Parents of the HS Class of 2011 - We're awesome!

<p>@shoot4themoon - I checked the OPs account. Their last activity was at 10:41pm last night. They posted once then immediately logged out. There is no way to tell if they have seen your responses as they were posted several hours after. It’s possible they viewed them later without logging it, however you have to assume they haven’t been back at all. </p>

<p>I don’t have any further ideas for you, however I would think privacy is going to strictly prohibit what anyone can do beyond posting or sending a PM. Did you attempt sending an email? I don’t know if the default on setting a new account blocks this or not.</p>

<p>Hi All</p>

<p>Cooker–I hear ya! I have been happy to hug on the last 24 hrs. Last night went to be content all were under the same roof for the first time in months.</p>

<p>Shoot4themoon…with internet and privacey I dont know what to tell you. Its hard to know …and sometimes posts can be from “trolls”. </p>

<p>Well today we did the MD appt for vaccinations, and required sickle cell test for NCAA athletes.
Went to Costco to get kiddo a card so that I could add kiddo to the AmEx.
Kiddo had to be a Costco member to be added to my Costco AmEx. Funny because its not like a college student is buying a pallet of anything…
Then we were at the credit union to get kiddo a Visa card. So the deal is that I am old enough that back in the day when my parents got me a credit card, it was in my name, and they co-signed. And it was establishing my credit rating. Evidently that is not allowed now and without 2 years of work history–kiddo can’t get a card (with own credit history) So had to get one done from my acct in kiddos name…Gives kiddo a card yet no benefit of establishing credit. </p>

<p>Went by BBB so kiddo could browse the bedding before we do the deal. Within minutes picked something. So at home I am adding to the wish list–which we can print and take back to the store to arrange the ship to store etc. Kiddo’s comment was “there is just so much to choose/buy/bring decide etc”</p>

<p>I handed kiddo the stack of mail (voter registration arrived–with party already selected! How does that happen?? It was correct yet I can’t figure out how they did that unless they assumed from my DH and I the likely party…still kiddo has own mind and thoughts…kwim)
So in the stack was the orientation materials. There is plenty here for kiddo to review re move in, orientation and class selection
…so much that kiddo is feeling pretty Overwhelmed.
I think its partly being tired --having been away all summer etc. with focus on other things and now “everything” re college is being compressed into two weeks…
I said–“eat it like an elephant–one bite at a time–you have 2+ weeks to digest it all so that when you get there you’ll feel less overwhelmed.”</p>

<p>Gosh I recall being overwhelmed at my own move in–having to navigate the campus, dining hall, bookstore, laundrey, register for classes, etc etc…Alot coming their way, isn’t it.</p>

<p>Kiddo FB messaged the roommate–and hopefully they can make decisions about what needs to go in the room etc. The freshman advisor sent an email to the kids saying they should plan ahead since there is so much to be done the first weeks…Kiddo is hoping they can wait til they see the room–I don’t think kiddo nor the roommate have realized yet that some decisions have to be made now so things can be ordered…live and learn.</p>

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<p>So sorry for your loss. I keep thinking that his parents’ dining room is probably still filled with Twin XL sheets, bed risers and the like, that will never be used.</p>

<p>We know SO many people going to Baylor. It’s sort of a “perfect size.” Not tiny, not huge. Pretty campus (including the “Garage Majal”). Good sports. You’ll have to let us know if it’s hard or easy to get tickets to women’s basketball. They have a great team. [Player</a> Bio: Brittney Griner - Baylor Bears Official Athletic Site - BaylorBears.com](<a href=“http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/griner_brittney00.html]Player”>http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/griner_brittney00.html)</p>

<p>D received so many cards and letters from Baylor. I joked that the last one said, “You are the only person from your HS who has not applied here, so it must be an oversight.”</p>

