<p>OK - I am the one who said your kid should not go far away. That you should be close to your kid and sending them far away was a big mistake. Guess what? Son just got accepted into Skidmore and he one of 36 chosen to start their college career in London. UGH! I know what I said, but I think it is the opportunity of a lifetime. Maybe Karma set in? This is a very tough decision, but wow what a great way to start college. They spend part of the time at Oxford. Does anyone think an 18 year old can handle themselves on their own in London? Son is very happy, but very very nervous about the whole London thing. Anyone out there with any advice? I will admit I am a very nervous dad, really, any advice would be so appreciated!</p>
<p>He will be fine -- my son has been in London on his own numerous times (he is 18) and spend the summer at Cambridge. You are correct -- it is the opportunity of a lifetime.</p>
<p>I love, love, love the town of Oxford. I don't know the Skidmore program, but it might be a very interesting and unique way to start college. There is something to be said for for the camaraderie of a very small group doing something unusual together. I've experienced that a couple of times. It's a great experience.</p>
<p>Why not? What is the downside? Because it's not the US? Just far away? What are you worried would happen? Or are you even actually worried or just wanted to write about it? </p>
<p>I have a 13 yo who I could send to London on her own. Seriously. If he can do college, for surely he must be able to live in London for a bit.</p>
<p>I agree it sounds like a great opportunity too--
Is it an option for those 36 students, or is it part of an admissions agreement? For example, if he decided he'd rather spend his freshman year with his new classmates at Skidmore, could he go to London sophomore year instead? I know in many schools they often go abroad junior year, but am guessing this must be something different (?)</p>
<p>I think it would be a great opportunity, but depending upon your child, it might be stressful for you as a parent to have him so far away. If so, there may be concrete reasons for this that requires careful consideration, but it still could be a great experience for the child. </p>
<p>Another consideration in terms of London is the expense - multiply NYC times two.</p>
<p>All that being said, if my child had the chance to spend time at Oxford his Freshman year I would be very excited!</p>
<p>Wow what an opportunity. There are tons of 18 year olds handling themselves in London. I was one of them about a hundred years ago. You know your kid better than we do - so long as you feel he is mature enough to handle it then like I said - wow great opportunity. (and the fact there is a group of them not just him on his own makes it a little easier I think).</p>
<p>I do understand your qualms - my daughter has been talking about doing peace corps after college and I was reading up on it and started feeling a bit blubbery at the thought of her been far away and hard to contact for two years. And she is just a freshman - yeah I'm pathetic. My advice - if she is excited be excited for her. She'll probably have some nerves - that is natural - but she has something special that she has been selected for this opportunity. It will be a lot harder on you!</p>
<p>They'll be fine. London is no more difficult to live in than any large US city.</p>
<p>My 16 year old high school student is doing a year abroad in Provence France where he lives with a host family. So your mileage may vary. He and I met up in London earlier this year. I would have NO qualms about letting him live in London for a semester at 18. What an amazing opportunity. I'll bet my son adds Skidmore to his list for the chance to do this!</p>
<p>Go for it!</p>
<p>Agree with all the other posters. He's not really alone anyway, he's with 35 other instant friends who will really get to know each other in a way that they wouldn't in the States. I wouldn't think twice about it.</p>
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I think it is the opportunity of a lifetime.
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<p>You betcha! Tell him to go!</p>
<p>While my children did not attend school abroad at 18, my daughter is now abroad as a junior in college. Just from the phone conversations, I can not believe how much she has grown and become so independent and well traveled.</p>
<p>I think going as an 18 year old with a group of students that will be your classmates for 4 years would be a wonderful experience. A small group experience will allow the students to bond and go through the freshman year transition together. I say go for it!!</p>
<p>A friend of my daughter's was offered a similar opportunity at another LAC -- spending her first semester freshman year in Spain. She went, had a total blast, had no problem coping with being abroad. </p>
<p>However, when she came back and started school second semester, she had some transitioning problems. She is a very friendly, outgoing person, never had trouble making friends, but found it hard to break into the already formed friendship groups among freshmen who had been on campus first semester. She hung out with the other kids in her program, but did want to meet other people, and found that difficult.</p>
<p>I know she was unhappy in the beginning; rumor is she's happier now, but I don't have details. </p>
<p>I think the opportunity is great, but your son might want to consider whether he wants to miss the first few weeks of school, when everyone else is meeting each other. If Skidmore is his first choice (or only choice), I'd definitely say go for it. But if he has other choices, other schools he likes, then he needs to consider whether he wants to miss having a more typical freshman year.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much that have responded to this. I called Skidmore today and talked to them about some of the questions (concerns) I have. After talking to them, I have many fewer concerns. They said they wanted a diverse group to represent Skidmore and start their freshmen year in London. They do this freshmen experience at the college where all freshmen take it and they take course around a central theme. In London, they not only read and write about them, but actually experience what they are learning about first hand. I will admit both my son and I are nervous, but are also very excited. Thanks again to anyone who weighed in on this, I really appraciate it!</p>
<p>hey, jollymom, as a junior I am only a little interested in Skidmore, but this thread piqued my interest!
I love London and was/am actually considering applying to some schools in the UK, but I don't think that will happen because of how their universities are set up to concentrate on only a single major, and I'm not totally set on one.
do you have a link that explains more about this program you're talking about?</p>
<p>Here it is:</p>
<p>Skidmore</a> College: The London First Year Experience</p>
<p>I really hope he takes this offer as it seems incredible. I know, his choice, but dad wants him to choose the path less taken, because this time it will make all the difference.</p>
<p>Hi jollymon!</p>
<p>My daughter also got the London offer today. We actually stayed very close to where the program is last summer when we were there on vacation, so we know the area and I think the kids would be fine there. We were very impressed with how safe London was and my two girls went all over the place by themselves while I did my own thing. </p>
<p>I am on the other hand feeling so unsure of this whole program and how it compares to her other choices. I really don't seem to be able to figure out if this is a good thing academically or not. Although she's very outgoing, I'm also uncertain of how it works socially when she starts at the main campus 2nd semester.</p>
<p>AFter I read your post, I thought it sounded really neat. My son is a current sophomore in high school on a year abroad right now. He would think this is just <em>too cool</em> as he really wants to live in London at some point. I think that Skidmore will be added to his college list because of this program and their other international offerings.</p>
<p>that program sounds fantastic! this just made skidmore like 10x more attractive to me!
a couple of questions:
1) If you do the London FYE, can you still study abroad there again during junior/senior year?
2) Do any other colleges offer similar programs?</p>
<p>The only reservations I have about this is the idea that you would be starting college at skidmore during second semester, after most kids have already made their groups of friends, etc. I think I would want to talk to someone already in the program about re-adjusting.</p>
<p>Arcadia U in Pennisylvania has a similar program, I believe.</p>