<p>Other than HC Alum, there seem to be VERY few current or former Haverford students who read or reply to the various Haverford discussion threads.This is in fairly stark contrast to many other LAC discussion threads. I'm wondering whether this says something about the type of students who choose Haverford or whether they are all just too busy, happy, disinterested in anonymous online chatter or ???? to be bothered reading or weighing in on these "discussions". Perhaps there is an unspoken assumption that people who spend time participating in discussions at College Confidential need to go out and get a life. And to some degree that may be true. But personally I think that these discussions are one of many lines of inquiry that can help students and parents get a better feel for the cultures of different colleges. It seems unlikely that there will be any response to this general inquiry (except from HC Alum, of course) but I felt compelled to at least make an observation here. And by the way, thank you HC Alum for your many thoughtful responses and observations. Are you connected to Haverford Admissions?</p>
<p>Youre right. I seriously need to get a life thats what my common sense GF and college best friend told me when I showed them CC they were embarrassed for me. :)</p>
<p>I have nothing to do with admissions. Im a physician (trained @ Penn) and am currently @ a great/cush fellowship in health services research @ UCLA where Im also getting an MPH in management / possible dual MBA too... and as you can tell, I'm on the computer a lot and have high speed internet in my office!</p>
<p>Other than donating $50/year to HC since graduating in 1996, I havent done anything college related until now. Thinking about my 10 year reunion (didnt go) caused me to reflect on how special HC is and how thankful I am of my time there and I came across this website one night last year. The main reason why I procrastinate here is because I like to give more $ to HC, but given I just paid off my $79,000 med school debt last year and now have a mortgage, I cant, so I took it upon myself to volunteer a little of my time here. </p>
<p>In the last 6 months, I think there were several alumni here: me, an ophthalmologist, a corporate lawyer and a professor all of whom seem pretty cool and which I keep in touch.</p>
<p>I understand your concern that other sites get more traffic, but honestly, more isnt better and Im not impressed (and frequently disturbed) with whats being written elsewhere (mostly, its overly stressed applicants making life more anxious than it needs to be, TOP students surprisingly wanting to be spoon-fed info instead of simply looking up basic questions for themselves, parents with serious empty nest syndrome or internet addiction, people that cant think in grey scale, prestige freaks, people trying to make a science out of elite college selection when its not, and on one LAC forum, a pathologically mean-spirited freshman). Im proud to know that none of these things are Haverfordian and, as the saying goes, silence can be a powerful commentary in itself.</p>
<p>I think its good that HC students dont participate too much on this site they probably have too much work, too much going on and too much common sense to be here (although, cough cough an occasional messages would be nice!). Also, therere plenty of discussions at HC to engage students napkin notes in the dining center where students regularly compliment or recommend improvements to the food, 1st Thursdays where President Tom Tritton meets with students to address issues, the online comment board, Plenary, classroom debates/ discussions, customs group facilitations on race, sexuality, alcohol , informal student debates @ dinner, @ parties, in Lunt Café, in dorm rooms, while sober, drunk or stoned and probably while asleep too.</p>
<p>If you feel this is an issue (and I sort of see your point), maybe you should drop Jess Lord in the admissions office an email and, by HC tradition um discuss this with him and find consensus? :) He can probably get a few admissions volunteers to join this site but, as I write very fast, I dont mind holding down this fort. </p>
<p>P.S. Hows your son doing?!</p>
<p>I certainly didn't mean to suggest that you need to get a life. I really appreciate all of the thought and personal experience that you bring to your comments. I'm probably the one who needs to get a life...as a new empty nester...but I just can't seem to resist checking CC to see what's being said at Haverford. My son (the third and youngest), a freshman at Haverford, seems quite happy and well- settled - enjoying everything about his new life from classes to friends to baseball. He's working hard, but also seems to be figuring out how to balance the academic demands with time to play and seems to be working it all out. I'm delighted for him but also interested in fleshing out my general feel for his life at Haverford with info from others who are sharing or have shared the Haverford experience.</p>