<p>ShawD finally heard about her room assignment and it was in a dorm that was an all-girls dorm. Well, she had to rank variousoptions a few months ago and had to choose 5 of 7 to rank. The two that dropped below even getting a rank were a single or a double in an all girls dorm. She’d hear that you get weird or socially awkward girls in all girls dorms. Then, she learned her roommate assignment and couldn’t find her on FaceBook. This confirmed the social awkwardness. </p>

<p>Well, the sky was falling, though she said, “I can make this work, but I’m going ask them to make a change.” On the plus side, it was one of the nicest dorms on campus and close to everything – they didn’t want to endanger girls by making them walk long distances at night.</p>

<p>She did some searching and found an entry on the school’s website that they’d switched this dorm to coed – only 133 kids selected an all girls room as any option and only 14 selected it is a first choice and they’d allocated 550 rooms or something like that to girls only dorms. Yee ha. Then, with more searching, she found the girl’s FB page and she looks like a normal girl (700 FB friends, apparently if you have only a few friends, you are probably a social outcast).</p>

<p>So, life is good. Really good. Though the mate of someone we know really well up her had a tear in his aorta and a blood clot. Not good, but seems to have been caught in the hospital before huge damage. </p>

<p>We bought towels today to start our back to school shopping. We went to Winners, which is the Canadian subsidiary of TJ Maxx. All part of a Teal/Brown/Cream color scheme, though we have to find a duvet cover. Who knew?</p>

<p>Well I need help from all who have already celebrated their child’s 18th birthday. D is turning 18 on Monday and she is miserable right now. Partly due to the wrong time of month for her but it doesn’t help that she knows no one here and will just have three of us here for her bday. Nor does it help that she hasn’t heard from her friend/boyfriend (sort of) for over a week(she really regarded him more as a friend but I think he may have regarded her more as a girlfriend). Regardless, I am trying to do the 18 for 18th thing. SO far I have come up with some very big presents- car, laptop, printer, Netflix subscription, Amazon gift card for music downloads, and one small one-Nutella. So I need 12 more small ones- any ideas, please? My arthritis has really flared up badly and I can’t see the new rheumatologist for fifteen more days so my walking isn’t good and I don’t feel like wandering stores. If I have concrete ideas, I can send dh on a mission to get them or maybe just go to one or two stores to get them.</p>

<p>We went big for our DD’s 18th and did a present tower. Each present had a clue - the first five were a name (DD, Mom, Sister, Friend, Friend); the next was the name of a hotel that she had never heard of, the next was a date, and the bottom present had a toy cable car. The present was a girls trip for her sister, me, and two friends overnight to San Francisco. We had a blast, and let them roam “free” in SF and meet us for dinner. A little scary, but hey! We are sending her across the entire continent for college, so she should be able to handle HAight Ashbury!!! Extremely fun for them to have complete independence. Funniest thing they DIDN’T know that got them in a bit of trouble: if you want to take a bus somewhere, you have to stand on the side of the street that aims toward where you are going. They figured it out, and met pretty much every nice person in the entire Bay area in the process.</p>

<p>Hello, again! Apologies for the hiatus. The days seem to be accelerating even faster than usual, which is a fairly pathetic excuse, but it does seem to be the case for our household.</p>

<p>Having gone from the depths of winter to an unseasonably and delightfully warm couple of weeks, the Antarctic chill has returned to Australia, @AvonHSDad, so it’s cold again. But not miserably so (although it is 11C and raining in Melbourne at the moment, I see).</p>

<p>The departures have begun, and like all of you, I imagine, some minutes there is an equanimity and some minutes there is disarray. Which, actually, isn’t much different from our usual, at least, now that I think about it!</p>

<p>In ignoring all the world’s macro issues (e.g. hope all is well with you, samuck), preparations for our D’s send-off party early next week are well in hand. The sushi chefs are organised and the macaroons ordered, etc., so that should be fun. Various phones are ringing with increasing frequency and the ‘dance card’ of days is just about full. A little more packing has been managed and almost everything that has needed to be sourced from here has been. Getting on the plane towards the end of next week … well, gulp, it will be happening.</p>

