<p>Are there any parents of graduating seniors still monitoring this thread? DD has a month to go before graduation, and I cannot believe how quickly time has gone by.</p>
<p>My favorite prefrosh hosting story involved my own daughter. I got a frantic PM from another parent on CC whose prefrosh daughter was doing an overnight visit and had been basically abandoned by her assigned host and was wandering around Cambridge alone on a Sunday. I got the girlâs name and cell phone number and called my daughter and told her what had happened, and she said âDonât worry Dad. The girls of Winthrop House are on the case!â</p>
<p>She and her blocking group went out and found the girl and took her in and included her in their evening and showed her a good time. Took her over to dinner with some male friends (not boyfriends) in another House (Mather I think) and basically showed her that Harvard was fun and the kids there really care.</p>
<p>Afterward the prefrosh girl thought that was all great but was still in doubt whether to pick Harvard -suspicious that what she had experienced was some kind of fluke or exception and not what she could really expect from the school culture. In the end she took the plunge and chose Harvard - came to the school and loved it. </p>
<p>Three years after graduation my daughter is still great friends with her blockmates. They get together regularly, even in far flung parts of the world. And sometimes when I hear of their recent doings I think to myself âDonât worry Dad. The girls of Winthrop House are on the case!â</p>
<p>Very nice, Coureur. :)</p>
<p>Hey all, I was wondering if anyone knows who I could order a care package from to send to my kids for finals. I remember HUDS used to do it but couldnât find it on the website, nor on HSAâs site. If not within Harvard anyone know of a good company outside that could send something. Mailing from home not an option! Thanks!</p>
<p>I âgave upâ on sending a âreading period care packageâ and sent extra $$ for âtake out snacksâ. I thought late night pizza (or similiar snack) would be better than cookies, nuts, candy etc.? Hope it works for stamina and good outcome.</p>
<p>You could call Pinocchioâs and see if they sell gift cards.</p>
<p>^^Or Berryline. Harvard kids love Berryline.</p>
<p>HSA does offer a âbirthday care packageâ though they donât seem to say whatâs in it. They have a phone number and email address for questions, so if interested, you could ask.</p>
<p>[HSA</a> Dorm Essentials :: HSA Dormstore - Birthday Care Package](<a href=âhttp://fall.hsa.net/products/care-package]HSAâ>http://fall.hsa.net/products/care-package)</p>
<p>Iâve called Finale to make a birthday cake for my daughter. They gave her plates, forks, napkins and candles as well. She and friends picked it up for a party.</p>
<p>I called Burdicks this year for an Easter basket. I told them what I wanted and like Finale, paid by credit card. They called her to come pick it up, but she didnât recognize their phone number and refused the call. Luckily I had given them my email and they called me, so I called her.</p>
<p>I know what you mean, EAO. I worried about melting this year in particular with Easter so late, so used Cambridge instead of mailing. Plus what I saved on shipping, I could put into a bigger Easter basket, this year with macarons as well.</p>
<p>Thanks all, I will check it all out! Thanks, Ronsard, will see you ,on Sunday.</p>
<p>Finally my third D decided to go to Yale rather than Harvard so I will have a new college experience with #3. She loved Harvard but felt she wanted to break away and really liked the feel of Yale. Was a bit sad around here because siblings were really hoping that she would come join them, but have now made reservations for futon space for Harvard/Yale!</p>
<p>EAO - I think youâll have a lot of fun running back and forth between the two!</p>
<p>Gadad, I agree and it will be possible since we will be moving back to the states this summer!</p>
<p>Hi all! I think it is time for me to officially join this group. My S committed to Harvard on Saturday. I just wanted to thank all of you for sharing your thoughts and your wisdom. I have learned so much from all of you. This thread and its members have provided a unique opportunity to see Harvard through a parentâs perspective.</p>
<p>Thanks again.</p>
<p>Hi lhenkin and congratulations! The next four years ought to be exciting ones for both your S and for you!</p>
<p>Hi everyone! After much deliberation, my D finally decided to attend Harvard! I love reading all of the posts - thanks so much for the valuable insights. Any words of advice for the next few months?</p>
<p>Welcome Meelos! Congrats! Two pieces of advice - The Irving House for non-major weekends and The Harvard Club of Boston for major Harvard weekends - the two most affordable options for parentsâ accommodations when visiting campus.</p>
<p>Hi Current Parents:</p>
<p>I am a very excited parent of a S who will be attending in the fall. I am still trying to make sense of all of the really negative posts that are on the âwho is turning down Harvardâ thread. Yesterday, someone posted that many of the pre-frosh were scared, frustrated and in tears and that a number of the hosts were rude. I know that anywhere you go there are nice people and not so nice people but so many of the posts were so strong and implied that compared to kids at other Ives the Harvard kids are cold and downright mean.</p>
<p>I wonder if current students and parents should give this feedback to the administration or do you think this image is overblown? We live in the Boston area so my S attended pre-frosh during the day only and had a good time. He was also invited to a social event in our town for accepted students and really liked the current Harvard students that were there.</p>
<p>Do you think that some students come to pre-frosh with such high expectations that they are bound to be let down? Anyway, I know that this was discussed earlier but I as I said I am still seeing posts on this subject and am trying to process what I see as extreme anger at what went on at Visitas. I would appreciate any insights that current parents have to share.Please feel free to send me a PM too. Thanks so much.</p>
<p>Haters hate. Students who expect to have the red carpet rolled out for them wonât succeed at Harvard anyway, or at least they wonât maximize the opportunity. My S is a freshman there, heâs thrilled, heâs made great friends. They hosted at Visitas and it went fine (from their perspective), despite the fact that they are all taking five courses and heavily loaded with ECs.</p>
<p>Hi Revbon - welcome! I think thereâs a tendency for students at other schools to be better self-promoters - Harvard doesnât seem to require rampant boosterism - but Iâd be surprised if widespread rudeness was the cause. Widespread Yardfest distractions very well could have been.</p>
<p>HAPPY 3rd ANNIVERSARY TO THE HARVARD PARENT THREAD!</p>
<p>Averaging 1,000 posts and 100,000 views per year!</p>