<p>So thank you again for being such a wonderful resource and please don't "get a life" as far as abandoning your contributions to CC. I'm sure that anyone else who follows the Haverford threads appreciates your thoughts! It would be interesting to hear from others as well but in the meantime you're doing a great job "holding down the fort"! I might take your suggestion and drop Jess Lord an e-mail, but it's probably more meaningful to have people contribute their thoughts voluntarily than by assignment!</p>
<p>Hi, my D is a junior at Haverford. The commentary made me chuckle...given that she called me earlier today to say that her paper was written and she was off to catch up on other reading. So, I guess they are busy!</p>
<p>In the summer of 2004, when D was an entering first yr, the CC-Haverford boards were buzzing. D met up with some good people before arriving on campus. She, too, is happy and receiving a great education at Haverford. D can't believe that I'm still lurking..that's because D2 is a high school junior. ;)</p>
<p>Gungadin, I know you didn't direct that at me. But even if you meant I should "get a life", you'd be in good company along with my GF and good friend from college and I would have to agree. In my defense though, I have fantastic time management skills and get things done pretty quickly and I have so much more time in fellowship than during residency/internship.</p>
<p>I understand where you're coming from... I'm the youngest and when my parents dropped the 3 of us off in the tri-co, my mom had serious separation issues exacerbated by hormonal fluxes from menopause and my dad wound up driving to visit us on a monthly basis for the 1st 6 months as he missed us too... however, when I came back for Fall break, i wasn't pleased to see my room so quickly converted into the new library...</p>
<p>Normally, you can keep up with your son thru the student newspaper but I think the new editors haven't figured out how to update the online version yet like last year's editors. There's a lot of interesting stuff being written on the CPGC newsletter that you can get from that site for the time being.</p>
<p>Archermom... I'm in LA too. I was at the HC functions in the Palisades and Santa Monica last year. Were you there? There was also a Kannerstein lunchtime event in Beverly Hills- actually, a gated community in Beverly Hills- but I didn't go because of work issues and the fact that I was too lazy to clean the dead bugs off my car's windshield to probably pass the gate check. :) If you have the time, you should go to these things...</p>
<p>anyhow, back to work...</p>
<p>Thanks for more good ideas for keeping up, HC Alum! And as for your "getting a life", it sounds like you have a very busy and productive one. I'm impressed and appreciative that you make time to really weigh in meaningfully in your responses.
Archermom -My son has no idea that I'm "lurking" (I like your choice of words!) on CC. He'd be horrified, I'm sure. Oh well - sometimes ignorance is bliss!
I was expecting to have more separation distress than I'm actually experiencing. I attribute a lot of that to my sense that my son is in a school that really fits him well and that he's quite ready to be there. The hardest part is having so little opportunity to participate (or even be an interested spectator) in his life - meet his friends, watch his games, be involved in his school and generally have something of a window on how he is and what he's doing. Phone conversations and e-mail just don't give me as much color and information as I'd like. I am looking forward to Family Weekend in October which I imagine will flesh out his daily life picture quite a bit.
I just discovered CC this past spring - and as we know it's a blessing and a curse. I'm just glad that I didn't know about it during all of the years my older two sons have been or were in college.
Anyway, it's really nice to talk with the two of you and now I have to go get something done. I am not a good time manager nor a speedy typist and CC is a time muncher for sure - but an enjoyable one!</p>
<p>I have not been as active a participant on the CC boards since my daughter completed her college search. Nonetheless, I still occasionally check the Haverford site. I enjoy reading HC Alum's posts as they are usually both informative and representative of my feelings about Haverford. There is often not much more information to add.
As an alum who pursued graduate education/training at a few highly regarded institutions (U. of Chicago, Yale, and Harvard), I can think of no better place for an undergraduate experience than Haverford. It was very difficult to "stand on the sidelines" while my daughter made her college choice. I am thrilled that she, thus far, is incredibly happy at Haverford. She has made some great friends and is enjoying her classes. One quick suggestion for Gungadin: perhaps you and your son could get web cams. I have had some great webcam meetings with my daughter...much more satisfying than the phone and e-mail.
