<p>I don’t think number is necessarily indicative of difficulty – at least not once you get beyond entry level/department prerequisites for upper division courses. </p>
<p>The Hanover Inn lost some of its charm with the remodel (don’t get me started on the lobby) but I still prefer its rooms to South Street. South Street rooms are more rectangular than square and I think the ceilings are lower. The air conditioning is better, which is a consideration for Freshman (and Sophomore) family weekends. The Inn is more convenient. We’ve lucked into rooms facing the Green a couple of times, and that’s really fun. Sixth Street has more modern showers (decor quasi-Asian) but (unless they’ve changed since the last time we stayed there), there are no hooks to hang things on. I guess you’re supposed to just drop your bathrobe on the floor. I was surprised that the Inn did not add mini-fridges in the remodel. For the rates they (and South Street) charge, it’s the sort of amenity one expects. South Street has better free coffee in the lobby, and it’s available all day. The Inn runs out, and that’s it (but Dirt Cowboy is just a hop and a jump away). Any specific questions, feel free to PM me and I’ll be happy to try to answer. I like both, but I like the Inn better. </p>
<p>I’ll repeat a previous offer as well: If anyone wants my personalized driving tips from Logan to Hanover, just PM me. Or, you may be able to find the thread I posted a year or so ago. Welcome to all the 17s and parents!</p>
<p>Welcome Octomom! Regarding trips, if you are not from the east coast, here is what my D did and it worked out great. She signed up for the earliest trip for non east coasters. I think it was Section E. We met her there after trips and moved her into her dorm. She had lots of time before classes started, and there were orientation activities each day. She had made friends from trips and Dimensions, so that was easy too. It was a very nice way to ease into college. All of her friends from high school had left weeks before, and she couldn’t wait to get there. </p>
<p>Regarding hotels, I have stayed at both Six South and Hanover Inn. Both are wonderful and convenient. One thing to keep in mind is the Hanover Inn opens no rooms for graduation, while Six South keeps track of number of nights you stayed there and rewards its loyal guests. I was able to get 3 rooms for graduation, so all of my visits paid off (both my parents and inlaws want to come). Just something to consider. If you do stay at the Hanover Inn, join IPrefer. It is free, and they offer many good deals at the Hanover Inn, and most include breakfast. Click on special offers and you will save a bunch. Ah, I wish I had 4 more years of visiting Hanover!</p>
<p>“Six South keeps track of number of nights you stayed there and rewards its loyal guests.” Yes. That’s an excellent tip. Many other places do the same: the Norwich Inn right across the river, for example. It’s worth picking one and sticking with it for your visits to increase your odds of getting rooms at graduation. Unless you want to experience dorm life. :)</p>
<p>If you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg, I will put in my usual plug for the Chieftain Motor Inn. It is clean, friendly, comfortable, relaxed, inexpensive, includes a breakfast buffet, and is a 5-minute drive from the College. The interior of the rooms runs to knotty pine paneling and countryish decor. The bathrooms are (rather charmingly IMHO) 50s, but perfectly functional. (If you are the sort of person who wants everything sleek and modern or luxurious or standardized, it is not for you. If you like a bit of local character, this is your place.) The family that runs it is <em>exceptionally</em> nice. They rented a van and provided free shuttle service to graduation. I’ve stayed there several times, and since we’ve always had friends and family with us, we’ve occupied several rooms. All of us had a positive experience. It is also dog-friendly, has a pool–which is great during sophomore family weekend–and apparently has facilities for fishing and boating on the river, although we haven’t done that.</p>
<p>One thing that I enjoyed is that at breakfast I encountered a '12 mother at graduation whom I had met there two years earlier during sophomore summer. 
