<p>Hope everyone's happy with their choices. It would be great if we could hear how things are turning out! Thanks.</p>
<p>For our part I think it is still too early in the process to give good feedback. D has been there only 2 1/2 weeks and is still getting comfortable - she is still in the lonely, missing home stage. I'll check back in October and should be better prepared to give some thoughts</p>
<p>D was ready to kick us out at the end of move-in day even though we were together all of three-and-a-half hours! Of course, we had to set up her PC before we left. Because we went overseas from there, she couldn't call but e-mailed us after returning from a four-day orientation trip. She's happy that she made the right choice, gets along with her roommate, is making friends throughout campus, and is keeping busy with six courses (two of them are dance classes, though). It helps to have two classmates in the same college and one of her best friends in another college nearby. In the last week (since we returned home from vacation), she's called three times (once about laundry); we've had the longest conversations in the past year! I guess she's adjusting well, but I did send her an e-card of encouragement just before she went off to audition for the dance concert.</p>
<p>I've been at my uni for nearly a month and I lovelove it here. My mom started crying before she left, but I call her once a day. </p>
<p>It's a small place so I know mostly everyone by face, and I say hi, but I've found my close group of friends. In fact, yesterday we all went out for the day and had the best time eating ice cream in the middle of the football field late at night. Then a hardcore game of water duckduckgoose. :D </p>
<p>Classes are great. I really do support colleges with a small student to teacher ratio. All my profs know me by name, even some that I haven't had yet but met and chatted with. My labs are interesting and fun because the TAs are really great, the profs are always there too. I have a huge load of work to do but I don't have trouble getting it done. I especially like how it's wireless everywhere, I just finished a paper on the lawn under the sunshine! </p>
<p>And there's tons of opportunities here. In fact, I just got a job planning events for the uni, like dances etc. I've already met with and talked to presidents of a few clubs I want to join, and am excited for the club fair coming up this week. I just met with a career officer who is helping me find an internship and who I can meet with whenever I want to work on planning my courses/working on resume/etc. Super nice people. </p>
<p>Basically, if you can't tell, I'm having a lot of fun here. And I'm glad I chose this place (note my Black Sheep thread here: <a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=57137%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=57137</a>) I hope everyone's freshman is enjoying their experience as much as I am.</p>
<p>Aroundthecorner,</p>
<p>thanks for checking in with us. I am so glad that you ae having a great time at college. Continue to write great things and don't forget coloring outside of the lines is a good thing:)</p>
<p>Hey, I remember you...black sheep! My grey sheep is off next week to a tiny school as well.....and you know what, I am so pleased. I bet your mom is as well. My best to you.</p>
<p>If you remember, my S and I were having some issues before he left. He was convinced he was going to be miserable and that he had made the wrong decision. Well, here's an update - the first couple of days after we left him, he sat in his dorm sulking. When he finally got out, he met another out of state guy that he began exploring the college, town and eventually coast (he's at UF) with. He had begun surfing before he left and has found that the beaches at St. Augustine are not only the most beautiful places he has ever surfed, but also within a quick (for a Houstonian) driving distance. He is ecstatic almost every time he calls, regailing me with some new surfing story. Luckily those conversations are punctuated with a few stories of how his classes are going. He says that while his friends see no need to attend ALL the classes, he has made a committment to go to class. He gets some ribbing about that, but, so far is sticking to his guns. He went to his first UF football game Saturday and was so overwhelmed and happy that he took a picture of the stands and field with his cell phone and text messaged me. He has met with the sailing team and is planning on attending some of their practices and regattas. So, I am happy to report that he seems to have found his nitch, despite believing that he never would.</p>
<p>As for me, I am trying REALLY hard to not call, and so far he is calling pretty often. I try not to pester him about school when he calls (for fear that he will stop!). He tells me that things are great, and I have to believe him (which is driving me crazy!!!). But, this is the way it is supposed to be, right?</p>
<p>My d is very happy. There is a lot to be said for State schools. She is 1 hour from home - far enough to be independent, but close enough if she really needs something. Also, although I know the kids say they don't want to go to school with everyone from high school, I know she enjoyed having the safety net of those high school acquaintances those first few days on campus.<br>
She had decided that even if she got a little homesick, she wasn't going to allow herself to be sad and just pasted a smile on her face and pretended she was happy. It seemed to work!</p>
<p>We had a rough senior year - real difficult last 6 months, but I found much comfort here on CC learning that these issues (sons behaving badly) were very common. Drop off day actually went quite well. 2 days later I sent S an IM, and was immediately blocked. 2 days later I sent an email, 3 paragraphs including a pic of our dog, asked a few questions (asked him if he had his phone charger) and got this response:
[quote]
everything is a okay, charger, roommate and what not, have all
[/quote]
8 days after dropoff I decided we had given him enough "space" and I tried to call him, but he ignored the calls and got very upset at my repeated attempts to contact him. Sunday night he actually called and left a brief message on our answering machine. And just now, when I went to retrieve the one line email, I can see that he actually UN blocked me from his IM!! </p>
<p>Bottom line - Not calling us must be taken as a sign that all is well and he is happy. Much worse would be receiving daily calls with complaints and loneliness. Although I was disappointed with his behavior a few days ago he seems to be quickly evening out. I still crave some REAL information tho, like how are classes, have you met a lot of people, are you getting along with your roommate, and several additional important items!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>NJres,