I have to publicly thank HC Alum for his active participation on the board and help in researching topics. Please keep up the great work!!!</p>
<p>I, too, enjoy reading HC Alum's current (and insightful) perspectives of his experience at Haverford...especially having had siblings attend both Swarthmore and Bryn Mawr. Luckily, D1 kept her digital camera handy and sent many photos of friends and good times during her frosh yr...so, we felt like we knew them all...and somewhat still connected to her life! :) I still recall her saying that everyone that she met was "amazing" and "smart"...one in particular was a classics major---but was a math genius!</p>
<p>HC Alum...In June of 2004, we had THREE graduations---D1 from high school, D2 from middle school, and D3 from elementary! H & I were totally exhausted from that and the college admissions process. After moving D1 to TriCo, we re-focused our efforts on the children at home and their education at different schools. And, although we have yet to attend local Haverford events, H & I are strong proponents of the college...and answer all inquiries from other parents and acquaintances about D's experience. By coincidence, the family of one her good friends from elementary school was touring Haverford last spring (for their younger daughter) and ran into D in the Dining Center! They reported that D looked completely happy and in her element...which is always reaffirming to hear! And, if either of us is wearing a Haverford t-shirt, no matter where we are, a stranger will always stop and tell us that someone in their family graduated from there---and what an exceptional place it is! :)</p>
<p>I hope this doesn't sound petty or as if I'm stereo-typing (though I guess I am), but on another thread someone referred to Haverford as "preppy". When I asked about it, someone else posted that it was "preppier than Swarthmore, but less than Bucknell". My S is planning to apply to Haverford. We've visited twice, but both times in summer, so little chance to get a feel for the student body. Nothing wrong with "prep", of course, but it doesn't match a description of my son. Can anyone comment on this? Thanks!</p>
<p>I wouldn't use the word "preppy" to describe my son or most of the people I've met at Haverford or the people he's described. But then what does "preppy" mean to you and what type of people and/or environment is it that you are concerned about?</p>
<p>When we visited Bates, for instance, the kids all looked like they'd shopped at the same outdoor outfitters store and were about to hop in a canoe. The class my son visited was straight lecture with the kids lined up in rows and prof. in the front. No questions, no discussion. I'm sure it's an excellent school for some kids, but he couldn't get out of there fast enough.</p>
<p>My kid is quirky, interested in the life of the mind, likes to wrestle with ideas and dresses however he feels like, sometimes quite unusually, sometimes jeans and t-shirt. He cares about political stuff and what's happening in the world. He likes to act and sing and tap dance.</p>
<p>I'm not sure how to define preppiness either. Thanks for responding though.</p>
<p>From what I've heard, there's plenty of opportunities for discussions, questions, and even assistantships. As a sophomore, D was a TA in the 1st yr gen chem lab...and enjoyed meeting the incoming class. It kept her sharp for organic chem...and eventually received a summer internship with her professor. Although I wouldn't call her one, D claims she is a closet nerd. ;) One of the highlights her first year was a visit by John Edwards. I hope this helps...</p>
<p>Thanks everyone.</p>
<h2>So to applicants, dont be frustrated that this forum doesnt get much play. Whats written and, most importantly, what not, provides a great window into the substance of HC and what makes it unique. If you visit or spend the night, youll see how passionate many students are for this little college.</h2>
<p>Gungadin I think youve got some great ideas here to keep in touch or lurk or stalk your unsuspecting son. I like the web cam and digital camera ideas. At the risk of me becoming a pariah to current students, you may want to check out these sites if youre curious as to what goes on @ HC and have time to kill </p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com%5B/url%5D">www.flickr.com</a> which is a free public forum for people to post pictures. If you search for haverford or haverfest or customs I think youll be able to find a bunch of pictures.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.haverford.edu/deans/SAO/index.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.haverford.edu/deans/SAO/index.html</a> which is the student activities web page</p>
<p><a href="http://elm.fig.haverford.edu/%7Efilm/%5B/url%5D">http://elm.fig.haverford.edu/%7Efilm/</a> which is the link to the movie making club, started by a friend in the class of 96. Ive only seen a few of them but they seem to range between bad home movies to very skilled pieces of art all of them will give you a glimpse into HC life. I like the one titled big bunny and chasing a dream because theyre both pretty funny, especially the very ending of the latter which is very good natured although public nudity in Suburban Square is always a little distressing. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.haverford.edu/newsletter/%5B/url%5D">http://www.haverford.edu/newsletter/</a> the monthly newsletter</p>
