stringkeymom

thx, workinprogress, and thx to everyone!

memake

I want to update this thread for next year...judging from the common rooms I saw during move-in, a used futon would have been very welcome in most suites.

In my child's suite, the 4 of them ALTOGETHER have spent about $200 on stuff for the common room. This amount got them a floor lamp, a small rug, two Target butterfly chairs, a small bookcase and a few large cushions for the window seat.

None of them were eager/willing to shell out $300 or more for an IKEA sofa. They would have loved to have someone's old basement-stored futon. I would bet they are fairly representative of many incoming Yale freshmen.

I'm sure they will improve the room during the course of the next 9 months (although it looks pretty good to me even now).

Yalemom2

Just for future reference... my S as a freshman last year split the cost of a futon (metal frame) from the bookstore for $200 minus a 10% B&N card discount.

Clarimom

We actually got an IKEA futon for about $149 two years ago (which suitemates split cost of); not their top of the line, but sturdy, comfortable and nice-looking.

wisedad

In case anybody in the future looks for info on the L-Dub (Lanman Wright Hall) 5th floor and finds this thread, we can now report that it also quite dark up there, due to the rooms having only single dormer windows instead of the more expansive windows available on the lower floors. So plan to bring or buy some lamps if that's where you are assigned.

stringkeymom

Thx, everyone! What finally happened: ex-husband arrived and pronounced one of the end tables "junk" so we only brought the one and one futon. With the new futon cover and a pair of pillows we found at WalMart it looked fairly nice. Ex decided to contribute a TV table and rugs from IKEA, and DS arranged for the refrigertor to be charged on his bursar's bill. (As expected, he collected the cash from his suitemates, but neglected to pass the lettuce on to mom who will pay the actual bill). This conversation overheard after Freshman Assembly:

"All the other common rooms have way more stuff than ours."
"Definitely."
"So I think this could sleep two people and then if it's folded up...depends if it's girls or guys"
"It could seat three people, maybe four..."
"Yeah but that's got to be uncomfortable..."
"The rug is ok if we put it over here...."

End result:
The rest of the suite went out and bought a futon, coffee table, bean bag chair and lamp for the common room. The room looks very comfortable, though not as elegant as the L-Dub photo, and this family was able to make a contribution to the room without financial strain.

I drove up again last weekend to bring DS a hutch-bookshelf for his desk (there was only one bookshelf in the room and roommate has it, and DS has tons of books plus music stuff); I observed a spartan and institutional feel to the rooms so made another trip to IKEA where for less than $20 I picked up a huge bamboo plant and several smaller plants for the mantelpiece and desk tops as desired. DS has promised to see to their maintenance.

Clarimom

Great news, stringkeymom! Thanks for updating us. Your S's suite is way ahead of my S's suite three years ago--it wasn't until Parents Weekend (when I did a major IKEA trip) that they actually got a futon and a few other things. Then it finally started to feel like a comfortable place to be instead of a big open space. Anxious to hear your S's decisions regarding 6.5 credits now.

stringkeymom

Thanks, Clarimom!
DS had to file his schedule today and reluctantly decided that he had to drop Latin. He knew he would drop one of his two foreign languages but it was hard making the decision. He placed into a higher level of Latin than he did with Russian, and if he had stuck with the Latin course, he would have completed his foreign language requirements after one semester. However, he is enjoying Russian a lot (and finding it less time consuming than the Latin).

I am a bit worried about 5.5 credits, especially as DS has dived into a rather extensive EC schedule. The Dean and Freshman Advisor seemed to think that the credit taken for private music instruction didn't really amount to anything and that he could add the FL on top of that. His Freshman Advisor is Chair of the Music Dept., so I trust he is used to students carrying this type of load.

Hunt

My son, another likely music major, is also taking 5.5 credits. For him, the half credit is musicianship. He (and we) had some trepidation about the load, but it really depends on what the courses are.
He also found that the rules about what courses you can take are more like guidelines--he had no trouble, for example, getting permission to take 2.5 music credits (almost certainly for both semesters) even though in theory you're not supposed to take more than 4 in one department freshman year.

wjb

I think it does depend on what the courses are, and also who the Dean is. Son's Dean signed off on 5.0 credits -- would not let the extra .5 (Musicianship) in. But son is taking a heavy science load, and I think that may have factored into the decision.

Hunt

I think a heavy science load would make a BIG difference, especially if it includes labs.

wjb

Yep. Freshman Orgo.

riverrunner

^^D is in orgo this semester, too. Am holding my breath. At least she had Chem at Y last year....your child is brave.

stringkeymom

Hunt, that is good news about leniency with the numbers of credits allowable in a single department; probably a slight excess doesn't pose a problem. I agree that a lot of labs preclude a heavier course load. Frankly, I think being a freshman should preclude a heavier course load, but I guess Yalies like to challenge themselves and are eager to take as many great courses as possible (4 years not long enough).

I think I recall from the music major forum that your son is a composer? Is he taking composition this term? How has he found the composition at Yale? I understand there are many venues for new music.

Hunt

So far, he's liking the composition situation. He's in the composition seminar, but he hasn't had his first lesson with the professor yet. He joined a new music group, and is in the Concert Band (and the Marching Band).