<p>Spectrum2…so glad your son’s ok. As others have said…it’s what we all worry about.</p>
<p>Best wishes to your S, spectrum. It’s a good reminder that we really do take our lives into our hands every time we get into a car.</p>
<p>I think the “road through the middle” of campuses is always interesting to get a feeling for. Some schools handle it better than others. We’ve always disliked how it is at UW-Madison - no huge trucks or anything, but a lot of car and pedestrian gridlock at every intersection. I thought that would turn my D off to any school like that. But she felt the way Commonwealth Ave runs through BU gave it energy and an exciting urban feeling, and she thought that at UMinn both the big artery and also the river are dealt with efficiently and even attractively.</p>
<p>RVM, my reaction to JMU was not just because of the physical layout, I talked about it because I think it captures the “feel” of the place and other "“limitations”. I almost think that some students embrace those features (as well as the also gritty historic downtown on the other side of the Bluestone area) as emblematic, making JMU the anti-UVA. In fact, the night before at dinner in an excellent Thai restaurant filled with students I was impressed with the diversified mix and energy, almost like a NYC school. I can definitely see why VA or southern students would love the place and feel at home.</p>
<p>It’s just not the right fit for my D, there are a number of NY or NE schools like that which capture the same feeling (the positive parts) but would be better for her and more comfortable. Why go to VA, feel like a fish out of water and pay OOS tuition when you could get the same closer to home with advantages of programs or closeness to the City.</p>
<p>Emmybet: My daughter loved Comm Avenue at BU also. It was a little too busy for my taste.</p>
<p>MHC: I think you’re right that there are better choices for your daughter than JMU. One other issue with JMU is the lack of public transportation. They run buses to the Northern VA metro on the weekends, but there is no train or airplane service. Most of the kids from my area end up taking cars.</p>
<p>As RVM noted, the kids I know who attend JMU really seem to love it. I don’t get the impression that there is much Jewish life on campus, however.</p>
<p>Spectrum - glad he’s ok! Kind of puts the college admissions craziness into perspective, doesn’t it?</p>
<p>Wow Spectrum! So glad your S is OK!</p>
<p>MHC - We visited JMU for an admitted students’ day for S1. I guess they really go all out for those “special” open house days, but we were quite impressed. We went inside many buildings (including the library) and sat in on presentations given by very impressive faculty. If I recall correctly, we were there on a weekend, so perhaps the traffic on the road crossing campus wasn’t as bad. While the road did seem awkward to me, it really didn’t seem like a deal breaker. S2 is definitely considering applying. Thanks so much for your review!</p>
<p>mhc - I hear you. As a Maryland parent - it makes more sense for us. But I agree with you - coming from NY - your D has better options. I was just pointing out that the Rt 81 issue and the train don’t seem to bother the typical JMU student from what I have heard. I also thought the campus was very sprawling and that while there are shuttle buses - it seemed a little overwhelming to get from one section of the campus to another. If you look at the JMU forum and dorm threads - this gets discussed a lot - picking a more central section of campus with non-AC dorms but better location vs. picking a more remote section of campus with newer, AC dorms but more schlepping to classes.</p>
<p>Where are you heading next?</p>
<p>RVM - Is your S getting more interested in the process yet, or are you still driving the train? </p>
<p>My S seems to be applying himself more in school. Grades have been much better this year! He’s taking the SATs this Saturday for the first time, and has been seeing a tutor and taking the practice tests quite seriously. However, he really has no sense of schools he would like to explore and seems to nix some of my suggestions for “silly” reasons. My list of schools for him seems to be shrinking! Would like to plan some visits in the Spring, but not really sure where to take him. Wish he would take some initiative!</p>
<p>Spectrum, glad you son is OK. I know how you are feeling. Boychild had two accidents last fall in the space of one week. The first one he was at fault (hit the car in front when they stopped short at a yellow light) and then while that car was in the shop getting repaired he was driving my car and someone hit him from behind while he was waiting for the car in front of him to make a left turn. </p>
