal plan is mandatory. Fortunately for my pocketbook, at McGill only first years can live in rez, so food will be much cheaper for the last three years.</p>