<p>Actually, many of these ECs provide a social life for students. My S’s friend for instance, likes to hang out with members of his choir. Coming from a very small torn, he has had opportunities to travel throughout the country and even abroad. Not all ECs are super-competitive and new groups crop up every year. When S applies, there were about 300. He now belongs to a group that was founded by some of his chums. It’s been pretty successful, so it looks like it will survive their graduation. </p>
<p>I also feel that one reason the students sound superbusy is because they have different schedules from us parents. I am more likely to be able to talk to my S at midnight than at midday on a weekend (I tried and had my head chewed off!). But often, being busy just means “hanging out with friends and not wanting to talk to mom or dad.”</p>
<p>I agree with the being free comment. I’m grateful that California is on a three hour time delay, that way I can call at 12 or 1 in the morning here and still catch my parents before they go to bed. I seem to be much more free after 11:00 or so.</p>
<p>Unfortunately we are the opposite, 6 hours ahead. Our daughter said that she too would like to call late but realizes it the middle of the night for us! Oh well I guess if we want to chat, we’ll have to wake up super early, too bad skype has cameras, pretty scary looking in the morning!!! :)</p>
<p>Speaking of ECs, are any of your kids in a cappella groups? A cappella is generally about one-half activity and one-half social group - kind of like a fraternity or sorority that sings and tours together.</p>
<p>Not my S. His friend is in choir and they tour quite a bit. Along the way, they get to meet a lot of alums. And you are right about the social group.</p>
<p>Time out for a brief shout-out to Guitars101 who started this thread last summer that has now generated 2/3 of a thousand posts. Thanks for getting us together Guitars! I tried visiting the Yale boards yesterday, but without a Parents Thread, there wasn’t much there for me to glean.</p>
<p>My freshman D had to go to see a doctor few days ago, and spent $20 for medication. It usually covers with $5 co-pay with Blue Cross and Blue Shield. So I was wondering which medical needs cover with BCBS. It looks like not definatly with the prescribed medication.</p>
<p>gadad,
my s has recently been selected into The Harvard Krokodiloes. The 3 tryouts took much of his time last week, although he anticipates less time into practices now. They already had their first weekend away and he had a great time! The only down side is that I won’t be seeing much of him this summer , although his summer will be filled with traveling abroad and having the time of his life!</p>
<p>northwestern,
I don’t know if this addresses your question, but my D has both Harvard’s Blue Cross coverage and our own private family coverage. When she tried to fill a prescription at school (I think it was at CVS), she was told that the State of Mass. does not allow secondary insurance to pick up the co-pay/deductible of the primary insurance. They charged her $20 to fill the prescription. Our state (CA), allows it, and therefore 100% is covered when we fill it here. It is a hassle for me, but in order to save $240 per year, I fill her prescription here and mail it each month for $0.91.</p>
<p>I found the same sorry state of affairs over their on the Yale board. I think we should extend an honorary membership to Riverruner - her kid could have gone to Harvard or any other darn place she fancied and her mom is very cool.</p>
<p>no, my son is not in any singing group. He plays the violin, although not this year at Harvard. He’s involved in Christian Impact and Institute of Politics and Model united Nations. Several of his friends are involved in singing groups and they love it!</p>
<p>Wow, Krokodiloes - congratulations! Isn’t Krokodiloes one of the oldest and most prestigious a capella groups? The ones who perform wearing tuxedoes?</p>
<p>My D is in her second year as a “Cliffnote” and loves every minute of it! Almost all of her friends came from this group. They spend a good deal of time at practices, including the RCS.</p>
<p>^^hey mammall, thanks for the shout out! We Yale parents had a little thread going just before and after move-in weekend, but it’s drifted down a few pages. I imagine it will revive itself around parents weekend. I do enjoy reading about life at H through your posts. There are lots of similarities in the families and in the schools, in my opinion. I appreciate the welcome!</p>
<p>The Kroks and Din and Tonics are awesome. My D2 just got into the same coed a cappella group as D1, so they’ll be performing and traveling together, having the same friends and experiences, etc. I was delighted to learn how it turned out. When D1 was interning in Buenos Aires this summer, the Kroks came through on tour and she went to see them perform at the home (mansion? palace?) of an Argentine alum. How’s that for getting together with college friends over the summer? The Dins apparently announce their Spring performance each year by invading star faculty members’ classes, dressed in tuxes and trademark lime-green socks, to sing for the class while one of the performers mixes a gin and tonic (with lime) and presents it with great flourish to the professor. Most professors laugh and set the drink aside. D1’s prof said solemnly “thank you very much,” downed the drink in a gulp, and began to lecture. I asked if he was staggering the rest of the class period and she said “No, he was just fine, but the Dins seemed kind of staggered!”</p>
<p>Hi riverrunner - Welcome! My D2 had a chance to choose between H and Y, but in her particular financial situation (because her parents were naive enough to put her college funds in her own name), the aid so favored H that there really wasn’t a choice. I’m glad to have her at H, but on a personal level, I’d have enjoyed the opportunity to vicariously experience Y as well as H. If you’d like to start up a “Yale Parents Thread,” we can both be “exchange students.”</p>
<p>My D was deciding between H and Y as well, loved them both, said she would be happy at either one, but in the end, Cambridge was the tie-breaker for her.</p>
, although his summer will be filled with traveling abroad and having the time of his life!</p>