Welcome Parents Class of 2015

revbon50 · May 2011

Congratulations and welcome! I am the parent of a graduating senior and would be happy to answer any questions you might have as your student prepares to begin HC in fall.

BlindWilly · May 2011

This may not be the kind of question you had in mind, but I'm wondering when we can expect to receive information on housing, class registration, bill payment, and the like?

revbon50 · May 2011

All very important questions! Billing happens twice a year - once in mid- august and once in late Dec. In terms of housing, my son filled out the survey in June and we heard in mid-July (I think) about his housing assignment and the names and contact info of his roomates. Hope this helps.

revbon50 · May 2011

I forgot to answer your question about class registration. In July or early August, your student will receive the name his or her advisor. All registrations for freshman are done during Customs (which is the HC version of orientation). The student meets with the advisor and they develop a schedule together. HC also has a "shopping period" where students can try out classes before committing to them. A student can always change advisors along the way, but this at least gives new students someone to connect with.

englishjw · May 2011

... for the information. It was helpful.

schmensterr · May 2011

How has your student found the advisers to be?

revbon50 · May 2011

My son's initial advisor was a long time professor in the science dept (S is a poly sci major) who was about to retire. He was helpful in that he knew all the in's and out's of the school and they set up his first semester. By second semester, S had found someone in his own dept. that he asked to be his advisor and they had a great relationship. I think because the school is so very small and the profs know the students so well that many of the profs serve as advisors in different ways. I know that my S has had close relationships with several of his teachers and that they have served as important mentors. My son was clear about his major going in so he did not need much guidance in that way, but I feel that he has been served very well by his advisors and teachers.

crester · May 2011

I have two topics/questions.

(1) Logistics of winterizing a California kid, a subject much discussed, I'm sure.

There is a good thread here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/764984-winter-clothes-d-california.html#post8687939

Specific to HC would be two things - how a freshman gets to/from KOP (is there anything at Suburban Square, and it is feasible to walk there, or back, with packages?). I have read over and over on CC that kids should pick up coats/etc. on their own because East coast stores are more appropriately stocked that West Coast. Second, is there anyone available to help a clueless kid shop? I told my son to just look for East coast/Midwest girls - many girls loooooove to shop with and dress up boys (ducking and running for cover).

(2) Shopping around campus: zooming in on Google maps shows the following. Please comment again, on ease of walking or how one gets rides to/from. I know the campus bookstore carries a small selection of items.

- CVS pharmacy right on Lancaster road, to stock up on personal care items and snacks.

- Trader Joes in Suburban Square. At 1.5 miles it maybe too far to walk (back w/groceries).

- The other direction (NW) has an Acme grocery store (get your kid a discount card), Walgreens and Staples, at most 1.1 miles away, which means 2.2 r/t. Linky below. First stop is Acme, then Walgreens, then Staples (they ship for free w/$50 purchase, w00t)

Haverford College to 755 W Lancaster Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010 - Google Maps

Thanks much!

[email protected]!um · May 2011

(1) I do most of my clothes shopping at the Gallery at Market East Station. It's a quick R-5 ride away and not quite as overwhelmingly large as King of Prussia. If you prefer KOP, you could inquire if Haverford provides transportation. Bryn Mawr sends a bus to KOP once a month; I don't know if these are open to Haverford students, or if Haverford sends their own buses.

(2) Acme is closing for reconstruction this week and won't reopen for at least a year. For the time being, that means Trader Joe's. The transportation office has experimented with a Trader Joe's shopping shuttle this semester. The blue bus schedule for next year won't be released until August, but it seems safe to assume that the current Saturday Acme trips will get replaced with trips to Trader Joe's.

revbon50 · May 2011

Your questions about clothing made me smile because my D goes to college in SoCAL and has the opposite problem! I am glad a student chimed in as we live in New England and thus didn't have to do any clothing shopping in Haverford. I do know that my S runs to the CVS and other local stores often on foot. Also, some of his friends have cars and so he has been able to take advantage of that. Wish I could be more of help in this regard. Perhaps others can add to this discussion.

HC Alum · May 2011

crester

It also makes sense to buy things once at HC because the sales tax in PA is 6% vs the +8.25% in CA. As it doesn't get cold to need a winter coat until about October, warm weather kids will have time to shop around or meet friends with cars...

