Wish I was going to college!

<p>I just spent the day at UCLA with my d for admitted students day. Aside from the lousy dorm situation (triples in what should be doubles), the campus is amazing and vibrant. I would LOVE to be a college student again and really enjoy the tours. Ahhh, as they say, youth is wasted on the young. Of course while I would have signed up in a minute she'll probably be passing on this admittance, but it was still a glorious day.</p>

<p>My mom thinks so, too. She'd really wants to go to Scripps.</p>

<p>She's been really helpful on this whole process.</p>

<p>When we dropped DS off to start his freshman year at my alma mater 2 years ago, I felt a lot of things I expected.... pride, sadness... and something I didn't expect: JEALOUSY! I knew he was starting a great adventure at a great place, and I remembered how much I loved my college years there. I didn't really want to be a college student again (I never want to be that broke again, ha ha, and I don't miss the studying), but I really wished we could live closer so we could visit and attend sports events more often. And I'm sure he was glad for every mile between us, so we could NOT visit that often, ha ha.</p>

<p>I'd love to be taking all sorts of course just to learn.</p>

<p>WorldSpinner--be sure to tell her!</p>

<p>Me too! I would love to go to any of the schools that have admitted ds.....I even miss all the glossy college mail......</p>

<p>Let's see, someone else plans the meals, buys, cooks and does the dishes. Someone else cleans the bathrooms and living areas. This person is not your mom. All your friends are right down the hall. You get to go to interesting classes and learn new stuff every day. Much of the entertainment is cheap or free. There's a brand new spiffy gym and pool right down the street and it's included in the fees.
Sounds pretty good to me! Can I room with DH?</p>

<p>The tours are great these days. Dorms have become "resident halls". Cafeterias have become "dining commons" with food stations complete with every choice imaginable. Fabulous rec centers with climbing walls and state of the art equipment are on every campus and there are clubs, activities and organizations for every whim and fancy. Instead of 6 foreign languages, they offer 6 kinds of African languages, etc. etc. Oh, by the way, there is the issue of academics, but it feels more like a glorious vacation to me!</p>

<p>This is so interesting! I felt just the same way when we were touring possible schools.</p>

<p>Now that our son is a junior, I have a different point of view. Yes, there are tons of activities. Yes, the campus is gorgeous. But the kid is so busy with the labs, the problem sets, the projects, and the exams that he is not able to participate the way my imaginings would have had it. He is not at all sorry about his choice--he wouldn't be anywhere else, but I am no longer romanticizing the deal.</p>

<p>Did you stop by Diddy Riese for some cookies while you were there?</p>

<p>Not only would I like to be going to college -- I even know what college I would like to go to -- William and Mary. I fell in love with it when touring colleges with my daughter. It would have been a perfect fit for me, but thirtysomething years ago, living in a different part of the country, I didn't even know it existed.</p>

<p>Of course, my daughter wasn't enthused about W&M at all. And that's as it should be. Different person, different tastes. Ironically, she actually ended up at my real alma mater, which is a better fit for her than it was for me.</p>

<p>Since I completed my Ph.D. as an "older" student, my latest college experience is part of my recent memory. It was great to go back to school after many years out of college, but I am glad I'm done. Forever. (Still a huge college football fan - the last vestige of my college years . . . )</p>

<p>I am, however, very excited for my S who will start college this fall. During this summer's college road trip, I couldn't help but think about all the great experiences that are awaiting him over the next four years. Interestingly, he had a favorite college from the trip, and that's the college that offered him the full ride. It does seem like the perfect fit for him. (Was his gut telling him something?)</p>

<p>Since he made his decision a few weeks ago about which college he is going to attend (yes, the college road trip favorite), he has been reading more closely about the housing, food, classes, city, etc. of his college. The excitement on his face is priceless! Ah, to be young and getting ready to give the new wings their first real workout.</p>