Your comments made me think of our son. He made us promise NOT to call him, as he has an extremely busy schedule--19 units including two instrumental ensembles, music theory, piano, master class and private lessons, and intensive German (a year's worth in one semester--very challenging, he said.). He said he will call us about once a week, but if we call him, he will deduct that from the times he calls us. LOL! What a kid! We do email him, but he has never been good about answering email.</p>
<p>Anyway, he loves his school and is very impressed by the quality of the music program and the music students there. He called yesterday to tell us that he made third to last trumpet in both the lowest concert band and the lowest jazz band, and he is quite happy with that! Competition is stiff. He has made friends and checked out the campus. His main complaint is that the campus is so big that it takes forever to get places, which takes away from the time he has to practice. And there is no cafeteria in his dorm, so he has to walk a ways to get food, which he doesn't like. However, he ordered the smallest meal plan, and he and his roommate are renting a micro-fridge, so he will probably be eating in his room a lot. Good thing he loves sandwiches!</p>
<p>So far, so good.</p>
<p>Just talked to d today who had her first day of classes at Barnard. She is VERY happy, really has not been homesick during this week of orientation, but is a little stressed over handling purchasing books, "shopping" dance classes, getting a job figured into it all, auditions, etc, etc. ALl part of the process of growing into a strong, independent young woman. And her dad and I got an i-signt camera for her and for us so we can see and talk to her! That is nice.</p>
<p>I'm glad to hear other sons aren't exactly burning up the phone lines. ;) Mine is VERY happy - but I only hear from him if I initiate contact. Caught him on IM today and learned he is playing four intramural type sports and jazz band and orchestra. No wonder he's so busy!!! </p>
<p>I was thinking about the sports and I am so happy for him. He has never been a good enough to get on any of the high school teams here (well, he could sit on the bench...), but he loves to play sports for fun - and this has realy been his first chance to do that, what with the demise of the neighborhood teams, and everything here so super competitive, and all. I'm just happy he's getting some exercise and having fun and meeting kids.</p>
<p>D seems pretty happy at USD(University of San Diego) but misses not having a car. Her team is intense with 4 hrs of practice a day but her team is a large close knit family now, eat all their meals together, she loves the people she has met. Classes just started, some good , some boring. Her 4th semester spanish class is using the same book she used in her AP class last year which seemed strange. She calls a lot to share the good and bad. She has tons to do and will not work 1st semester to get acclimated. All in all she is happy, wishes she had more time in a day. Her room is huge, she has a large suite with views of Mission Bay from her bedroom and likes her roomate a lot. I'll keep you posted.</p>
<p>NJ, I drained S1's bank account three times during his freshman year. He called right away and was more than happy to chat. Whaddya know? ;)</p>
<p>He's a tiny bit better this year tho he's been back ten days and we still don't have a phone number. Do you think that might be deliberate? haha.</p>
<p>Black sheep--hope the rest of your year is as energized. Well done! You are living proof that Black Sheep do find their way, with or without Mary Contrary....</p>
<p>My D appears to be very happy at her school. She said that the experience is as she expected it to be...so she is happy with her choice. I asked her if anyone she knows, including herself, is homesick. Her response was that everyone was too busy to be homesick. She was concerned at first about having to do without a car for the first two years (school policy). Everyone appears to make do--especially since some students keep cars off campus. We originally discussed the possibility of bringing a bike down....but she now says that it probably would not be useful as the students travel in "packs".</p>
<p>My D is extremely happy after almost 2 weeks at her small LAC. She says the kids are great, there is so much to do that she is constantly busy, and the classes are a lot of work, but very interesting so far. She is taking a pretty full class load, joining some activities, and having fun, so her time is very full. She has always been a very busy person and I'm sure she will learn to balance her time at college. She has not been homesick or had any major problems. Based on all of this, I can say that we are very glad she is having a great start to her college experience.</p>
<p>Cornell is awesome!!! I've never ever seen S so happy...and he's been a happy kid his whole life. Also, reading posts from other parents of Ss, I realize I'm beyond lucky...my S checks in w/a phone call or email or IM almost every day...rarely more than a "hi"...after 2 1/2 weeks, there have been 2 15-minute "chat calls"--the rest of the contacts are a sentence here or a phrase there...but every last one includes an "I"m so happy, Mom; thank you for making this possible for me." Takes a LOT of the sting out of my empty nest...</p>
<p>Comparing Cornell's support of my S w/the experience I had (which I totally loved) at my huge state university back in the dark ages, I'd say the private school tuition is worth every penny & then some. I'm in awe of how incredibly well Cornell supports its new freshmen...I actually don't mind writing that monster check!</p>
<p>In short, happy, involved, considerate S, awesome school...happy single mom/new empty nester! May it be as good for all of you!!!</p>
<p>Just had my first real chatty phone call with D. :) :) :) </p>
<p>She is in heaven. </p>
<p>Re today's class... "Best class ever, I love it." </p>
<p>She loves everyone: "This place is perfect for me." "The people are so nice." "My roommate is messy, but she is chill. You won't believe it, but I am the neat one, Mom!"</p>
<p>My D is a non-drinker. "Everyone is drinking... I still don't, but I go to the party anyway and have fun and if it gets lame I leave. No one cares that I am not drinking."</p>
<p>Re sports: "They are killing us. We work out every day and run and lift and we are all exhausted!... But I like everyone on the team and it is awesome."</p>
<p>I love reading all this good news. :)</p>
<p>Our son is just into his 2nd week at Mcgill. So far so good. His emails to us about his classes and his fellow residence mates are positive. McGill was his first choice and he is there.</p>