<p>If your daughter's school has an affilitation with a coed school (ie, great ease of taking classes at that school) I would STRONGLY urge her to take a class at another campus next semester- preferably a class with a lot of social interaction.</p>
<p>I went to an all-girl's boarding school and when it came time for college, many of the girls went to all girl's colleges. I didn't- I ran the other way. THe school I attended had an affiliation with a well known women's college, and there were plenty of girls taking Friday afternoon classes at my school!! </p>
<p>I love all my women friends dearly, but there is no doubt that having a guy or two in the social mix definitely changes the tone of discussion, and the mood. An empathetic woman in the mix of a bunch of randomly selected people who are not having a good go of it spells misery for all...In the "getting used to it phase" that I think everyone goes through, empathizing female friends are great, but so are a few guys to play cards with, exercise with, go see a stupid movie with...</p>
<p>I am not saying that ultimately a women's college can not work, it definitely can (and maybe even for your daughter)...but I think that there needs to be a "mix" of emotional input to every experience to get a balanced perspective on what is happening.</p>
<p>Oh, and one other thing...is your daughter already participating in the EC that she most enjoyed in HS? IF not, she has to be...whatever that is...</p>
<p>I think it is great that you have been able to problem solve with her. Lucky her, lucky you!</p>
<p>Since many of you were so kind and helpful when my daughter was having difficulties her first semester, I thought I would give you an update as to how the situation turned out.</p>
<p>My daughter made the decision to finish out the year at her college. Despite her disappointment with the social life there, she didn't give up and focused on her classes as well as on her transfer applications. She made a list of schools, all of which she'd be happy to attend. Surprisingly, her top choice was Barnard and...</p>
<p>TODAY SHE RECEIVED HER ACCEPTANCE! WOO-HOO!</p>
<p>She was over-the-top thrilled that she got into Barnard. I have never heard her so happy before -- and that made me happy. It was a fitting end to her last day of college as she's flying home tonight. And boy are we going to celebrate when she gets here!</p>
<p>I got a little curious when I saw your thread pop up as I reread your first post in hopes that you were giving an update. Congrats to your daughter on both fronts; for sticking it out in a school that she had become less than thrilled to be at and not letting the experience keep her from doing well or else she would not be getting the bigger congratulations for being admitted to Barnard. I too beleive that she is going to have a wonderful experience there. </p>
<p>A toast of cyber champagne to the 2 of you. Have a great celebration, as you both deserve it.</p>
<p>I concur with what the others said...this is a success story all the way around...she stuck it out...made the most of it.....realized it was not for her....did something about it (applied to transfer)....kept her grades up to help her achieve that.....and got into the school of her choice and has much to look forward to! Hooray! A new beginning....she sounds deserving. What timing too! Glad you updated us all...thanks. </p>
<p>Thanks, everyone! After my D arrived home, she told me that she was so happy that she cried after she heard the good news. I'm soooo happy for her!</p>
<p>As an interesting side note, when she attended a college fair in high school, I can remember her being blown away by Barnard. In fact, right after our conversation with the admissions rep, she told me that's where she wanted to go to college. But back then, I think NYC was a little intimidating for her. But now that she has a year of college under her belt, she's ready to go!</p>
<p>Please tell me it is not Wellesley or Mt. Holyoke as my D. is thinking about those schools. My heart goes out to you. I personally think college is a very difficult experience. Kids are under a great deal of scoial pressure and most students in college don't study at all. My experience at Tufts was that most party, drink, and have sex. The students that study are few and far between (ones going to law or med. school). Thus, to succeed in college requires a lot of matuity which most kids at this age don't yet have. I personally plan on sending my daughter to a school nearby to home or her grandparents so that she can come home weekends, do her laundry and study but still get the living away from home and growing up aspect during the week and be there for classes( most important). I am definitely not paying all this money for one big party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>Congrats, pcaz. As a mom of a transfer kid, I can tell you that it can be tough, but it can also be the best decision they ever made! (it was for my D.)</p>
<p>Incidentally, my S goes to school across Broadway, and will be taking a couple classes at Barnard next semester, so maybe they'll cross paths!</p>
<p>She'll love NYC! It's really not as nearly intimidating as you'd think.</p>
<p>Mel, there are pros and cons for every school and one student's good fit is another student's bad fit. My D goes to Smith and we had dinner with her and two of her friends last night before the choir/orchestra concert at Carnegie Hall. All three are very happy with their first year and were burbling both about the classes they've had and the classes they're going to take. In contrast, a mutual friend of two of them is transferring back to a school in California, closer to home....</p>
<p>mel5140: Okay, the cat's out of the bag. I didn't want to mention the name of the school, as I still think very highly of it. It's Mount Holyoke. From what my D has told me, the social aspect is what was most difficult for her, particularly because of MHC's remote location. Academically, it was fantastic. And even though my D wanted more of a social life, she didn't neglect her studies and developed several great relationships with professors during her time there. I was a bit sad about her decision at first, but now that she's been accepted to Barnard, I feel she's getting the best of both worlds. For many women, MHC is a perfect fit; it just depends on what your D is looking for.</p>
<p>garland: Thanks! (She'll be one of the few Barnard students from Arizona.) I can't begin to tell you how excited she is about living in NYC. Plus, I have a certain comfort level since one of my best friends lives 15 minutes away and knows my D quite well.</p>
<p>i'm a recent alum from mhc. i loved the school, despite how much i complained about it all 4 years. i wouldn't change my decision to attend, had someone paid me. i ran away from my podunk little town in nj, where everyone either went to rutgers or the local cc too. i wanted to not have to worry about how guys would affect my learning experience. mhc is all about what you make of it. it's the only one of the schools in the valley that is not 10 min away from some chic restaurants and boutiques, which makes it hard for a lot of the women on campus. what people don't understand is that there is the pvta bus system to go out and have fun in the surrounding towns, which i loved taking my freshman and sophomore years, until i was allowed to bring my car up. you meet a lot of cool people on the bus. i didn't go to mhc to party, which was another reason i chose the school. BUT there are a lot of girls who did and for the most part they either transfer or get put on academic probation and eventually leave (this has happend to friends of mine). i've found that the women at mhc are all really great and i've made a whole bunch of friends through various activities, which i would recommend getting involved in. there are a great many traditions that the firsties get involved in that really help welcome them to the school. roommates can be obnoxious and really change your view on the school, especially when they end up being someone you wouldn't get along with otherwise, but as my parent's said to me, your roommate should have no influence on your academic decisions. i chose the school for what i was going to get there academically and put up with the roommate situation only to find it amazingly better the next year, to where i got a single both my junior and senior years.</p>