<p>We think the first accident really drove home to him how powerful a vehicle really is and how much damage can be done (not to mention injury) even when not driving fast. It has made him a more careful driver. </p>
<p>Your son is going to be very shaken up at first. Boychild didn’t drive for a few days after and his was minor in comparision. I would have him get behind the wheel again in a few days with either you or your hubby in the passenger seat.</p>
<p>Mom2009 - my son is basically “done” exploring colleges. He has a list of 5 schools he wants to apply to - and that’s it. I would love to keep exploring - keep visiting, etc. - but he shows no interest. We are doing a 2nd visit to Elon and a visit to CofC in April. And then I am not planning any more visits until the fall.</p>
<p>My feeling is his grades are good - first semester is wrapping up with 3 A’s, 3 B’s (honors and AP class) and one hovering between an A and a B. Taking the ACT for the 2nd time in February.</p>
<p>Our goal was a calm process - and it really has been - so far. Whatever the score on the Feb. ACT - he is done. He will not be taking it again - his decision. He did a few sessions of individual paid test prep with a tutor - did not think it helped much. He’ll do a few practice tests on his own over the next 3 weeks - and that’s it. He has a 27 from the September test - if that ends up being the higher score - so be it.</p>
<p>Based on our hs Naviance - he looks at least reasonably good at all 5 schools. They are all rolling or early action - so if things change in the fall - we can still add some RD schools.</p>
<p>So - I guess I would say he is driving the train. It’s a slower moving train than I would select - but we are calm - and after the nightmare that was S1’s process - that is a major goal.</p>
<p>Mom2009: My older daughter was like your son as a Junior, so my husband and I finally just picked some nearby schools to visit. I think sometimes oldest children are a little bit scared about the reality of going to college. My younger daughter couldn’t wait to get started. If you can’t get any direction from your son, I would recommend visiting a variety of nearby schools that look like mathes or safeties. </p>
<p>Spectrum: I agree that you should get your son back behind the wheel in a few days. Emilyb’s suggestion to have a parent with him is a good one. </p>
<p>Be careful with teen drivers after a vacation or camp when they haven’t driven in a while. The only accidents my daughters have had occured the first time they drove after a break from driving.</p>
<p>DD doesn’t understand why I am such a wreck over the driving because she is such a good driver. She doesn’t get it. A) She is not experienced. B) There are other drivers out there. When I finally let her back on the road after our big snowstorm on 12/26, she hit some ice in our neighborhood and must have slid a little. Totally freaked her out because she wasn’t even going 10 mph. Now she gets it a little more. Still, sometimes and accident is an accident. My 17 yo neighbor flipped (and totalled) a car recently. All in the car were wearing seatbelts and no one was hurt (except the car). His mom said he learned a lesson she could have never taught. So glad that spectrum2’s S was not hurt. Life can change on a dime. </p>
<p>On the college front, DS (HS soph) is getting involved! I had him log onto his Naviance - his GPA is very high but his PSAT score (from last fall, didn’t even study) is not nearly where he wants it. It was the practice test and I think he thought it would be easy. He was able to see that, at this rate, he has the GPA for the schools he is interested in, but has to increase his test score. That’s incentive for him. Also, I emailed him a list of schools and told him to start looking at websites; he’s also coming up with some on his own. He seems involved. Woo hoo! This is way more than I got from DD at this age.</p>
<p>I want to have that Jewish spouse conversation with my kids, but haven’t had the chance yet this week…</p>
<p>spectrum: so glad he is ok; so common for new drivers to have a “close call” it’s a wonder that parents can let them out of the house…my older daughter had to literally be “forced” to drive again years ago when she had a fender bender at 17…</p>
<p>on the slippery story note: a couple of Fridays ago, it started to snow here at 7:00 am…school didn’t delay or cancel…my younger new-driver daughter was totally freaked out when she couldn’t stop at stop signs…slid right through; I thought she would have trouble getting back in the car to come home when school finally sent the few kids home who showed up, but she was fine…roads were clear and salted…but she definitely learned a lesson: driving at the beginning of a snow event is never a good idea…</p>