<p>All of you and your families are in my thoughts. Good luck with your on-going preparations and please have safe travels.</p>

<p>I can’t believe I am first logging on to CC today at 11PM. I guess the fact that we are leaving in 5 days and will only be home for one week between Monday and the beginning of Oct is getting to me.</p>

<p>fogfog - re: credit cards - Amex told me that the students start developing their own credit history when they have an Amex card in their name on parent’s acct.</p>

<p>@MilitaryMom: sorry to hear you’re not feeling well. Some of our gifts were a voter’s registration form (from the post office), some college logo stuff for her college, a duffel bag, cute/weird stuff like a pooping orca key chain, and small gift cards (Body Shop, Starbucks) to fill in at the end. You can do basic toiletries that she will need at school such as shampoo, a makeup case, things for the dorm room such as a fan, hangers, iPod alarm clock, school supplies such as stapler, flash drive, favorite candy or gum, blank DVDs, stationery, stamps, power strip… hope this helps.</p>

<p>My S has had a CC on my account for 2 years now, but has not developed his own credit history (I checked recently). But perhaps that only happens once they turn 18 (which for my S will be next month).</p>

<p>My D has had a credit card on our account, but in her name for several years, since she needed one when she went on a trip to Europe a few years ago. I assumed that the credit would be ours, not hers. What is the best way to check to see if she has credit? She is 18.</p>

<p>PHB: Congratulations to your daughter! Enjoy your weekend with her!</p>

<p>MM: I hope you feel better soon. As for the 18 for 18, I downloaded a voter registration card and printed it. I also included office supplies for his dorm room (scissors, paper clips, stapler, pens, etc.), a paperback book by an author he likes, and small giftcards. You could also frame a couple of photos for her dorm room. Or stock up on toiletries and cosmetics that she’ll need at school.</p>

<p>One week from today, we’ll be in the move-in traffic line at Mizzou! I am emotionally ready but feel so frazzled about final arrangements. The trips to Michigan and West Virginia have put me very behind at work and that is adding to the stress. Plus DH’s new job and news of the new grandbaby. Feel like we haven’t really planned for college properly.</p>

<p>DS2 has promised to give DH and me his full attention on Saturday so we can cross off everything on our list to purchase. His car is going into the shop tomorrow for a laundry list of small repairs He is still disinterested in shopping, partially because he knows his way around Columbia, Mo., and can find what he needs, and partially because he knows we will be back Sept. 2 for the first home football game.</p>

<p>It felt great to sleep in our own beds last night. I will be away two days next week (move-in and a visit to DH’s new job) and four days the following (visit to my “real” office in Indy). The suitcase is getting a workout! </p>

<p>Hugs to everyone who is working through their lists!</p>

<p>have any of you gotten CSI insurance? I’ve been reading about it and was wondering what to do- D has a Macbook Pro with Apple Care plan- not sure what it all covers…</p>

<p>Yep, next Wed. we will be moving him in. Freaky isn’t it? Of course, he is not here to freak out with, because he is out at a water park with friends…and I stare at his unpacked room wondering how this will actually fit in my little car. Put all the “staging area” things into the car (bedding, hangers, etc) and that takes up the entire “trunk” area (this is the Honda CRV which has about the size of a sedan trunk actually, I need the minivan back - loved that size trunk!) - so had to break it to dd that she can’t come because we don’t have room for her. What is most unnerving is this is an early move-in right, the band director said there would be a mailing in Aug. with music, details on the move-in…and there has been nothing since July when he auditioned. So without a thing in writing, I get even more nervous, did we imagine this whole thing? are they THAT disorganized? blablabla.</p>

<p>But I have gotten things done on my to-do list, all I need to get is a door stop - which was recommended on some list of things.</p>

