DS came home on Friday and it’s been a whirlwind. We’re heading out tomorrow for Christmas with my parents so there are lots of things to take care of before then. He has worn out all but one pair of shoes/boots - he does a lot more walking over there! He was very happy to be home but already missing his college friends. The texts are flying pretty constantly when he’s awake.
We went to see the new Star Wars movie yesterday morning. A friend from high school arranged to meet us there and told us not to tell him. We were parking outside the theater and he said, “I need to get together with A but I don’t think she’ll have time until after Christmas”. We walked into the theater and there she was! One of the things that made me sad after he left was that I missed his friends. It was so nice hanging out with A and hearing all the gossip!
Interesting developments over here. First, grades are in and S19 did really well in his courses. And, he has decided to pursue an AROTC scholarship. All good stuff. He’s in the right major (English and writing) and the military path feels right.
But, he is still struggling with the vastness of the Penn State. From a social perspective. He says things like “well, this is more like the real world and I have to get used to it.” That sort of thing. I just listen while thinking “yeah, but you don’t sound entirely happy.”
He has spoken with me wondering if Susquehanna would have been a better fit. Mr. InfinteWaves and I would have chosen for him to go there if it had been up to us. It’s small with an amazing writing program. Combined AROTC program with Bucknell. And as it turned out, one of his best friends is there now as a writing major.
Well, a few days ago, he received a post card from Susquehanna. If he wants to transfer in for spring or fall 2020, they will honor his original acceptance offer. All he would have to do is send over his course work from Penn State. He can decide by the middle of March for fall.
I think it’s good for him to have this option right now. Even if he decides not to take Susquehanna up on it.
Very interesting. This is the about the 4th school I have heard that is directly contacting previously admitted students with the hope they will transfer for spring or next fall…prior to this past October, NACAC rules disallowed this.
All in all I like it and think it does provide another option for students, and having more options tends to be better. Of course the money has to work out too.
Sound like your S had a great academic first semester, I look forward to hearing if he will stay put, or take Susquehanna up on their offer. Good luck.
@Mwfan1921 The post card from Susquehanna specifically states that the university will honor S19’s previously awarded merit scholarship. Which brought the COA down to significantly less than PSU, but just a bit more than our actual state schools.
S19 went into AROTC uncommitted. So we don’t know when, or if, he will get a scholarship on that front. So Mr. InfiniteWaves and I need to proceed as the full-payers that we are. Susquehanna made S19 a fantastic offer.
As a PA resident, I can’t help but wonder if PA-based private schools like Susquehanna, knowing that the higher in-state costing PSU juggernaut is so strong, play this card to catch kids like S19. Lots of PA resident kids end up at PSU main campus and find it overwhelming.
As a marketing move, it makes sense given the tiered “state school” situation here in PA. But I work in marketing and PR. So that’s how I think about it.
Yes, it seems like that could be a good strategy for PA-based private schools (or really any school)…perhaps an unintended consequence of the NACAC change to allow transfer recruiting will be a benefit to smaller, private LACs.
That’s how I think about it too! I would expect that there are many frosh/soph students at all types of schools who might be questioning their college decision, and a communication from a school they had previously been accepted to might garner serious consideration.
Haven’t been very active on CC lately but I have been catching up and reading the stories of all our 2019 HS graduates! Seems like everybody has adjusted well and is enjoying their college experiences. Wishing you all a happy and healthy holiday season!
So, things with D19 seem on an even keel college wise at the moment. I think the nerves from before were largely around the one midterm she bombed. She didn’t get a great final grade for the subject (passed, but not well) but got As for everything else and seems prepared to put that down to a bad experience and move on. We’ve also discussed rooming options for next year, it seems sophomores get first choice for upperclassmen housing and it is apparently relatively easy for them to get singles, but if she doesn’t we will get a room in a shared apartment. I think getting her own space back will remove a big part of the stress she’s been feeling. And finally, she’s realized it’s not the end of the world that she still doesn’t know exactly what she wants to major in! So for now at least, all seems back on track. Hoping it will be a good second semester…when she finally gets there, she still has another month of break!!
