Class of 2013 - Some things you may want to know

mountains · 05-03-2009, 11:07 AM

1. Get a physical - COOT sign up is in early July and they require you to submit results of a physical (at most 6 months old). The earlier you sign up for COOT, the higher your chances are of getting your first choice.

2. For your parents - For those who need to, reserve hotels for move-in day, and getting hotels in Waterville on this day isn't too hard, but I wouldn't delay. Reserving hotel rooms on Family Weekend (September 25 to 27) is tough - we stayed in Augusta last year and already have reservations in Augusta again this year. The rates in Waterville for this weekend is ridiculous.

3. There's a big sort-of yard sale (in the athletic center) on Frosh move-in day and there's a lot of cheap stuff but be there early. Long line.

4. Buy used textbooks on your move-in day. More choices rather than waiting right before classes start. Also, textbooks bought from the bookstore can be resold to the bookstore; they won't take used books bought elsewhere. Used books are priced reasonably.

5. Right before your parents leave on move-in day (around 4 pm), you will be asked to join your COOT group, so you'll start being with a group immediately - have dinner with them, activities, etc. As a parent, I was concerned my shy S would feel lost. I worried for nothing.

6. For those wanting a chem-free dorm, make sure you sign up. No stigma whatsoever in Colby and chem-free comprises 25% or more of the population (I think).

Good luck on your awesome choice.

thinker88 · 05-03-2009, 11:45 AM

Thank you! This is so helpful.

cadence76 · 05-03-2009, 01:12 PM

Mountains, you're fabulous!! Thank you so much!

cadence76 · 05-03-2009, 02:04 PM

...and now we have some questions (our D is out of the country right now, so we parents are trying to figure stuff out) --

* For Family Weekend, are there events happening on the Friday, or would it make sense for us to stay w/relatives in Camden Friday night and arrive Saturday morning?

* Can incoming first-years request a roommate? (not sure if D wants to, but she does have a friend from another state who is also coming)

* again on the dorms--do frosh have any say in which dorm? What's your son's feeling about dorm "feel"? I think D wants chem-free, especially since that seems mainstream at Colby (nice change from most other schools!)

* They sign up for all of their classes over the summer, right? So they'll have a syllabus and know which of these used textbooks they need?

* And, lastly, what's your take on the Integrated Studies program? (D is planning on Bio/Env. studies major, specifically headed toward grad school and marine science.) Is the I.S. program actually good, or just something Colby likes to pump?

Thanks so much! I hope you're ready to be the "go-to" person for all of us!

mountains · 05-03-2009, 04:17 PM

Here are my responses, cadence, and I hope other Colby parents pipe in:

Quote:

* For Family Weekend, are there events happening on the Friday, or would it make sense for us to stay w/relatives in Camden Friday night and arrive Saturday morning?

If you're interested in sitting in classes, then be there Friday. We did that last year and it was great. Not very many parents show up on Friday, though. A lot more show up on Saturday.

Quote:

* Can incoming first-years request a roommate? (not sure if D wants to, but she does have a friend from another state who is also coming)

I don't know the answer to this one since my S didn't know a soul before getting there. I could be wrong, but I don't think this is an option in Colby.

Quote:

* again on the dorms--do frosh have any say in which dorm? What's your son's feeling about dorm "feel"? I think D wants chem-free, especially since that seems mainstream at Colby (nice change from most other schools!)

The only say frosh have is whether they want chem-free or quiet living. Colby assigns everything else. Dorm "feel" - based on my S' experience, the dorms are very, very close-knit. Like family. Suggest to your D to keep her door open when she's in the room so other kids can stop by and say hello. Lots of activities are planned within the dorms.

Quote:

* They sign up for all of their classes over the summer, right? So they'll have a syllabus and know which of these used textbooks they need?

