<p>Am I right that IU's Spring break for 2010 is March 13-22 (or within a day or two?) We want to fly out and visit during our h.s. break which is April 5-9. So that sounds perfect! My daughter was concerned our breaks would coincide and that there wouldn't be any students on campus. Looks like there will be in early April! All rested and ready to work after their Spring break! :)</p>
<p>I haven't checked it out yet, but I thought I read something about Red Carpet Days. Is this in lieu of one of those Open House weekends you often see on campuses in the Spring? Do we just need to find out when these Red Carpet Days are and plan accordingly? Since we'll be flying out from California I really want to make sure we can take advantage of whatever special events they have planned for admitted students (or those still contemplating applying.) </p>
<p>Would we be flying into Indianapolis? Would it be best to take s shuttle to Bloomington from there vs. renting a car? I think we would rent a car in August if she decided to go to IU. Then we can shop at the local stores to buy for her dorm.</p>
<p>Also, how close to the campus are the hotels? How much is the one in the student union?</p>
<p>If anyone has any tips about flying out in early April, please let me know! I'm NOT a flyer! In fact, I may need to ask my doc for something strong to take. WAKE me up when we get there! LOL</p>
<p>Yes, the Red Carpet Days are basically accepted-student tours and information sessions. I went to the first one they had back in March and had a good time. If I remember correctly, they are a few times a week for a solid month and a half or two, if not 5 days a week. Flying into Indy would make the most sense. The shuttle is really convenient and only $30 round trip for each person, but I liked having a rental car when I was visiting. Our day in March was unusually cold so it was nice to be able to drive around to the farther parts of campus that the tour didn’t cover - ie, Third St., North Jordan, some of the dorms, Assembly Hall, etc. I think if you didn’t have a car, you would be fine though. There are lots of hotels very close to campus, obviously the one in the Union being the most convenient. I haven’t ever stayed there, but I heard it’s booked up like crazy and not exactly cheap.
And PLEASE if your daughter picks IU, don’t wait until you get here to buy all your dorm room needs! It will be slim pickings for her, and if she’s anything like me, I was quite picky about all my stuff for my room.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your info. and tips, ElizaB! If my husband doesn’t fly out with us in the Spring, then I think my friend from Columbus will pick us up at the airport and we’ll stay at her house. She said she lives 45 minutes from IU. I can probably rent a car there so she wouldn’t have to tote us around. I’ll have to figure out the details. Having IU so far away from us is the only thing that I need to come to terms with. I’m so used to hopping in the car to visit a particular college. I don’t even like driving down to Southern California to visit THOSE schools! :)</p>
<p>As for dorm needs, I know we can pre-order stuff at Bed, Bath and Beyond and pick it up at the Bloomington store. And, maybe we can buy some things at cheaper stores here and ship them out to her dorm to coincide when she moves in. Then she can take a few suitcases with all her clothes…at least the ones she’ll need until winter. She can fly home for Christmas and “exchange clothes” to take back with her. </p>
<p>Do you share a room? Or do you have a single? I was thinking that if she had a single it might look like she’s anti-social. Of course, that’s the way I would want to go! I love my “alone-time” and yet I can also socialzie with the best of 'em! But when I’m done…bye bye, back to my solitare time! LOL</p>
<p>ElizaB wrote:</p>
<p>Yes, the Red Carpet Days are basically accepted-student tours and information sessions. I went to the first one they had back in March and had a good time. If I remember correctly, they are a few times a week for a solid month and a half or two, if not 5 days a week. Flying into Indy would make the most sense. The shuttle is really convenient and only $30 round trip for each person, but I liked having a rental car when I was visiting. Our day in March was unusually cold so it was nice to be able to drive around to the farther parts of campus that the tour didn’t cover - ie, Third St., North Jordan, some of the dorms, Assembly Hall, etc. I think if you didn’t have a car, you would be fine though. There are lots of hotels very close to campus, obviously the one in the Union being the most convenient. I haven’t ever stayed there, but I heard it’s booked up like crazy and not exactly cheap.