We are hoping that our not-so super-social son will have an opportunity to be an RA in the near future. My thinking is that might help him have some baked in friends. He’s s great leader and an Eagle Scout but needs help finding his peeps. Academically he did amazing.
Spent the day with Mr. InfiniteWaves’ side of the family. S19 and S21 were the youngest of their cousin generation in attendance.
All of the cousins there already graduated from college. All went to large universities. One went to Penn State, where S19 is now. They all asked S19 how it’s going. As you all might remember, S19 has been wondering if a smaller school might have been better from a social perspective. Even though he loves his major and AROTC.
Well, gotta love my nieces and nephews. S19 was honest with them about how he’s been feeling. And the stories started flowing. This and that. Freshman year was all about figuring everything out. The friends thing didn’t solidify for any of them until sophomore year. My nephew’s new girlfriend even offered up how she tried a bunch of things she never thought she’d ever do (pledge a sorority) just to meet people.
I could see the relief on S19’s face as his cousins laughed, reminisced, and reassured him. Not surprisingly, the Penn State alum cousin offered the most reassurance to his fellow Nittany Lion. S19 is feeling like a normal college freshman at a big school.
During the drive home, S19 said that he feels much better, understands it just takes time, and that he definitely wants to stay at PSU.
On the friends bit, funnily we were talking about that earlier today. My best friend till today is the bff I made in college - but I only met her half way through my second year. It does take time.
@InfiniteWaves good for the cousins! The cousins on my side are older than DD and they spent time the last year or two scaring my DD about student loans so that was good too as she was considering her options.
DD is keeping busy. Had DD’17 home from Saturday to Friday with her, she had Christmases all weekend, today a HS friend and maybe BF coming out, tomorrow another HS friend overnight, then two college friends here Wed-Saturday. Next week she can work on audition pieces and scholarships, and go to wrestling meets. Break will be over quickly!
@InfiniteWaves good story! And, yes, knowing it’s “normal” to struggle freshman year on the friend front must help a lot. I think sometimes kids feel like everyone else is happy and it’s just them. This will probably help him reach out even more since he now knows that others are in the same boat.
@InfiniteWaves - Such a nice story. It’s great that your son opened up to the cousins and was able to get some support and insight. So many kids believe they should be loving their colleges in that first semester and it seems like it takes quite a bit longer for a lot of them. I’m sure social media doesn’t help either.
I hope you all are enjoying time with your kids and have a wonderful new year!
Agree with all about the cousins input, @InfiniteWaves It’s amazing what a little insight from people not so very far removed and who you like and respect can help with perspective. So glad the cousin input helped!
And @elena13 100% agree that social media doesn’t help. I really feel for kids these days with all of this exposure to only the good stuff people are putting out there. Completely not real or at least not the whole picture. I’m really hoping at some point there’s a social media backlash but at this point, it just seems to be getting worse.
My D19 is heading back “home” today. She’s excited about the coming semester. She updated her resume, applied for three internship jobs for the summer, and filled out a bunch of backed up paperwork that came here during the last semester.
No idea when we will see her again, but it was a good visit.
I have mentioned that DD and roommate were thinking of adding 2 girls to the 2 bedroom apartment they have already leased for next year, to save money. He said if so he’d have to raise the total rent a little so I was guessing they might still each save around $200/month. However, they asked today and he raised it enough that they will only save $100/month. I’m disappointed and wondering whether it’s worth it to be more crowded. DD does love to have friends around all the time. I’m not sure her roommate feels the same.
@bjscheel , that’s a bummer! I guess there is no negotiating power since the lease has been signed. I kind of think he shouldn’t be able to raise it at all, unless utilities are included! But I guess you’re at his mercy since the lease is signed with only the original 2. My D17 is in a 2 BR apt with 4 girls. She’s a junior and hasn’t had a room of her own yet, and she’s definitely tired of sharing a room. She’s looking for something else for next year where she can have her own. But for this year (Junior), it felt worth it to get a nicer apt that cost more and just have roommates.
