<p>The music and drinks on the SS Indecision sound wonderful, but I’m still glad that were are safely on shore.</p>
<p>Kinder: Are the unappealing dorms at UAlbany just the freshmen dorms? Most kids can deal with lousy dorms for a year if the options improve down the road. There might be decent off-campus housing that she can move to sophomore year also.</p>
<p>Pepper: You can buy plastic 3 ounce bottles at stores like target or cvs. Pour any liquids he needs for the flight into those bottles and put them in a quart sized zip loc bag. He can carry that onto the plane in his carry-on. He’ll need to take it out when he goes through security.</p>
<p>Mommylaw: I’m sorry that the financial aid didn’t work out at your daughter’s first choice. I think that it would be painful to go to the accepted students day knowing that she can’t attend the school. I understand not wanting to waste the airfare. I would make the trip a vacation and skip the visit.</p>
<p>momjr- As far as I can tell, there are 4 almost identical quads with four concrete and steel buildings surrounding a tower. Inside the one we saw was very dirty, devoid of any comfortable place to hang out, and according to the guide, in the suite style rooms no furniture was provided for the common room (e.g. couch, chairs, lamps etc) just a linoleum floor with big windows. There are no kitchen facilities at all, just a shared microwave in the basement. This was in contrast to SUNY New Paltz dorms which, while not palatial, were fine/adequate.
It is not until senior year that there are better options on campus for dorms or appts. (Of course darling daughter would be perfectly happy if we let her have an appt now. Yeah, not happening. Well maybe soph year.)</p>
<p>Pepper- and don’t they know it drives us crazy when they won’t just do those little but necessary things? It’s his feet after all, right? Ah well…consequences of their own actions is an important life lesson I keep telling myself.</p>
<p>kinderny - is your D super sensitive to her surroundings? I know that this is a make/break for some kids. If she likes the school more than Hampshire, is it just the dorms that are holding her back? Would she be willing to try them for a semester with you giving her the option to live at home 2nd semester if she hated it? I’m sure I’m not coming up with anything you have not thought of. I so think that sometimes the dorms - even when awful - can be some sort of rite of passage that they “live through” and survive.</p>
<p>Hi - a bit of a lurker here. I’ve greatly enjoyed all of the conversations. </p>
<p>I’m afraid we’re going to be lost in the Bermuda Triangle on May 1. D is struggling between two very different schools. She cant go wrong with either. The dilemma is, she is planning on interviewing for a position at school #1 (primarily the draw for her to that school and it would be amazing), and for some unfathomable reason, it all takes place the weekend of and announced on May 1. WHY WOULD THEY DO THAT TO US?! They have a May 2 online deadline for confirming admission, but of course, the other school is May 1, by mail. It’s a no-brainer if she gets it, but getting it is by no means a lock. We could still be trying to figure it out at 5:00 on May 1 if she doesn’t. School #2 is awesome and the thought of turning it down is extremely difficult - but she can’t pass up the chance to try at #1. I could send in the #2 deposit, but I really don’t want to lose it if we go with #1. ARGH! (Maybe theyd agree to a partial deposit or an extension to May 3 so I can get a Fed Ex out?)</p>
<p>The good news is she is also an oboe player, so can join the band. Shell put the music away after everyone else has left.</p>
<p>Thanks for letting me vent. I have been following this thread for awhile and as I mentioned, have really enjoyed it. You have made me think, cheer, laugh and cry (which I seem to be doing often lately!). Good luck to all of you and your kids.</p>
<p>Our student fell in love with Yale during 2 days of cold, miserable weather last year…and we figured that if it seemed like a great place in that weather, imagine how great it feels on sunny days :)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I would say NO. No reason to go if it’s not a possibility now. Let her concentrate on the other choices and moving on with her life.</p>
<p>
Sounds like a typical Common Room that the kids -after they find out who is who/roomamtes, then split the decorating of the room…rugs, futon, TV etc…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That timing is really bad. Hope they allow for a May 3 FedEx for you.</p>
<p>I vote for visiting a school in bad weather, if possible. Then you really know you love it.</p>
<p>I vote for taking the vacation (since it’s paid for) and not doing the accepted students’ events. Maybe drive by campus to deal with the “what if” feelings.</p>
<p>I vote for asking the school that has such a late interview date and its counterpart for some compromise on deadlines.</p>
<p>I vote for kinderny’s D to give the dorms a try. She might love the kids and forget all about the buildings. But I do think kids who really want/need to move off-campus often do themselves a huge favor. I’ve had friends’ kids and niece/nephews who just couldn’t do dorms. Some did end up commuting and others were happier in apartments.</p>
<p>I was at the HS helping with an event today - got asked lots of times where D has decided to go. It’s hard not to say what seems to be her obvious decision, but I don’t feel right until the deposit is in. I’m perfectly comfortable not talking about the waitlist - way too unpredictable, would rather just surprise people that she “suddenly changed her plans” if it ever even happens. I’m also realizing that “bragging rights” on the WL have worn a little thin - she can always know that she was acceptable at that school, but mostly we should move on.</p>
<p>rom828- she is indeed supersensitive to her surroundings. Case in point- we sent her to sleep away camp when she was 10 for 4 nights. She came home saying, “I did it. I got the Best Camper Award. I hated it and I am never doing it again.” She totally rejected the idea of sleeping in dorms to get the feel of a college campus- either hotels, family or she came home. She just wants her own bed and her own stuff, to go to sleep when she wants and no noise. We had doubts about the success of her Italy trip last fall, but it was fine once she had her own room in a guesthouse where she set her own schedule and took care of her own meals. She has already said that if it does not work out after the first two weeks (if she goes to UA), she will just move home. We are dreading that…but it may come down to that (and end up being the best choice for her, if not for H and me). We always have this difficult balancing issue- push her to do something just a little beyond her comfort zone or accept that it really is not right for her? She is the most determined person, so if she makes her mind up about something it is unlikely to change. We are trying very hard not to make her dig in her heels over the dorms at UA.</p>
<p>MirandaBaby, check the local post office times. If you live near a big city airport, you could have until midnight to drop something at the airport for a same-day postmark. That gives you a few hours!</p>
<p>kinderny - She sounds similar to my dd1 (class of '13), my dd has always had a problem with sensory overload and really needs to have control over her surroundings - especially noise. Are there any single options avail at UA? I got her some Bose noise eliminating over-the-ear headphones lat yr that have really helped her get that peace and quiet too. It’s funny, when it is HER music, it can never be loud enough but when it is someone practicing sax or a chattering 9 yr old…her patience is quite thin.