And PLEASE if your daughter picks IU, don’t wait until you get here to buy all your dorm room needs! It will be slim pickings for her, and if she’s anything like me, I was quite picky about all my stuff for my room.</p>
<p>Columbus, OH is more like three hours from Bloomington, IN, not 45 minutes (it takes 35 minutes to get to Bloomington just from Indianapolis)–but it is still a drive that won’t be that difficult–especially in April.</p>
<p>Also - if you rent a car…and the BBB Bloomington is out of … whatever - and/or Columbus (IN) doesn’t have it either…it’s not a very long drive to Indy. There is TONS of shopping just south of Indy, in Greenwood. It’s not EXACTLY on your way from the airport to Bloomington, but not very out of the way either. So, if she gets in her dorm and finds she can’t live without something…you and/or she can drive up to Indy and shop before you leave. However…one thing to keep in mind…if you DO “medicate” yourself to fly - let your daughter drive. Just sayin’…</p>
<p>Good call about pre-ordering at BBB! I’m in a double in Briscoe. It’s worked out perfectly for me so far - my roommate and I “met” over Facebook and it’s been the ideal living situation. No conflicts, no problems whatsoever. That said, I know some people with terrible roommates who are making their freshman year experience miserable. I get enough “alone time” because my roomie and I have very different schedules, so when I’m back in the room studying and whatnot, she’s in class and vice versa. Being in a single might be tough the first week or two, yes, but the girls I know with them now are so happy they’re in one. Being in a single doesn’t give off an anti-social vibe to me, just as long as your daughter is willing to put forth the extra effort to put herself out there and make friends. Having a roommate is like a built-in friend that first week when you don’t know anyone, and not having that could be a little difficult.</p>
<p>Columbus, Indiana. Trust me on this. I would never expect someone to drive 3 hours to pick me up at the airport. Heck, I feel grateful for ONE hour. ;-)</p>
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<p>Calcruzer wrote:</p>
<p>Columbus, OH is more like three hours from Bloomington, IN, not 45 minutes (it takes 35 minutes to get to Bloomington just from Indianapolis)–but it is still a drive that won’t be that difficult–especially in April.</p>
<p>All good tips! And, don’t worry—I wouldn’t even THINK of driving if I took something for my fear of flying. Actually, we probably won’t rent a car for this trip now that I think of it. I’m putting together another plan that I hope will work! I’ll let you know in a sec…</p>
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<p>R124687 wrote:</p>
<p>Also - if you rent a car…and the BBB Bloomington is out of … whatever - and/or Columbus (IN) doesn’t have it either…it’s not a very long drive to Indy. There is TONS of shopping just south of Indy, in Greenwood. It’s not EXACTLY on your way from the airport to Bloomington, but not very out of the way either. So, if she gets in her dorm and finds she can’t live without something…you and/or she can drive up to Indy and shop before you leave. However…one thing to keep in mind…if you DO “medicate” yourself to fly - let your daughter drive. Just sayin’…</p>
<p>Here’s what I’m thinking might be fun if it’s feasible. Fly out to Indy on Tuesday April 6. Catch the shuttle to the Biddle Hotel at the Student Union. Spend 3 nights there (pay midweek rates.) On Wednesday check out the town of Bloomington. Walk around the downtown area and maybe catch a bus to check it out further if we want. Thursday I’m hoping my daughter can do the Overnight Visit with a HOST student. I talked to someone and it’s still not up online for reservations yet. That way she can get the feel for the campus, a class and maybe some activities. Heck, she can even go to a tame party if she wants. I’ll be right on campus at the hotel. Then Friday I’m hoping will be a Red Carpet Day. I called and the woman said the registration site isn’t up yet. Anyway, we’ll take a tour and participate in whatever other activities they have for admitted students. Then later that day I’m hoping my friend from Columbus can pick us up and we’ll spend the weekend at her house, leaving early Sunday morning. Or if we can always leave on Saturday if she’s got something else planned. </p>
<p>How does that sound? I like the idea of being right on campus, especially since I won’t have a car. I know it can be rainy in the Spring. I can try to get the economy double and see if they won’t put in a twin rollaway if I ask very nicely. </p>
<p>Well, I’ll see how it goes! When I mentioned this to my daughter, she whined, " Why does it have to be during Spring break??? It will be my last one while I’m in high school." SORRRRY! And, no I am NOT going on a 4 day weekend in January! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr.</p>
<p>Okay, I jumped to a false conclusion. It was that comment about “picking me up at the airport and staying in Columbus” that threw me. I presumed that meant you were being picked up at the Columbus airport–and therefore in Ohio. </p>
<p>Thanks for the clarifications hoosiermom and 2Leashes–and I’m relieved to realize that you don’t have that 3 hour drive each way.</p>
<p>I would just add one thing to the pre-order at BBB. We struggled with this too, being on the East Coast. My son wanted to bring his bicycle so we figured we would drive out and haul all his stuff but shortly before we had to leave, my husband suffered a back injury and the long drive wouldn’t have worked for him. We ended up getting an unbelievable fare on Southwest Airlines and because they allow two bags of up to 50 lbs per traveler, we just stuffed six suitcases full! That plus a carry on each and we managed to bring all his stuff. We talked to someone who did pre-order from BBB and they said that the items they picked up were not exactly what they saw in their store when they shopped. For example, a striped towel was replaced with a solid color – that type of thing. Anyway, I just think that Southwest is the way to go!</p>
<p>Also, we visited during Red Carpet Days and thought they did an excellent job. It was worth planning our trip around that.</p>
Of course, that’s the way I would want to go! I love my “alone-time” and yet I can also socialzie with the best of 'em! But when I’m done…bye bye, back to my solitare time! LOL</p>