Parents of Yale 2013 Chat and Seek Help from Current/Former Yale Parents - Page 2

BlueHouseMom · 02-14-2009, 01:29 PM

Booklady,
Perfect! Thank you!

BlueHouseMom · 02-14-2009, 01:31 PM

Booklady,
I had never noticed the Class of 2013 tab on the Yale website. Thanks for pointing it out. Maybe other pre-frosh parents missed it too!

Booklady · 02-14-2009, 01:52 PM

You're welcome.

One thing you'll get information on this summer is the pre-orientation programs. Our D, who is by no means an outdoor/athletic person, did one of the FOOT programs, where you hike and camp out. There are 4 and 6-day programs, with various levels of difficulty - she did the easiest one, made some great friends, and had an absolutely wonderful time. I would highly recommend it: Yale Freshmen Outdoor Orientation Trips

entomom · 02-14-2009, 03:00 PM

Agree about the printer. Each residential college has common use printers, but my D finds it very convenient to have her own in her room. There are some relatively inexpensive B&W laser printers that are great. She also got an Apple MacBook Pro with the educational discount and really likes it.

BlueHouseMom · 02-14-2009, 08:44 PM

Booklady, she will definitely do FOOT. Sounds great! Thanks for recommending. How does this work logistically for parents? We will be driving from the Midwest. Should we fly her out for FOOT and then meet her with her stuff? Or do we bring her personal things when we drop her off for FOOT and do not need to attend the beginning of Freshman Orientation.

entomom, we will add a printer to the graduation "wishlist" sounds like the common shared printers might prove a hassle. Thanks!

Booklady · 02-14-2009, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Should we fly her out for FOOT and then meet her with her stuff?

That's what worked well for us, only we're closer, so D took Amtrak up to New Haven, and we then drove up with all her stuff. (Good thing, too, since there wasn't room for her in the car!) We drove up the night before, moved her in the next morning, had some lunch, and then went home in the late afternoon after the reception at the Master's House. Since you're coming from much farther away, you may well want to spend the next night in New Haven also. There are various activities for parents, but after that second day they kick you out.

The students can't move into their actual rooms until move-in day - they spend the first night of FOOT on campus, but not in their rooms. If you wait to come until the official day you'll get to meet her suitemates, help her set up her room, and join in the general giddiness of the day. Make sure to wear comfy shoes, and be prepared to climb stairs!

Oh, and if you're planning to go back for Parents' Weekend in October, make hotel reservations now.

BlueHouseMom · 02-17-2009, 12:06 PM

Booklady, Thanks for the great tips and the site!

My mother called today and wants to get my daughter her "sheets and stuff" for graduation. She wants my daughter to pick them out with her (I do think they would have fun doing this together). I notice that in the handbook for 2012 that they sell sheets and other items that "fit" the beds (which I beleive are twin XL). Should we plan to buy these items from Yale and I point my mom in a different direction for a gift? Anyone have experience purchasing them?

Booklady · 02-17-2009, 12:51 PM

I think Yale's prices are probably high, and I don't know how much of a selection they have. Places like Bed Bath & Beyond start getting in loads of TwinXL sheets at the beginning of the summer, and since you'll have a car, you can even order them online and pick them up at the BB&B in Hamden (a suburb of New Haven) if you don't feel like schlepping them with you.

We bought D a full-size quilt rather than a Twin XL, so she'll be able to use it on a regular bed after college. Make sure also to get some sort of cushy mattress pad, as it really makes the beds more comfortable. If you do a search, you'll find lots of threads here about what to take to college, where to shop for stuff, etc.

Yalemom2 · 02-19-2009, 04:52 PM

We bought the Yale sheets, a mattress pad, a hamper and the under-bed storage fold-up things for the first kid. I think the prices were reasonable, but the sheets and mattress pad weren't very good quality, the hamper broke, and we didn't end up needing the storage. Oh well. The second time, I bought sheets on sale at Bed Bath & Beyond, and sent him with a sturdy laundry basket which works well for carting laundry up and down the stairs and for holding folded laundry. I think we bought the down comforter at the Company Store. One thing that we found really made a difference in comfort is buying a foam pad that goes on the mattress under the mattress cover.

nickknack · 02-19-2009, 07:48 PM

@BlueHouseMom:

I'm a h.s. senior and I got the new MacBook earlier this year. I come from a PC family, and I had to do a lot of research before I could convince myself into buying it. I love it, but I would wait for a few months after graduation if possible. Three reasons:

1. Apple offers 10% educational discounts to students if (and only if) they have a valid college ID (K-12 doesn't cut it).
2. An update to the Mac OS will probably be released in July
3. Mac typically does a MacBook back-to-school deal with a free iPod bundled with your purchase in July or August.

I got a free printer with my MacBook and I'm finding it very useful. I've heard that it's not a necessity to have one, but it saves you from trips to the library or mooching off your roommate.

Also, Apple's warranty and support travels with you (and has a great reputation), and since most Macs come directly from Apple stores or online, I don't think it's any advantage to buy in New Haven.

BlueHouseMom · 02-20-2009, 01:20 PM

nicknack, I had no idea about the Apple issues. I WILL take your advice! Thanks.

Yalemom2, will have buy the bedding before arrival. Thanks for the info. Very helpful. I was not aware that Twin XL were readily avaialble elsewhere....sounds like they are. Thanks again.

Quill Pen · 02-24-2009, 02:36 PM

Yale Budget Update

Today President Levin sent a letter to the Yale community concerning further budget cuts.

Quote:

As we announced in December all new buildings and renovation projects currently under construction will continue until completion. Essential utilities projects will remain on schedule, as will the renovation of Morse and Ezra Stiles Colleges, completing our decade-long plan to refurbish all undergraduate residences. But we will postpone construction on all other approved projects until conditions in credit markets improve or until gift funding is received. Unless gift funding is available, we will also delay design work on these projects. In total, we will be deferring capital expenditures of up to $2 billion over the next five years.

What would be examples of "other approved projects?" Can some of the Yale parents or prospective Yale parents elaborate on that comment?

T26E4 · 02-24-2009, 02:41 PM

The largest "approved projects" yet to begin construction are construction of the two additional residential colleges and probably the renovations/preparations of the new Science West Campus. One cannot but infer that these will be put on hold until further notice. The capital market these days is completely nuts.

Levin states that FA considerations won't be affected.

BlueHouseMom · 02-26-2009, 09:47 AM

For the Class of 2013 this delay may mean that they will not have to "deal" with MAJOR construction all 4 years they are at Yale. The thought of cranes, trucks, pounding, torn up roads the entire time these students were attending did cross my mind... (I think the new residential colleges were originally planned to open in 2013). Maybe a silver lining for these students? However, I realize this is a selfish position. I think that these additional residential colleges are needed and the master plan seems well thought out. Science West Campus is "the future" for science students at Yale. Yes, the capital markets are nuts...

T26E4 · 02-26-2009, 04:13 PM

LOL: there have been cranes, blocked off sidewalks, pounding on campus ever since Yale was founded in its first four walls! (or at least that's what it seemed like to me). I can't recall ever (during my undergrad days or subsequent visits) that some portion of the campus wasn't being restored or rebuilt. Surely there is a matter of degree but one can't escape it. I recall roofworkers purposefully singing and banging away outside our bedroom windows in McClellan Hall to annoy us at 7AM on a Saturday morning.... ahh those good ol' days. LOL