pepper - Glad your mom is doing good! I have the urge to run up to random old people and hug them, but they all have canes!</p>
<p>MirandaBaby: Welcome. I think it’s worth asking school #2 for a short extension on the deadling.</p>
<p>Kinder: It sounds like your daughter may have a tough time with dorm life, but I understand why you want her to try. Is a single room a possibility, maybe with a doctor’s note? You could also ask her to compromise by living in the dorms during the week and coming home on the weekends.</p>
<p>kinderny - sounds like she knows herself well - good for her!</p>
<p>Mirandababy - welcome. That is a dilemma. And May 1 is a Sunday. I’m sure you are not the only one waiting for this answer. I’d ask school #1 is their results could be released by April 30 - in time to get something postmarked!</p>
<p>Crimson33, your profile and your one other post say that you’re a high school student. Your low post count, recent join date, and recommendation of a paid college counseling service say that you’re selling something. So which is it?</p>
<p>I have a DS who can play the drums. However, getting all these indecisive kids to choose/agree on a song may just sink the whole ship or push me to jump overboard and swim for the nearest desserted island.</p>
<p>18 days and everytime I bring up making a decision I get “the look”. I finally circled next Monday on the calendar and told him that he needed to let me know where to send my check by then. If he’s still confused we can flip a coin for best 2 out of 3. (That’s how eager I am for this decision to be made!)</p>
<p>Thanks KinderNY
Its a great thread and worth a read.
Now that Kiddo has a school–I can read the dorms rules…Will have to wait til the dorm assignments are done to know they “where”…the freshman do not get any choice. Its randomly assigned.</p>
<p>Yeah, SlitheyTove…I checked that too…and reported the post. Hope they can the poster. The ID claims they are 16! Pretty sure they have an interest in the service they are recommending.</p>
<p>fogfog, the one thing I get overall from the threads about what to buy for dorms is to buy as little as possible. Especially for those of us whose children are flying, not driving to school. Amazon gives all students a free Amazon Prime membership, so anything that they absolutely need can be in their grubby little paws within a couple of days (or overnight, if they want to pay the extra $3 or whatever). </p>
<p>That said, I do have a lovingly maintained enormous stack of BB&B coupons, ready and waiting for the big shopping trip over the summer. :D</p>
<p>I vote no on going to admitted student day. </p>
<p>I would call school number 2 and ask. The worst they can say is no. </p>
<p>Most people I know whose kid had to get on a plane to go to school do their shopping when they get there. There is usually a BB&B somewhere in the area. They just go a few days earlier (this assumes parents are going with kid and rent a car.)</p>
<p>Kinder, I feel for your daughter. I cannot sleep unless the room is completely dark and absolutely quite. Even my husband’s breathing keeps me awake. Fortunately, I didn’t suffer this when I was in college. I was probably too stoned (it was the 70’s) to notice! </p>
<p>One more last tonight - spring concert. Boychild plays the trombone. He would have fit right in with those still cruising.</p>
<p>^ Too funny. I have a ton of BBB coupons too.
I didn’t realize that Amazon did that.
We have a Prime membership, as we have to but school books for hs.
Its been very good. There is a shelving unit kiddo likes. Have seen it in “cribs” pics and can be shipped via Amazon.</p>
<p>I have a minimalist kid, so hope kiddo can come up with the list and then we’ll go to the Walmart/BBB etc in route from airport to campus…especially since we can’t pack things like laundrey detergent and large shampoo…kwim? Otherwise kiddo will show up with just clothes and will be without a car and a way to decorate etc…</p>
Especially for those of us whose children are flying, not driving to school. Amazon gives all students a free Amazon Prime membership, so anything that they absolutely need can be in their grubby little paws within a couple of days (or overnight, if they want to pay the extra $3 or whatever). </p>