<p>MM - Sorry about the arthritis, is it the humidity/heat?
OWM - I will be right there with you in traffic and in spirit.</p>

<p>Regarding the credit card questions above, if your child is simply on your credit card account as an approved signer he/she is not amassing his/her own credit. The primary holder of the card is the one on the hook for payments, and therefore the recipient of the good or bad credit. If you want your child to start building credit on their own you need to get them a card in their name which will be extremely difficult now that the recent credit card laws have gone into effect: [Credit</a> cards and college students: How new law changes marketing, access](<a href=“http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/college-student-credit-card-law-1279.php]Credit”>http://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/college-student-credit-card-law-1279.php)</p>

<p>My older son (entering his junior year in college) just got his first cc. After two summers of well paying internships allowed him to build up $10,000+ in his bank account the bank agreed to issue him a Visa exclusively in his name. Obviously the need to build credit for these kids is really important, but at 18 and just starting college most kids won’t be able to qualify. Also, it’s a pain to make sure the statements get to them in college so they can pay them on time thereby building their credit ratings. Fortunately on-line banking is available and can eliminate the panicked last minute mailing of a payment. </p>

<p>If your child does get a credit card in his/her name, make sure they use it every month, even if it’s just for $30 or $40, what credit rating agencies want to see is a history of on-time payments, not just that there’s a card in their name.</p>

<p>MM~I’m in a bit of the same predicament, D’s 18th is the first day of class at UA! Since she is going down early for AA, most of the things we could have gotten her she’ll need before the big day. So I’m looking for small sized items that I can ship. I found Alabama duct tape at the Target on University Dr. :)</p>

<p>D and I have spent this week getting all the last minute details, shopping, etc done. It has worked out well since last week was her last week of work (paid internship) and school has started for the other two kiddos so we have the house to ourselves. It is also giving us some bonding time :)</p>

<p>**The next new student move-in is Southwestern University on August 12th.
Move-in day is in 2 days! Where did the summer go? :eek:</p>

<p>University of Alabama and NC State move-ins are just 3 days to go.
University of Missouri (Mizzou) move-in is just 4 days to go (for sorority recruitment).
Millikin University move-in is just 6 days to go.
University of Southern California, University of Missouri, Emory, Baylor and Pitt (band camp) move-in is just 7 days to go.</p>

<p>Last new student move-in is the University of Southern Oregon on September 22nd<br>
Move-in day in 43 days.</p>

<p>The link to the Move-in Date Thread is <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1141579-hs-class-2011-college-class-2015-move-dates-5.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1141579-hs-class-2011-college-class-2015-move-dates-5.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>If you son’s or daughter’s move-in dates and schools are not listed please add them to the list.**</p>

<p>The humidity certainly isn’t helping but most likely I just got the flare from being sick in June. I have found that with an autoimmune disease, getting sick is a mixed blessing and curse. Normally, since the body puts out lots of immune cells to attack the invading bacteria or virus and they are busy doing that, at the time of the sickness, your underlying condition gets better. So my arthritis was a lot better in June. On the other hand, once the body is done fighting the true invader, it is still revered up and the immune system resumes attacking your own body with a vigor. I am just very thankful that while my arthritis is much worse, this time around, I don’t have any specific fatigue problems. </p>

<p>Thanks for all the suggestions for the 18th birthday.</p>

<p>Finished ordering d’s books (or other material). Her most expensive item is simply an online code-$163. What irritates us is that it is a code for listening to some music and a) we probably already own a lot of the music ourselves b) the code probably has an expiration date so if she likes some part of the music, she then has to buy it again.</p>

<p>Per AvonHSDad’s post:
“The next new student move-in is Southwestern University on August 12th.
Move-in day is in 2 days! Where did the summer go?”</p>

<p>I’m guess I’m next up! Supposed to be 105 on Friday at 4:00 p.m. when move-in starts. :eek:</p>