They will know exactly which classes they are taking but no syllabus or list of textbooks. Some profs assign readings over the summer so they will know the textbook/s - happened to my S, but I think this was an exception more than the rule. But on move-in day, just bring the list of classes and the books are arranged accordingly on the shelves (lower level of bookstore). There are a number of people in the bookstore who will be happy to help you out. Because move-in is on September 1 for the frosh, and classes start on the 7th, you may have time to purchase them elsewhere by copying the ISBN from the books. My S bought used books from the bookstore - prices were reasonable.

Quote:

* And, lastly, what's your take on the Integrated Studies program? (D is planning on Bio/Env. studies major, specifically headed toward grad school and marine science.) Is the I.S. program actually good, or just something Colby likes to pump?

Sorry, I'm pretty clueless on Integrated Studies. I'll zap an email to my S and see if he knows how kids perceive this.

And please ask away. A Colby parent was so helpful to me last year, she was a blessing. I'm more than happy to return the favor.

DadJRS · 05-04-2009, 01:30 PM

Mountains, Thanks for your help! You are a great resource!

Since we will be flying from California for move-in day, we won't be able to make it back for Parents weekend three weeks later. What will we be missing? Maybe we can make it next year.

mountains · 05-04-2009, 05:56 PM

Family weekend would allow you to see your D/S in their new environment, a little bit more settled than move-in day, I guess. Last year's family weekend was in mid-October, so I'm actually a little surprised at the dates this year. Also, we moved in S in late August last year.

It was nice to attend classes, meet some of their friends, attend lots of talks, eat in the cafeteria, attend church services, etc. in a much more relaxed pace than move-in day.

Colby should have a family weekend schedule posted sometime in the summer.

cadence76 · 05-04-2009, 09:19 PM

Mountains, you continue to be such a help! You know we're going to bug the heck out of you before too long!

I was wondering--where did you attend church services? On campus or in town?

mountains · 05-05-2009, 06:26 AM

The beautiful Lorimer Chapel is located right on campus. While we didn't hang around on Sunday to attend the Catholic mass, there definitely was a mass scheduled. I can't recall now if there were also services for other faiths on that particular Sunday. Every Sunday, there is a Catholic mass at 4:30 pm.

Ask away. I'm more than happy to help out in whatever way I can.

For those of you interested on the dining halls' daily menu, here's the link. Colby's food is excellent and my kid definitely eats better than we do!

Colby College | Student Homepage

Foss tends to serve more "gourmet" food than the other dining halls. Also, the kids are allowed a certain number of guest passes on their meal plan. I think it's 6 for the semester but I'm not sure; do avail of this during family weekend.

charlie135 · 05-05-2009, 11:55 AM

Kind of an odd question:
What is the styling inside the library? Is it darker woods, lighter woods? carved woods, anything unique or historic. Is it "cozy" are there study nooks or is it huge and open?

mountains · 05-05-2009, 05:32 PM

charlie, I'll forward your question to my S. I do know it's a beautiful library, quite cozy and has lots of study nooks and rooms.

mountains · 05-05-2009, 07:19 PM

charlie - Here's the response I got regarding the library:

Quote:

Inside is rather modern/late 50s architecture. It's plain, it doesn't distract. There can be nook and cozy spots but you have to find them. I personally have not had great luck with this, but am told there good spots on the third floor. I have not really noticed the hue of the wood. And even though I don't go there much, it's a great place to go when you have A LOT of work to power through.

Hope that helps.

Cadence - I'm sending a reminder email to S to respond on your IS program question.

mountains · 05-05-2009, 07:41 PM

Cadence - Sorry, my S doesn't know anything about IS program. He suggested your D contact a prof. Colby profs are very, very accomodating.

cadence76 · 05-05-2009, 11:17 PM

Thanks so much! She's out of the country right now, so we're doing a little investigating for her, but she'll have to be the one to talk to the profs. That was one of the things that impressed us on admitted students day--the faculty was noticeably warmer and more open than at some of the other schools. Thanks again!

charlie135 · 05-10-2009, 01:02 PM

I know this is posted somewhere, but What are the Chem-free/quiet dorms this year? Is AMS one of them?