<hr>
<p>Preppy: Are you thinking about bad teen movie preppy? In that case no. Except for the tap dancing and life of the mind description, your son is HC to a T. Hell probably find a few other students that tap, but its not as popular as say studying, singing, acting, track or studying. HC is very modest and nobody would ever want to use the term life of the mind to describe themselves and, given what else you wrote, I imagine your son wouldnt either! :) </p>
<p>Quirky? Lets see 1st year, I dressed up like a witch-doctor for Halloween by weaving cleaned chicken bones into my hair and, liked that look so much, I kept it for several weeks afterwards. Sophomore year, with shorter hair, I dressed up like Superman for Halloween but for a semester afterwards kept my black hair dyed blue as in the comic books. Of note is that I, like many HC students, are also smart enough to know when quirky is no longer appropriate for the real world </p>
<p>As an observation from a student who was considered visually fringe at HC, people who often dress quirky or non-mainstream often think about their appearance more than people who simply go to the mall and get the clothes that are most available. For example, just think about the # of threads on CC where quirky kids are spending inordinate amounts of time ranking and discussing schools based on visual appearance instead of substance. I may have joined in that conversation if CC was around when i was in HS, but I quickly learned @ HC that many kids wear the usual clothes because they really dont care how they look and have better things to engage their time and creativity, rather than simply thinking theyre conformists or boring although a few may be.</p>
<p>haloween's coming up. what does your hair look like now?</p>
<p>More good ideas for long distance "stalking" of day to day life at Haverford! Thanks! I'm going to check out the various sites. My son does have a digital camera but both the web cam and digital camera suggestions require a willing participant on the other end. And while he might well make some movies or take some photos, I suspect that he wouldn't necessarily want to share them with us....hmmm.....but we'll see. I understand and respect that he may need to keep some distance to fully realize his sense of independence. I'll just lurk where I can!</p>
<p>Sounds like Halloween could be lots of fun at Haverford!</p>
<p>Thanks HC alum and others</p>
<p>This does give a better picture. It's not really a clothing issue, it's more of a "does everyone have to be a certain way to be acceptable" issue and it sounds like there's a good range at Haverford.</p>
<p>And he only tap-dances in class or on stage. And you're right, "life of the mind" is my term, not his, but, believe me he's ready for more of it than he gets in his public HS, whatever you want to call it.</p>
<p>My son has reported that one of the things he most enjoys at Haverford is that everyone seems to interact with everyone rather than people dividing into small subsets of like-minded people. While he is a serious athlete, he is also a serious student with a strong intellectual bent, an intense interest in other people and cultures and what makes people tick. He has lots of artistic ability and is a passionate reader. He's meeting and becoming friends with many different types of kids with all kinds of interests and feels that Haverford's culture and size really promote "diversity" of relationship , interaction and friendship. He welcomes discussion and engagement with people who don't share his views and seems to be very happy with the level of academic and personal challenge he is finding at Haverford!</p>
<p>Gungadin: Given your sons interests, he reminds me of this one kid who was around my time. As your son develops his own path, there will be many alumni for him to tap for experience but what Steve Leonard did may be something of interest (baseball, Watson fellowship, international relations) ?? I personally dont know this person, but I have a weird memory for names, especially of people I find interesting. I found this by Googling his name just now </p>
<p>Steve Leonard '95</p>
<p>In a scene repeated daily in American summertime playgrounds, stadiums, and streets, a pitcher stares down the waiting batter sixty feet away. A base runner eases cautiously off second base, taking every inch he can without drawing too much unwanted attention. The pitcher contorts himself into a windup and releases his offering, a fastball that is promptly sent into right field with a short stroke of the bat. All defensive attention is now focused on the runner, who has left second base far behind and is circling third, focused on home plate. The throw from right field is on target, the ball and base runner meeting at the catcher's extended glove. The dust settles from the slide, and the umpire, shouting the slogan that defines him, belts out, "Ne Uspyel!"</p>
