<p>S has chosen to attend Ole Miss. We would like to attend parent's weekend at the end of September but it is a football weekend. I have checked with every hotel/B & B within a 20 mile radius and everything is full (weeknd of 9/23/24/10). So far all I've been able to find is a room at a grungy looking motel for $250/night (!) and a cabin at a campground 30 minutes away. Thanks!!!</p>
<p>Have you checked the hotels in Batesville?</p>
<p>Rent a pimped out RV with satellite dish, plasma, all the bells and whistles and throw a tailgate party for your kid and friends and their families.
Your kid will get lots of invitations to visit their hometowns.</p>
<p>Thanks…I saw that Batesville is about 30 minutes away and looks like a good option. Any idea how parkign is handled on campus for football weekends? I imagine it’s a nightmare?</p>
<p>Seriously? Have you done this? Where did you rent the RV and where did you park it before the game? Where did you park it for the weekend? Hey, I never thought my kid would be going to Ole Miss so I never say never about anything anymore:). Thanks for the fun idea!</p>
<p>momrules- Every college with a big football presence has alumni who RV together to home games. Get in touch with the Ole Miss Alumni Assoc. for further details.</p>
<p>We just arrive early in the day (depending on the game start time). Park the car close and make sure we have comfortable walking shoes. Downtown Oxford is a nice walk from campus!</p>
<p>FYI…a football weekend at Ole Miss is amazing. Tailgating on the “Grove” is…well…an event to behold!</p>
<p>Thanks…I appreciate the suggestions…we’ve only been there once…any recommendations of restaurants, places to park etc…?</p>
<p>Off topic I know, but this was the only Ole Miss thread I could find. How hot is it in July? We may be down to visit campus, S is a Jr. Don’t want S to get turned off by extreme heat.</p>
<p>Although I haven’t been there in July, I imagine that it will be VERY hot. I live in VA (near DC) and it’s brutal here as well so I don’t think it will be all that different for my S. All the dorms and buildings at Ole Miss have A/C.</p>
<p>Good to know, my S is considering their summer program and I don’t want him to be totally turned off to college in the South because of the experience! It’s hot where we are too - in CT. It’s the humidity. Last summer S went to a summer program in San Diego- what was I thinking, the weather of course was beautiful, but the UC’s have their issues.</p>
<p>Hope it goes well for your S…just an FYI…we are originally from CT and S was always focused on going to school up there (family, hockey). Got into UNH, URI and waitlisted at UMass, UConn (our alma mater). However, one visit to Ole Miss changed everything for him. A big draw for him is that he might actually be able to play on their new club hockey team (would have been intramurals at midnight up north) and the upbeat feeling of the school. My husband and I were also very impressed. In the end, our S said that he could really see himself being happy at a big spirit school in a warmer climate. The schools of the SEC are a great bargain as well (Ole Miss is 20K per year for OOS including room, board tuition and fees). Best of luck to you and your family!</p>
<p>Thanks Momrules,
We are looking at SEC schools since my S definitely wants a warmer climate. Many of them offer good merit aid as well. Is your S starting at Ole Miss in the fall? I went to UCONN, but I think he would rather go to another state flagship. Looking forward to visiting Ole Miss, 'Bama and Emory over the summer (unfortunately on the weather front), but don’t think we can leave it until fall.</p>
<p>Yes, my S is starting in the fall. IN my heart, it would have been great (and more convenient) to have him in VA or in New England but I can see how excited he is about Miss. I really loved touring the New England schools and thought that all had great things to offer (although I’m sad that UConn tore down South Campus and put up high rises…I loved my time in Wheeler B:). My S is somewhat undecided in terms of majors and, while very bright, is not the most “enthusiastic” student. Ole Miss, like many schools, offers a 1 credit class that I am insisting he take on exploring careers/majors etc…I know that Alabama is a great school as is Emory…I think that the kids just know when it feels right. Keep me posted as you visit:)</p>
<p>S had a great time in the summer program at Ole Miss. I believe he will apply or has already- hard to tell based upon the emails. My main concern is the criteria for the Honors College. I think it’s 3.5 to stay in and that means getting 50% A’s. S comes from a rigorous private high school with no grade inflation, but he is not a grade hunter- example he received an 89 in AP US History, when a 90 would have been worth an additional couple of weighted points? But who knows, I would like to see him in an honors college if he is going to go to an SEC School.<br>
MRules, I’m sure your son will have a great experience at Ole Miss. Keep us posted on how it is going please. There is not much activity on this forum.</p>
<p>I hear two things that should make you feel better if they’re true:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The honors classes are graded more on involvement and passion for learning than “performance” in the usual sense. In other words, doing well hinges on things like contributing to class discussions and undertaking an interesting project, rather than getting a particular score on a test.</p></li>
<li><p>The non-honors classes just aren’t that hard, so it’s not hard to balance out a few low grades and achieve the required 3.5.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Here is an in-depth report by a third-party advisory committee that details both the pros and cons of the Honors College. You may find it as helpful as I did. It’s honest about the program’s shortcomings but still concludes that it’s one of the best in the country. Things may have improved since this was written in March 2007, but I can’t find a more recent report.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/faculty_senate/archives/issues_20070900_honorsreview.pdf[/url]”>http://www.olemiss.edu/orgs/faculty_senate/archives/issues_20070900_honorsreview.pdf</a></p>
<p>Thanks Mantori, good to know. Of course S doesn’t think its an issue. The report was detailed and I haven’t had time to read it all. The honors college is highly regarded, hopefully it will continue to be funded and supported well.</p>
<p>I thought I’d throw in observations of my daughters’ first year in the Honors College. Though contribution and passion are certainly important in the grading at the honors college, please understand that “performance” at the honors level is critical. In general, the standards and pace of the classes are much higher. The required reading and essays/papers are not for the faint of heart. (Even in Honors Physics and Biology) One of my DDs stoped counting the number of essays she wrote last year at 50+. (Length varied widely) And remember, a thesis is required for graduation from the HC.</p>
<p>Now that I’ve scared you, I’ll let you know the results of their first year. The girls absolutely love their professors, the discussion based format and the the critical thinking skills focus. They take great pride in being part of the Honors College Cohort. Many friends have been made and great opportunities have come their way. The minimum GPA has not been an issue. </p>
<p>Last month, they couldn’t get the car pack fast enough to get back to Ole Miss! Yesterday, the first home football game day, I received a message from one of my daughters. She said she just wanted to let me know that she was attending the most beautiful University in the world and how happy she was that she chose Ole Miss. That message made my day.</p>
<p>seekingknowledge, thanks for the caution and the encouragement. Lots of essays are not something that every student can handle, even the really bright ones. My son had a tough time with essays in high school, so I’m kind of holding my breath to see how he handles it.</p>