<p>Haven’t posted here in a while but wanted to wish everyone a happy summer and congrats on the graduating seniors and congrats to all the happy kids finishing their freshman year! Rising sophomores - crazy!!</p>
<p>S1 graduated last week - it was beautiful but very bittersweet. I found myself getting very teary saying goodbye to all his wonderful friends, fraternity brothers and their parents, most of whom we have gotten to know fairly well these past 4 years. Another chapter closes, but this time there is so much uncertainty! </p>
<p>S2 had a wonderful freshman year - loves his chosen school, did well academically and made wonderful friends. He did pledge a fraternity, which was a huge time commitment but he loves it. Regardless, he is home and we are all enjoying being together, at least for the time being…</p>
<p>S3 just had a very, very strange phone interview.</p>
<p>The employer in question called him on Monday afternoon…I am not sure whether it got his resume from an online application he filled out, or from some other source.</p>
<p>But it is of course very clear that he is a new college grad.</p>
<p>On Monday, they spoke about 15 minutes, going over his background and resume, etc. He took the call totally cold–had no clue before he answered the call who it was, had no chance to prepare.
The position in question seems to require approx 3 years experience–which he obviously doesn’t have. He does have some very solid experience in pertinent internships where he did very substantive work.</p>
<p>Employer calls him back later on Monday, to say that they would like to talk to him in greater depth, and set up a formal telephone interview for this afternoon.</p>
<p>Had the phone interview this afternoon. He feels that a lot of it went very well—they spoke for over an hour.</p>
<p>except for the part where they asked him about contracts with vendors he had negotiated! In his internships, he has worked with vendors–but how many college students have negotiated contracts?</p>
<p>He thinks that they really, really like what he has done–but that he won’t get the job because of what he hasn’t done.</p>
<p>And he is hoping that maybe they will find a slot for him. It would be a dream job.</p>
<p>This school got a top listing as a possibility for my daughter to consider so she can have a shot at $$. She would be in the upper % of applicants (based on scores and GPA). Wondering what people think about it. Checked out the video tour and the hillel looks nice. wondering about the academics.</p>
<p>My son, going into sophomore year, wants to spend a semester in Israel through the Ramah program. I am not thrilled about the idea of him being away in high school, but the bigger concern seems to be the disruption of the normal high school trajectory, and the affect on the transript, APs, etc. Has anyone had experience with one of these programs in high school?
Thanks, and happy weekend!</p>
<p>MomofGrits-
the daughter of a friend is just completing the six year PT program at Quinnipiac. She had a very good four years there. I know that the people in her program worked very hard, and that a good number washed out. She also said that there were some people (not in her program) who did not work so hard–but that would be true any where.</p>
<p>Good news–S2, who just completed his MPP at American University, got his dream job. Now he needs to figure out who he wants to live with after our lease runs out August 1, and where they want to/can afford to live. DC is very expensive. Especially when no longer paid for by the Bank of Mom and Dad.</p>
<p>S3 is still in need of mojo and fairy dust for his job search.</p>
<p>RockvilleMom–So glad to hear your S2 had a successful year. I wanted to let you know that we had a spectacular visit to Elon a few weeks ago! Gorgeous school–felt like we were visiting a country club. Vast difference between state flagship and small private. BUT, it didn’t feel too small. Really felt like Cheergirl would NOT “fall through the cracks”–it’s definitely staying on the list!</p>
<p>I haven’t posted here in awhile, but just saw a question re: Quinnipiac U.</p>
<p>We’ve known several kids that have graduated from there and also some who are there now. Some Jewish, some not. The six year PT program that Boysx3 described is supposed to be top notch. We have a good friend in the program now (Jewish) and loves it. Nice size school not too far from New Haven…where there is good food, especially pizza! Academics in general are good at that school. It has come a long way since it became a Univ. as opposed to “just a college”, and many people from our area in New England go there and are quite happy. Not too big and not too small…imo a good size school and good academic reputation.</p>
<p>^^Boysx3: I’ve heard of that Bank of mom & dad…I think they have many, many branches all over the country! ;)</p>
<p>esteemom,
Friends of ours daughter spent her second semester of junior year of high school in Israel though I don’t remember the name of the program. It took a lot of logistical effort with respect to the high school and completing the year’s requirements, getting them accepted and course selection but a very proactive parent help navigate it. She was one of the top students and was very happy being accepted at Tufts so it ended up as a positive experience.</p>
<p>Yes, Elon owes RVM a BIG finder’s fee/commission!</p>
<p>College4three, that’s exactly the point that has us so puzzled. They know he is a new grad–so wouldn’t have contract negotiation experience. The job description does reference three years of experience. And yet they have talked to him extensively–twice.</p>
<p>Odds are great that he will go no further in consideration, but maybe they will find something for him if they like him so much, or maybe keep his resume on file.</p>
<p>If nothing else, the interviewing experience was very valuable for him. My son did comment on how interviewing for “jobs” is so different than interviewing for internships.</p>
<p>S1 is a college graduate, graduation was lovely, but one thing they didn’t teach him was how to cook and as of tomorrow he will have no meal plan and an apartment. So the question is do any of you have any suggestions about cookbooks or websites with quick easy to follow recipes, budget ingredients and not too many of them? I see lots of Ramen and pasta in his future, with In N Out providing the primary potein.</p>
<p>My older son makes eggs, pasta, yogurt, ravioli when he has to fend for himself. A good basic cookbook (mine is Fanny Farmer) has lots of basic cooking info such as how long to boil eggs. Lots of twenty somethings are veg or vegan, so maybe something with that focus. My easiest healthy recipe is salmon. Buy a filet, rinse, pat dry, cooking spray on pan, sprinkle a mixture of kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, dry dillweed and dry parsley. Bake at 450 (preheated) for 20 mins or a bit longer if still translucent. Salmon isn’t cheap, but on sale a 1/2 lb filet would only be 3-4 dollars.</p>
<p>Susie Fishbein has written several Kosher cookbooks. We don’t have a strictly Kosher kitchen, but I like her recipes- especially for holidays. When my kids were younger, I bought her “Kids in the Kitchen” one. In the beginning of the book- it has a chapter on how to cook the recipes, what equipment and ingredients you need, and basically breaks down cooking for new cooks. She later wrote one for “Teens and 20- somethings” with simple but good recipes. My kids have enjoyed making the recipes from these books.
The recipes are good regardless of if one keeps Kosher or not, and the simple steps in the books for young people make them easy to follow.</p>
<p>Mazel Tov on your graduating senior and all others with graduating seniors this year!</p>
<p>Rather than spend money on a cookbook, imo it’s very easy to google whatever you need…</p>
<p>type in: easy chicken recipe 5 ingredients, or cheap, easy recipes using beef.
The Pillsbury website is a very easy website for beginner recipes. [Easy</a> Recipes & Easy Cooking Ideas from Pillsbury.com](<a href=“http://www.Pillsbury.com%5DEasy”>http://www.Pillsbury.com)</p>
<p>He’ll get the hang of it and then start improvising a bit. A basic protein, vegetable and starch can be made in many different ways and he’ll pick it up quickly!
Stuffed Peppers is easy…Chicken Caesar Salad…Potatoes: cut up real russet potatoes into wedges, sprinkle with oil and spices, bake at 425 for a half hour and you have homemade French fries! Shulamit is right…Salmon is quite easy.</p>
Academics in general are good at that school. It has come a long way since it became a Univ. as opposed to “just a college”, and many people from our area in New England go there and are quite happy. Not too big and not too small…imo a good size school and good academic reputation.</p>