Philly Car Share
http://blogs.haverford.edu/goinggreen/2008/07/21/another-opportunity-for-fords-to-exercise-ecological-responsibility/

King of Prussia (about 1 hour by Septa)
suburban square - Google Maps

Suburban Square (about 10-15 walk from campus)
(Jcrew, Macy’s. Banana Republic, GAP, Urban Outfitters)
Suburban Square

The Gallery at Market Street, Philly (about 25 minutes to downtown Philly by Septa)
(Burlington Coat Factory, Old Navy…)
Gallery at Market East | Directory

Local thrift stores (These are thrift stores on the wealthy Main Line)
suburban square - Google Maps

AyamicStarfish · May 2011

@Crester- You can get to KOP by taking the R100 (Norristown High Speed Line) to the Gulph Mills stop. Then take the 125 bus to KOP.
Taking a taxi wouldn't be too bad though if you got enough people to go and split the cost however.

(It took far less time than an hour)

crester · May 2011

Oh wow, thanks all, great info.

[email protected]: Great tip about Market East Gallery, I didn't spot that when we spent a week in Philly. Looks good for clothing in general. MUCH easier to get to than KOP. Old Navy is probably all my kid needs from that mall. Also, thanks for the heads up about the shuttle - look what I found - looks like Saturday will be the shopping day to Suburban Square.

Blue Bus (Bi-Co) - Bryn Mawr College Transportation

HC Alum:Philly Car Share doesn't have a car on campus, according to their website. :-(

Ayamicstarfish: yup, I looked at pub transpo to KOP, not really feasible. That's why I asked about rides/shuttles.

FYI, for winter gear I found out that there is an REI just ten miles from campus - we have one in my town as well - during the October break I might take my kid to our store to try on clothes and either ship them there or buy them in PA during family weekend at the end of October when I visit. I don't know if KOP has any stores like REI, but neither Suburban Square nor Market East Gallery has anything of that caliber.

http://www.rei.com/stores/37

[email protected]!um · May 2011

If you are interested in clothing bargains, the shopping area around the Gallery might be better than the Gallery itself. My favorite store is Ross.

jbm2011 · June 2011

I was looking over the calendar and noticed that the Thanksgiving break starts on Wednesday at 4:00. Do they really have classes on the day before Thanksgiving? I would have thought they would have the day off so they can get home. Any insight you have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

revbon50 · June 2011

While it is true that there may be classes scheduled, my S found the profs very flexible and understanding of travel schedules. I am sure that if your student needs to leave on Tues. of that week he/she could arrange to make up any work and it will not be a problem. I even think that a few years, classes wound up not being held that day as so many were going to be absent.

cmjcmj12 · July 2011

Thanks for chancing me! And I have a question about the dorm situation; I heard that the majority of dorms are singles, and they're putting even more in by fall of 2012. Do you get the option of having a roommate if you think it's an important part of college, or is it random and you'll probably end up alone?

revbon50 · July 2011

This is question you might post under a different heading so that students can respond but here is how it worked for my S (just graduated). His Freshman year he was assigned to one of the HC apts. There were 4 guys and two bedrooms so he shared a bedroom. Sophmore year, he chose to stay in an apt. but roomed with two women. The two women shared a bedroom and he had his own. Jr. year he chose to live in a single in a North dorm and then senior year elected to move back to the apts! I guess this is my way of saying that I feel after Freshman year, you do get a lot of choice in where and how you live. Also, the singles in the dorm are often connected to a suite so you do have built in suitemates even if you do not share a rooom.

englishjw · July 2011

My S will be a freshman this year. He will be in the Apartments (HCA) where his suite has two doubles - all male and the same arrangement as described by revbon50. I don't believe S made any special requests regarding dorm space. It would seem that they will try to accommodate you if you prefer a single or double even in your freshman year.

revbon50 · July 2011

Englishjw: My S loved living in the apts. but I found them to be quite old and dingy. I would recommend bringing things (rugs, curtains, etc) to brighten it up. Again, it did not matter at all to my S but just to me.

englishjw · July 2011

revbon50: I imagine our situation will be just like yours - S won't notice and I will want to brighten the place up. For starters, we've decided to take it as it is. He will talk with his roommate and (maybe) make some improvements over time. Thanks again for the advice.

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