They do charge more at graduation, BTW.</p>
<p>Thanks all, I appreciate it so much. I just told my son I’d joined CC and he asked what I called myself. I told him Octomom and he put his hands over his face and said, “You didn’t!”. Apparently that is a mom well known in the media who had 8 kids. Who knew. Whew, I’m happy to say, that’s not me! (Imagine putting 8 kids through college…) Anyway, I’ll take all this hotel information to heart! Many many thanks for all the advice you give on this forum. So helpful!</p>
<p>Hahahahahaha. Tell son that no one will ever guess who you are or who he is. Perfect cover. Brilliant.</p>
<p>octomom, too funny! There was a thread about the octomom in the Parent Cafe a few years ago when she was in the news. There is a thread in the Parent Cafe about EVERYTHING! :D</p>
<p>Thanks. Kind of embarrassed but, oh well! Okay so here is my son’s concern with asking for substance free housing. He is leaving a super competitive prep school and he wonders if substance free might be a lot of competitive math types (he’s science oriented and has won a science prize but is also very literary and started a philosophy program at his school) and not as many artsy literary philosophical types, which he (also) considers himself to be :). funny how they just try so hard to imagine what it might be like and make decisions based on very little information! He was thinking about East Wheelock but again doesn’t really know. I guess to some degree they just make the best choices they can, and among that group, search out kids they can relate to on some level or another. But he is trying to figure out what to request. Any thoughts are helpful, thank you. He is the type to make a few very close friends that endure but also naturally shy.</p>
<p>S lived in Substance free in the Choates and made lifelong friends. They recently had a reunion dinner in town. Tell him to make as many friends as he can during his first year because everyone is excited to be there and open to meeting. He will find his place. Congrats.</p>
<p>Hi Octomom, D’16 lives in East Wheelock. As an INTJ who needs to recharge in the quiet of her own space, she appreciates having a single in her suite. Her suitemates are non-technical types.</p>
<p>Hi AboutTheSame, It’s a small world, or make that, a small campus. When I visited earlier this month, I met Magnum’s S who was partnered with my D in a class exercise! </p>
<p>Cheers, HK</p>
<p>Breaking news Consolation, I will be staying at the Chieftain Motor Inn while tooling around the area after graduation next month. I hope to be able to paddle canoe on the River too. Thanks for this recommendation.</p>
<p>Hard Knocks, glad to hear that my S was in class. Glad to hear your D likes East Wheelock. Her first year is almost pau. Time flies.</p>
<p>Thanks all for taking time to help the Newbies. S is having lunch with a '15 and is asking him all this too and I’ll add in my findings from your experienced parent perspective and he’ll have to decide – so appreciate the insights.</p>
<p>I hope you like it, Magnum! It is not luxurious, but I’ve always found it comfortable and the lady who owns and runs the place is a doll. Her H is a character.</p>
<p>Okay, who’s a 13 parent here? I propose at least one round at Murphy’s. (OMG, more talk about drinking!) Or Salt Hill. I’m flexible. I’d really like to say hi in person to some of you I’ve only “met” in passing here.</p>
<p>^laughing out loud at your comment. 14 parent, but I will be there may 31 to June 2 if anyone is arriving early. I am helping D pack up for her Boston internship. She has to go straight to NYC for training, so I am moving her stuff into her Boston apt so she doesn’t have to lug everything with her. And congrats on graduation, Abouthesame.</p>
<p>dumbo11, it all went by too quickly. I wish I had another year (or four). Sorry we won’t cross paths. I’ll pass the torch to you. Let’s start a CC tradition. Friday at noon at Salt Hill. Or the gelato place. I’m nothing if not flexible. I’m just going to have a hard time saying goodby to Hanover. (insert picture of emo guy with a few tears)</p>
<p>aboutthesame, totally agree! I absolutely love Dartmouth and Hanover, and I will miss visiting so much. D is so sad that this term is ending. She just loves the College, and she does not want to be a senior (which means graduation is too close). Love the idea of a CC grad meet-up tradition. Some of us (Magnum, LHM) have met up at family weekends, and it’s always fun! And you are too funny (LOL at your flexibility).</p>
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<p>I’m a '13 parent and the founder of this thread, and I’ll be at Commencement of course. But so will a large contingent of happy family members, so I’m not confident I can keep an appointment for drinks at any given time or place.</p>
<p>Well, whoever is wandering the streets of Hanover that weekend, if you see a shortish guy with silver hair and a salt & pepper beard (that’s way more salt than pepper) wearing an SF Giants cap (or maybe the Dartmouth Rugby one), feel free to say hi. It’s probably me.</p>
<p>Hello, everyone
Congrats to parents of '13 with upcoming graduation… Good luck with a new chapter in your kids life.</p>
<p>I need help with following. My D’16 will be doing research/study at Yale School of Medicine this summer from mid-June through mid-August. She is interested in subletting in the safe neighborhood of New Haven (somewhere along Whitney ave or closer to East Rock neighborhood) for that period. Unfortunately we know no one from the area.
Could anyone provide recommendations or contacts that might help D to find a suitable accommodation? </p>
<p>Thanks a lot for taking time to read and respond</p>