KatiesDad

So perhaps some pre-college veterans can shed a little light on the following topics?

Meals - are they limited to one location, or does the mealplan include the many CMU eateries? Everything done through the CMU ID cards?

Money - Plaidcash? MAC/Debit card? Prepaid Visa/debit card? What seems the best way to go?

Laundry - Haven't read much in the student handbook about this. From what I understand the students are all in Morewood Gardens, correct? Laundry facilities on each floor? one per building? what?..... Do the kids actually have time to do their own laundry?? (them doing their own laundry should be interesting in itself... hehe..) Do you buy tokens? quarters? electronic cards?

Opinions on fans? Laptops? Ipods? phones?(dorm hardlines) refrigerator rentals??etc....

Any other tips, or suggestions for the "student life" aspects of the 6 weeks would be welcomed.

thanks!

letsfigureitout

There is much written on the CMU pre-college program on other threads. . .you'll find answers to all your questions there!

Meals: There is one cafeteria, but other spots, particularly off-campus, that accept plaid cash cards. My S and his friends disliked the CMU food, and ate out a lot, so be AWARE of this and advise your kid accordingly. There are microwaves available for student use, and some kids enjoyed having mac and cheese or soup in their dorms.

Money: Plaidcash is OK, but do not add lots of money to it until you see how much your kid will use it. We started with $50, and added some along the way. They will not refund what isn't spent. MAC / Debit cards and Visa or MC cards work fine, and I'm not sure about any advantages to using Plaidcash.

Laundry: There are machines in the dorms, they seemed to be fairly available, and they take quarters. My S did laundry, so there's some time for that!

Other: A fan is a MUST, as it is HOT in those dorms. You can buy a fan at Target when you get to town. My S did not have a laptop, and computers are readily available for student use. He managed fine. Others did bring laptops and printers. Bring the Ipod. Your kid will use a cellphone for calling. One roomate should take care of the refrigerator rental. Don't worry, they keep track, and if you arrive first and rent a refrigerator, they won't rent another to the roommate.

Your kid will have fun, but will be very busy, especially at the beginning.

letsfigureitout

One more thing: Remember to send the tape recorder!

The kids must have everything on the packing list. However, some things, like the tape recorder, only get used infrequently.

NotMamaRose

Just remind your kid not to let roommates and friends put cans of soda into the freezer part of the mini fridge. Explosions occur and then your son or daughter will have to spend several hours cleaning brown frozen glop out of the fridge in order to get the deposit back .....

KatiesDad

thanks for the replies. Will definitely bring her fan then.... (we got one for her last year at stagedoor manor)

.. will take note about the refrigerators too, thanks.

racmom

KatiesDad - My d. will be going to CMU pre-college for musical theater. She was also at Stagedoor last year during 3rd session. When did your d. go?

KatiesDad

She went 3rd session too, she was in Mack and Mabel with Jacob... had the time of her life..
..... although she certainly did have a good time this spring with her high school musical. They did Les Miz, she was Cosette... We've been inundated with playings if the tenth anniversary cast recording and video since February...lol

racmom

My d. was in Grand Hotel session 3. This year her school did The Fantastics. I wonder if they already know each other. That's always nice to see a familiar face. D. said her roommate at Stagedoor played Mabel.

sonlovesmt

Thanks for your series of questions and the answers. Just to add a few more: do boys really need tights for ballet? I thought I read on some thread that they were rarely, if ever, used. What are the optional evening courses? I did not see any listed in the documentation. In reference to the audition is at the end of the session. Can applications be completed prior to the audition or is that done afterwards? Thanks in advance.

letsfigureitout

Yes--get the tights. Every boy needs tights, even the acting students. They wear them once.

There are many workshop/seminar courses over the summer. One, you have to audition to get in, it runs two times a week across the summer, and it is very popular. It is a Boal workshop, which focuses on having theater communicate something about the human condition. Others are one-shot deals, and I think the topics vary. They will be posted on-campus. All are optional. Also, there is one evening where scenes (from an acting class) are presented. It also is optional.

The audition is just presentation of the monologue, song(s), and dance. The application to CMU is done separately--probably after you get home! The kids do prepare a resume in one class, and that becomes part of the audition.

kaysmom

When my d attended pre-college in 2006 there was a tap workshop that was also 2 nights a week and ran for a few weeks. She loved it. Some kids did both boal and tap but it was a lot and they suggest you do either/or.

The did utilize Moorewood Gardens and Moorewood E Tower the year my daughter went but in either case you may want to even bring more than one fan! I think my daughter's room had 3!!!! And yes the food is terrible! That was my daughter's biggest complaint. Apparently they open a special location for the summer and the food is nothing like it is during the school year. They definitely did a lot of dining out and there are a few restaurants in town that allow the kids to use their plaid cash there. One is a pizza place that my daughter loves and they deliver until like 3am!

NotMamaRose

Let me second what kaysmom said about the food. My daughter (who is not, by nature, a hugely picky eater) loathed the food there, which meant she ended up eating out with friends a lot. I mention this not to knock CMU Precollege's food, but to warn anyone who might be going to make sure that your kid has a reasonable amount of money to spend on food outside the cafeteria. There are inexpensive and decent places to eat within walking distance of campus (my kid liked the soups and salads at Kiva Han) but kids also can take buses to the Waterfront and eat there. And yes, FANS!

KatiesDad

Lol, wow sounds like my daughter is finally going to get to use public transportation.. We're from a suburb of Pittsburgh, but I don't think she's ever taken a bus in her life... first time for everything I guess. She's not an especially picky eater, but she does have a broad experiance of tastes.... I'm sure she'll be doling out suggestions for local places to eat if the cafeteria food is that bad.... Kind of disappointed, we looked at the CMU website and at all the multicultural eateries they have listed... but it seems they're not open in the summer? or at least not included in the precollege mealplan...

I foresee a lot of trips to south Oakland to Primanti's, or the "O". or Mad-Mex over on Atwood street..

KatiesDad

Oh, one other thing... regarding the Books/supplies they need to purchase... Will we get a listing in the mail before the 28th of what books and materials they'll need specifically, or will we get that when we check in the morning of the 28th?

PDXmom

my daughter got a list, I think from the pre-college facebook site.