<p>I’ll star of by saying that I haven’t read every single post but just want to say hang in there if you are still deciding. DS decided, oh, about 12 hours ago and it is such a great feeling! I think in his case (U So. Cal vs Alabama, picked Bama) he wasn’t ready to give up all the good things that the other place was offering. He wanted it all!</p>
<p>At one point we thought the best thing would be to go to the school that is hardest to get into, just for that reason if everything else really was equal. He would probably be able to transfer back to the one he rejected, if he really didn’t like it after all.</p>
<p>But in the end it came from his heart and where he felt more comfortable. I think also that he thought we were favoring the other school and he didn’t want to let us down… so we had several long discussions about how that wasn’t the case. </p>
<p>I was just itching to start making travel plans (see username) and almost, almost made a few cancel-able hotel reservations… but it was worth the wait because now everything is firm.</p>
<p>^Congratulations to you & your S ! I bet it’s a relief to be moving forward at this point. My S is facing a similar dilemma and I hope he picks comfort as well. We’ve given him until Friday to decide. Send us your good thoughts . . . (I’m looking forward to moving forward.)</p>
<p>happytraveller–I think your observation is spot on–they see so many wonderful things at all these different schools that they don’t want to miss out on those things by going somewhere else!!!</p>
<p>sbjdorlo, first of all accidents like you describe are not all that common. If you go by “what if” there are endless possibilities.</p>
<p>Secondly, in my second year also, I had an accident during a college gym class (I forget exactly what the classes are called, but it’s a physical activity requirement type class). Granted, it wasn’t as severe as yours - I didn’t require surgery, but I was in a wheel chair for at least a few days to a week (I could have probably done crutches, but the pain was made worse by hopping about, so they gave me a wheel chair instead). my boyfriend helped me out to get to class, and if he wasn’t there, one of my other friends would have. My parents would have come had I asked them, but, once again, I feel it would have been out of place, at it would have certainly been uncalled for if they just showed up without asking if I even need help. I certainly don’t think it was any reason to stay close to home. I did just fine.</p>
<p>I think OP is a great mom for not making her son stay close to her and letting him make his own choices, and I am sure he will appreciate that!</p>
<p>I don’t know if your S has made up his mind yet, but wanted to tell you that I loved the back story of how hard your S and his classmates worked and all the wonderful options they now have as a result of their hard work!</p>
<p>Your S has some great choices. I live near UCSD and it has an excellent reputation for engineering. Good luck to your S and to you as this decision process will soon be over!</p>
<p>Just popping back in to say that Son finally “docked” today and picked Columbia! He loved his trip to NYC and really clicked with the kids there but still waited until the last day to SIR. It was so difficult for him to give up the full ride at UCSD because his girlfriend is going there but in the end, Columbia won. </p>
<p>He did sit down and talk about the money at one point but we assured him that we would do everything possible to swing it. I’m not going to lie, it’s going to be tight especially with the travel expenses and the realization that he has NO clothes for any other weather than California. Not only will he need the basic dorm stuff but he will need a couple of coats, shoes, long sleeve shirts, sweaters-the works! He wears t-shirts, sweatshirts and tennis shoes all year long here in California. Luckily, stores are still clearing out their winter stuff so I’m finding some deals. Hopefully, next year’s finaid package will be better since we had some special circumstances this year. He also has an interview in 2 weeks for a scholarship that would replace some of his work study so cross your fingers for him that he’ll win!</p>
<p>For some reason, most of the group also waited until yesterday or today to SIR, probably because they have so much school work right now. In the end, they ALL picked their reach schools to attend so it’s really exciting for these kids and they will be spread out all over the country. Now if they can just get through finals and AP tests, we will all be able to celebrate! </p>
<p>Thanks to all of you for your advice, well wishes and for sharing your experiences. It really was helpful to know my son wasn’t the only one who waited until the last minute-hey, he still had a few hours left!</p>
<p>Congratulations to your son fidoprincess. I am certain he will be quite happy at Columbia.</p>
<p>Hopefully the next batch of students in their high school are looking upto this group of kids who banded and did so well for themselves. It would be nice to see some of these kids mentoring their juniors in future.</p>
<p>Congratulations on Columbia! S '13 just made his choice as well, so your thread gave me something to commiserate with, but it is great to finally dock. Good luck on the scholarship and shopping and enjoy NYC!</p>
<p>New York won’t get cold right at the beginning of the semester, so you can send him there is just a few cold weather items and let him buy as needed while he is there, assuming that he is a careful, frugal, and value-oriented shopper of whatever he buys.</p>
<p>Google Maps reports that public transport will take about 1 to 1.5 hours from the NYC area airports to Columbia university.</p>
<p>It may be possible to get better deals on flights with mismatched origin and destination airports for the outbound and return* within each metro area. Also, be sure to check airlines like Jet Blue and Virgin America.</p>
<p>*e.g. outbound to EWR, return from JFK or LGA</p>
<p>I didn’t get to Columbia till grad school, but loved being in the city at that age. I often flew into Newark because the bus took you to the Port Authority bus terminal and it was easier to catch the subway up the west side from there than from Grand Central. Most of the older buildings in NY are so overheated you may not need much beyond a good parka.</p>
<p>Congrats! I lived a few blocks from Columbia for 5 years and love that neighborhood!</p>
<p>As for winter clothes, I moved from a warm climate to NYC to go to grad school and learned that it’s easy to overestimate the need for winter clothing. If he has a lot of sweatshirts and jeans already, he just needs a couple of sweaters and long-sleeved shirts for nice occasions, a coat, hat, scarf and gloves, all of which are easy to find. Unfortunately the only thrift shop that I know of on the Upper West Side closed some years ago but there are quite a number of them downtown, an easy subway ride away.</p>
<p>Yay!!! I’m so excited for him and you! Maybe he’ll join the Columbia University Marching Band and end up knowing my daughter. </p>
<p>It’s an hour to LaGuardia on the M60 bus for only $2.50. A few times, my D has run into other kids from Barnard/Columbia at the airport and split a cab with them. The cab was about $46. </p>
<p>My advice for plane fare is to try to buy early. I’m not waiting so long to buy the Thanksgiving plane ticket this year.</p>