<p>Spectrum, just want to add to everyone else’s thoughts–so glad your S is okay. I’ve had two go through the driving process and both had early (very minor) accidents. Very scary for them and for me but, as some have said, huge learning experiences. </p>
<p>RVM, seems like your original intent in starting this wonderful thread has worked not only for so many others but for you too–even though your S’s list isn’t quite as long as you’d like, it’s wonderful that the process has been smooth and that he has a list of 5 rolling and EA schools he’d like to apply to in the fall. You’re leaps and bounds ahead of where we were at that point!</p>
<p>I’m on the west coast but D1 attends school in Philadelphia–let’s plan the get together and I’ll get to visit D too!</p>
<p>^^^yea, that was one of the reasons I suggested Philly; there seem to be alot of “olders” on this thread there…plus Southwest flies there so, cheaper fares? haha</p>
<p>I, too, think that rockvilleson’s list is just fine with 5…</p>
<p>RVM - Your approach of 5 EA/rolling admission applications seems ideal. Hopefully it wouldn’t come to this, but if need be, it leaves you time to add additional RD apps.</p>
<p>OHHH Spectrum:</p>
<p>So sorry to hear about your S’ car accident. Thank g-d no one was hurt. How long has he had his license?</p>
<p>Being the slightly (my kids would say “very”) nervous mom that I am, my son drove on backroads & sideroads for quite awhile before he ventured out onto a highway. I’m probably more neurotic than most because when my sister was 16 and just got her license, and I was 13, we were involved in a very serious car accident (coming home from a young judaean event of all things). No one was hurt, but the car was totaled. Very scary. To this day I’m a little nutty as a passenger!</p>
<p>Hope he and you are both okay. So sorry you both had to go through this.</p>
<p>UMich: Our 2nd boys are both turning 15 in Feb! You mentioned he’s taking driver’s ed this summer? My son cannot take drivers ed unless it’s within 3 months of his 16th birthday, so we’ll wait until next Christmas break…we don’t celebrate Christmas anyway, so it’ll give us something to do other than shop! :D</p>
<p>wow - so much to read on this thread.</p>
<p>Spectrum - so GLAD your son is OK - it does put all this college process in perspective.</p>
<p>MCH - so sorry to hear you didn’t like JMU. We are still keeping this one on the list.<br>
S1 wasn’t bothered by the location of the school and we didn’t notice the highway on our visit - we will make sure to notice that next time. They did not show us any classrooms on our visit but school was in session at the time, so maybe they didn’t want to interfere with class. We also did not get a tour of the library but I have seen photos and it seems quite nice.</p>
<p>I am sure this is every Jewish mother’ nightmare but my SIL was Jewish prior to marrying my BIL. Short story…religion was not very important in her family and BIL is more religious so she converted to Christianity, was baptized and is now a born again Christian.
She is quite fanatical, all kids are home-schooled with a Christian curriculum, only Christian music and books allowed and they don’t observe any of the Jewish holidays.
I have a hard time relating to her…I am not that kind of a Christian. Her parents didn’t talk to her at first, but now they are on good terms with the family.
I think it would be very difficult from her parents’ perspective.</p>
<p>Oh, Spectrum I am so glad that the only result was a “lesson learned.” My biggest fear is never what my kids are doing, but how they respond to others’ driving. Either way, thank goodness your son is okay.</p>
<p>If you guys are serious about meeting up in Philly, then I’m in. For those of with seniors, don’t forget that awards ceremonies start in March.</p>
<p>LINYMOM, we are practically neighbors (pm me). </p>
<p>Rvm: You have done more thorough research than anyone one the planet…if 5 is the number that works for you, then I’m guessing rockville son will go 5 for 5.</p>
<p>college4three - the funny thing is that I don’t really want to stop! I love researching and visiting colleges. If he wanted to keep looking - I would be thrilled! But - he’s happy with the 5 on the list - and I’ll be happy if he gets in to at least 2-3 of the 5 and has choices - so we are good.</p>
<p>stayathome - I’d put that in the “worst-case scenario absolute nightmare” category.</p>