<p>Of course this isn't your typical American ballpark. The players, the umpires, and the smattering of spectators are Russian, and the game is being played at Moscow State University. Baseball has gained popularity in Russia since the mid-80's, and Moscow is now home to a junior league and a nine-team upper league. The players are not paid - most are young enough to still live at home or are in university. The teams also scrape by on sponsorships from local businesses or sports clubs. The Red Army fields two teams, and the large sports club Spartak is also a team sponsor. </p>
<p>Steve Leonard went from the Haverford baseball diamond in the spring of 1995 to the Spartak outfield in the fall of the same year. He spent his Watson year studying the development of baseball in the former Soviet Union. He figured the best way to study the game was to play. "I've always played baseball and I love the game," Leonard says, explaining the genesis of his project. "I've also had an interest in Russia since I visited the Soviet Union in 1990 as part of a three-week cultural exchange." The Russian major also read articles on the fledgling Moscow league, and knew he had his angle. "The Watson people always stress that they are looking for a project that is specific to you, one that only you can do. This was the logical one for me."</p>
<p>Russian baseball was much different than the game he was used to playing. Umpires often did not fully understand the rules themselves, needing frequent on-field summits to make calls. Equipment was scarce, meaning that Spartak players were forced to ask American teams who came to play friendship games if they had any extra balls or bats to donate. Coaches also weren't very knowledgeable, making decisions that made little sense. "They don't have years of experience to call upon. Baseball only started in Russia twelve years ago," observes Leonard. However, the players have the same motivations as their American counterparts; they play because they love the sport. The best players have aspirations to play in the U.S., and a few each year are able to pick up with a major league farm team. Leonard's friend, Andrei Selivanov played a year with the Atlanta Braves' rookie team in Florida. There is little chance of seeing a Russian player in the major leagues any time soon, but for the development of the league in Moscow, these experiences are invaluable.</p>
<p>So was Leonard's experience in Russia. His first three months were difficult. He had never spent much time away from his family, he still wasn't fully comfortable with the language, and he had yet to make any close friends. He thought about coming home, but the Watson people calmed him down. "In the Watson Foundation headquarters, they have a big map on the wall, with a colored pin for each fellow. So they were always thinking about us and they would do as much as they could to help us out," Leonard says. He gradually became close friends with his teammates, and did some traveling, both of which helped his spirits. He also by chance appeared on an ESPN special about Russian baseball. Leonard approached a camera crew that was at the Moscow State field and ended up being interviewed for the show. "I didn't think much more of it until I was back in the States and saw myself on t.v. one night," he says.</p>
<p>Currently a Russian history and math teacher at the Heights School in Potomac, Maryland, Leonard has plans to return to Russia this summer with one of his classes. He has also traveled since his Watson year, spending three weeks last summer working in Mother Theresa's Calcutta mission.
The most valuable part of Leonard's Watson year was what he learned about himself. At the end of February 1995, he had to get a new visa, since he could never get the Russians to issue him one for longer than three months. He took a train to Estonia and went to the Russian embassy in Tallinn where he was promptly refused a visa. "This was the first time that I didn't know what to do," Leonard remembers. "But I had been there for six or seven months at this point, so I said to myself, 'Steve, you've got to figure out what to do.'" What he did was hop a train to Lithuania, where he obtained a visa to enter Belarus, finally arriving in Minsk two days later. Without any information on Minsk, he found the American embassy and later the Russian embassy, where he negotiated and obtained a visa. "I spent three days in Minsk; I went to the circus, I saw a concert, visited markets. I found other things to experience," recalls Leonard. "The bottom line is that I found I actually had the knowledge to figure out what to do. I really feel now like I can go anywhere."</p>
<p>"what does your hair look like now?"</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the word would be... "preppy" :(</p>
<p>9/06 HC wedding in Seattle... simple, elegant and by a big pond with ducks... HC alumni in attendance amused and not surprised.</p>
<p>HC Alum -If those pictures are of YOUR 9/06 wedding, CONGRATULATIONS and warmest wishes for a long and happy life together! If not, whose "preppy" hair are we looking at?</p>