<p>When my daughter had a mouse in her room at Harvard (Winthrop House), I told to treat it well because it was a direct descendant of the mice that infested the room of John F. Kennedy.</p>
<p>Hi folks - another Harvard parent here (how you doing Coureur?). Riverrunner was a foreign exchange student over on our parents thread and invited us to come visit her in her own land sometime. I have a junior and a freshman at H who both adore Yale. The freshman got to choose between them, but in her particular situation the financial aid favored Harvard to such an extent that Y wasn't a practical choice (her parents' fault - we put the college savings under her own name; that's where the difference in aid policies kicked in). She loves H but does enjoy wearing her Y 2012 t-shirt in her dorm. I'm delighted to have both my girls together, but I sort of regret not having the chance to live the Y experience vicariously as I have the H one (I'm a pretty shameless vicarious college student wannabe). Our S just started HS, so perhaps he'll be looking ay Yale in a few years.</p>
<p>My Ds have both visited Yale, done a cappella there, the older one spent The Game weekend there last November - their impression (which I've quoted on the Harvard boards from time to time) is that tongue-in-cheek rivalry aside, there are probably no two more similar college experiences in the country. Yes, the residential college experience at H begins in the sophomore year, and no, the scope of the graduate and pre-professional programs doesn't appear to impede in any negative way the quality of H undergrad life - those are the two things that I see most often cited as differences. Do your students say that they perceive there's more that connects student experiences at Y and H than separates them?</p>
<p>^^Hi and welcome, gadad! It's too soon in my D's Yale term to know how she would compare it to H. Her cousin is a recent H grad, though, so we'll see what they come up with at the next family get-together.</p>
<p>coureur, maybe my D can name the new resident "Bushy"</p>
<p>I'm flying into La Guardia for Parents Weekend and taking the train to New Haven. </p>
<p>Has anyone used the New York Airport Service bus from La Guardia to Grand Central? I'm wondering if it is easy to find the pick up spot and how on time the buses are.</p>
<p>I am also wondering about that. I would like D to take the train to NYC and then get to LGA for her Christmas flight. Great question!</p>
<p>DD graduated in May. She had a squirrel get into her room once, mice and then there was a rat problem one year. The problem that year was that a group of guys lived upstairs whose cleanliness left a lot to be desired, so it brought the animals in.</p>
<p>Safe travel to all parents who are off to Yale this weekend! I myself am really looking forward to seeing S again and experiencing some of the events on the schedule.</p>
<p>DH & I had attended Parents Weekend for the last two years, but this year, we won't be able to make it due to other plans for this weekend. Maybe next year... To all the other Yale parents who are attending, have a great time in New Haven!!</p>
<p>Highlights of Parents Weekend (besides lots of time with our darling D) :</p>
<ol>
<li><p>While waiting for D to pick up her laundry, we wandered in to Battell Chapel on Old Campus. We had stumbled upon the Wiffenpoofs in full dress rehearsal. Just amazing.</p></li>
<li><p>Visited the Peabody (loved the dinos) and the Art Museum (ditto the Monets, Manets, Van Goghs, etc.)</p></li>
<li><p>Had to make a difficult choice Saturday night, between the many musical and comedic offerings, and ended up at "Just Add Water" for a truly inspired hour of improv. SNL watch out.</p></li>
<li><p>Lots of good food within a block of campus: Pacifico for paella, Atticus for breakfast and baked goods, and Tikka Masala from Zaroka. </p></li>
<li><p>Watched the women's soccer game against Penn on the field behind the Old Field House. It was raining sideways in the second half, and ended in a tie. Oh well. Still worth the trip over to the Field Complex to see the facilities.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Did not attend any "official" events with admin or faculty speakers, mainly because we didn't get there until Friday afternoon. Would love to see a report on those events....</p>
<p>Sounds like a great weekend, riverrunner. Thanks for sharing; since my son is doing a gap year studying abroad (he will be Yale Class of 2013) I am living vicariously through all of you!</p>
<p>Did your D's critter problem get resolved?</p>
<p>We had a terrific time at Parent's Weekend. Our Frosh S is thriving at Yale. He is almost giddy about the place and already speaks about how much he will miss Yale when he graduates. We asked if he was considering a Junior year or semester abroad program and he instantly replied that he was not. He wants as much time as possible at Yale -- as do other Yalies he claims who tend to study abroad in the summer only.</p>
<p>Everyone we met loves Yale, unequivocally it seems. We were once again struck by how happy people are there - students, parents, faculty, administrators, and staff. We arrived mid-Friday afternoon and attended a panel discussion on Life at Yale featuring administator types. We really did not learn much that we did not already know but it was nice to hear the enthusiasm of the people on the panel.</p>
<p>We also heard three a capella concerts and enjoyed them mostly although it can get a little old for my taste. We attended the Masters reception Saturday afternoon and we stopped in at the Mory's Open House which was fun. Weather was lousy on Saturday. We did not enjoy the pizza at the Modern as much as others have so will check out Pepe's on the next visit. Sun AM, our S took us around campus and we visited Sterling Library and walked into some residential college courtyards and dining halls. It was all so beautiful as was Sunday's weather.</p>
<p>^^wjb, it seems the mouse has moved on (and hopefully not expired from poison behind a wall.) D has a couple of little Yale-supplied-poison-mouse-food dispensers around the place, and no visitors lately. Lesson learned is to keep all food in sturdier containers than the ziplocks she showed up with.</p>
<p>Maybe we'll see you at Parents Weekend next year? The kids seemed to enjoy having their parents around. It's the one weekend where it's acceptable and expected that you will be walking around campus/town, arm-in-arm with old people who are gazing adoringly at you.</p>
<p>
[quote]
We asked if he was considering a Junior year or semester abroad program and he instantly replied that he was not. He wants as much time as possible at Yale -- as do other Yalies he claims who tend to study abroad in the summer only.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>It's true - Yale is trying to encourage more students to go abroad during the year, but I don't know how successful they'll be. D spent this past summer in Paris (poor child) because she didn't want to spend any time away during the school year. Most Yalies really do love it there that much. :)</p>
<p>How many people got completely soaked in the Saturday night downpour? We were just leaving a restaurant after dinner--and umbrellas didn't do much with the high winds blowing the rain sideways! I had to drive about 14 miles back to my hotel and it was NOT fun! But, the gorgeous sunny day--not a cloud in the sky--on Sunday more than made up for it. I had a nice time, mostly just having good conversations with my S, watching him perform in an acappella group, eating good food, and enjoying Yale. S is a junior, and it is hard to believe we will only have one more Parents Weekend left--those of you with new freshmen--beware--time flies!</p>
<p>"My favorite airport was Bradley (CT Limo serves this too). Sometimes cheap flights available thru that airport. I know that some people use White Plains, NY. I've not done that but I know some Yale staff will use that one too. Maybe check that? Dunno the ground transport options to WP, however."</p>
<p>For awhile I was having to travel to New Haven for work quite frequently, and I DESPISED White Plains. The airport is so tiny that if there is any delay whatsoever the terminal turns into a cattle car. I've never been so miserable trying to get on an airplane, and I live in Atlanta!</p>
<p>Several times I flew into Providence, and I thought that worked out nicely. There's a direct train link between Providence and New Haven and it was all very easy to navigate.</p>