<p>As far as sheets/linens -- we are thinking jersey for the fitted sheet (stretchy, so easy to get on the bed) over a nice, comfy featherbed mattress cover thing (since they can't have foam pads). No top sheet, down comforter ($100 at Linen's 'n' Things -- picked up from a garage sale for $5, never used!!) with a duvet cover (he picks out the fabric -- I sew, since I can sew a square and not much more). Cotton pillowcases with 2-3 pillows.</p>
<p>He will have two sets of the duvet covers, pillowcases and sheets -- and everything will be in the same/coordinated colors so it isn't an issue of what goes with what.</p>
<p>Does that sound like a good plan? He hates blankets and top sheets -- and usually sleeps without sheets/comforter even in the winter with our household thermometer set at 50 degrees.</p>
<p>As far as towels -- we were thinking of getting him 2-3 of the really big towels (the ones that seem huge) so that they cover alot and he can dry off quick. Should he have more? (here in dry Colorado, we use 2 towels for everyone in the family for 3-4 days). Are the big towels a good idea? Another option would be the fast dry/super absorbent towels -- which is what my oldest son uses at his school.</p>
<p>I will check on his classes/cocurriculars/job in just a bit and post again. We are still waiting on his Spanish placement -- he doesn't come back from SCA until 8/13, so he will take the test then. So far at SCA he has gotten tons of scratches from the briars they are cleaning out, gotten heatstroke (mild), been sunburned, had ticks galore biting him, fallen out of a dump truck and spent a day saving sea turtles -- I can't imagine what he will look like when he steps off the plane next Wednesday, I just hope they have him shower before he gets on the plane!</p>
<p>Oldest son left Tuesday and arrived in Wales on Wednesday, so we have one out the door and at school -- now I have a few days to recover before the youngest comes home and we get ready for NMH!</p>
<p>I can't offer any more information about course offerings in writing than you already know, Warriorboy. My daughter has dish/gsa scheduled for "E" period. Can anyone decipher the scheduling code? At what time of day is "E"?</p>
<p>keylyme - when do they get to apply for their jobs?</p>
<p>hsmomstef - I think the sheet sets sound great. Can they have the featherbed mattress cover? If so, that's a great idea.</p>
<p>I think you need more towels. When you'r home it is easy to drape them over the shower curtain and let them dry. I can't imagine that would be as easy to do in a dorm room. I think I bought 7 regular towels for my son. I'm lucky because we aren't far away so I'll be able to bring up whatever he needs.</p>
<p>The Spanish test wasn't difficult. If your son did the language camp, he might be ready for Spanish 3. What level test did they send you? </p>
<p>Is your son definitely doing the football camp? I think we are passing on the soccer camp. He plans on playing jv plus more $$ right now would make things too tight.</p>
<p>I know that they can't have foam pads -- but there aren't any rules against featherbeds (and they do make it much more comfortable).</p>
<p>I still don't know about the towels -- I think we will start with 2 and see how it goes. The more stuff he has, the bigger the mess he makes (this is the kid that will dry himself off with his dirty clothes if the towel is missing).</p>
<p>They sent the Level I/II Spanish test -- he hasn't taken it yet, so I don't know how he will do. I know for certain the Spanish III would be too difficult.</p>
<p>He is definitely doing the football camp -- he saved up money for it, so it is his money and not mine. He is looking forward to meeting some of the kids early, before NMH starts.</p>
<p>hsmomstef,
I agree with bringing fewer towels. 4 was plenty for my son. When we go to hotels, both of my children use their towels once and toss them on the floor. At home, they hang them on their doorknobs and use them for a few days. If my son brought a ton of towels, he would have a big wet pile of towels in his room. Bringing fewer forces him to be practical and green.
Going to camp last year was also helpful to my son. By the time the orientation period arrived, he had already made many friends and was comfortable. On an aside note....we drove through the campus last week, and it is still in quite a state of upheaval. On the website, it says the turf field won't be completed until late fall; any idea where football will be played as both of the football fields are completely bare right now?</p>
<p>OK, it looks like we will cut back on the towels. 2 wouldn't be enough. 4 should do it. </p>
<p>I'm not sure if there was a cut off date for the soccer camp. I was thinking that it would be good for him to meet people and to get into shape, but I wonder how many freshman will be there??</p>
<p>My son is psyched about the new turf fields. He loves to play lax on turf.</p>
<p>I don't think so (we still haven't sent ours back)....it just said as soon as possible. Last year there were several freshman, but it doesn't matter, everyone seemed to be friends regardless of class year.</p>
<p>For what it's worth, I lived in Amherst and Cambridge once upon a time and I recall towels drying much faster in western Mass. than nearer the coast. Still, kids do have a way of leaving towels in a heap so I understand your reluctance to send him off with several.</p>
<p>Does anyone know about cell phone coverage around NMH? Are there plans you would not recommend? My daughter is coming from an area with spotty coverage or none at all under some plans and would like to avoid the problem at NMH.</p>
<p>It turns out that my son will be doing the pre season soccer camp. I spoke to the coach today and he wanted my son to attend and said that there would be other kids there that wouldn't be playing varsity. They have 30 kids so far.
keylyme - I wonder if our kids will end up rooming together since they are both sending in their paperwork later????</p>
<p>We have started talking about packing. It seems as if we should hang a bunch of shirts and then fold other items and put them in under the storage beds. This way we can hang up clothes (probably the only time) and just put clothes that fit into a dresser. Since we are driving we don't need suitcases. Does this seem like a good plan?</p>
<p>also, does my son need a suit for the beginning of school or can he get one later?</p>
<p>son flies home today -- we pick him up at 9pm. I haven't seen him in 8 weeks -- and he will be home for 10 before we leave for NMH, so things will certainly be hectic around here!</p>
<p>We got the letter introducing the older kids in the dorm, etc. My son will be in London (I am guessing all freshman boys will be) and the letter said there are 35 boys in London. Sounds like a nice, small number. Does anyone know how many freshman girls there will be? I am wondering how large the freshman class is.</p>
<p>We have Verizon and it seemed to work just find during revisit days.</p>
<p>I'm in Manchester (C5), but this year they are downsizing how many will be in C5 and using the old admissions cottage (C4) as another freshman girl's dorm. So there will be something like 25 in C5 and ten or so in C4.</p>
<p>When we went to revisit days they did say that they would be opening a 2nd boys dorm if enough boys enrolled -- but I haven't heard anything else about that. Does anyone know if there will be a second boys dorm?</p>
<p>warriorboy....I think we did take one suitcase and we left it in our son's closet so he would have it if needed. We did pack most thing in plastic boxes which could then be used to store items under the bed. We also brought clothing on hangers.
Most of the boys do not wear suits for special occasion dress; they wear the typical prep outfit of navy blazer and khaki pants with button down shirt and tie.
London is indeed the freshman boys dorm and I believe that number is about the same as last year. I think boys and girls numbers are fairly balanced and the total class size for freshman is generally around 100, so day students are not included in the above numbers.</p>