<p>If your kid was stressed during exam time in HS, they probably will be in college. You really can’t manage their stress as you aren’t in school with them. Exams since they are relatively short in duration, do not cover the material during the semester in all that much depth. I always tell me kid that if you have been keeping up with your homework during the semester and done well on whatever tests you already had, the exams should be relatively easy. Since she always keeps up with her homework, this reduces stress.</p>
<p>Loki 5- My advice is to allow your daughter plenty of talk therapy with you. She is experiencing so much change right now that she is bound to feel overwhelmed. </p>
<p>As for boyfriend- emphasize this is a great opportunity for her to meet, date, and have fun with other boys. Encourage her to smile and chat with guys in class, go out with the girls to parties, and follow up new acquaintances with shared meals. (Much less imposing than a real date.)</p>
<p>Also, let her know you will support her even if she does not receive the A’s she is used to on her exams. This is Harvard, the exams are harder, the TF’s who grade exams and papers can be stingy and fickle. Let her learn to accept B’s.</p>
<p>Encourage her to exercise, eat well (citrus for immune system, low-fat dairy for mood, fish for brain power) and have a study schedule. Reading period can disappear quickly, or be a long, lonely time without a balance of activities. The “brain-breaks” held in the evenings at Annenburg are a nice relief for the freshmen.</p>
<p>Loki5,</p>
<p>My thoughts and prayers are with you. My son just left this morning for Cambridge. He was quite sad to leave his “private” bedroom, maid service (mom) and favorite meals. I’m hoping that once he arrived at school and he sees his friends and gets back into his routine that things will get better for him. </p>
<p>What is “brain break”? </p>
<p>Thanks :)</p>
<p>This reminds me of a letter that I received in the mail a few weeks ago. It was basically an order form from one of the organizations at Harvard asking if we wanted to purchase packaged snacks for our students during finals week. I opted out, but now wonder if this is something that we should have done. Any thoughts out there? </p>
<p>Thanks again</p>
<p>Yes - Put together a package of their favorite snacks and mail it. Its far cheaper.</p>
<p>I was wondering how hard to get academic help from a professor in a large class. My D has been trying to solve a problem for Computer Science class, but can not get it. I asked her if it is possible to get any help from the professor, and she said it is not easy to access to a professor specially in a large class. Is it common in Harvard? Where can she get help?</p>
<p>She can go to the prof’s office hours. Profs MUST hold office hours. She can also email the prof for hints. Profs usually like to meet their students. If it’s a large class, she can also go to the TF. She should also join a study group. There are often are such groups in math/science classes.</p>
<p>guitars101 - I think “brain break” is offered by the dining halls after regular meal hours. Drinks, pastries, sandwiches, fruit?</p>
<p>I loved the idea of a finals survival box - but I made my own. I use a Flat Rate box from the USPS because I include several pack of Double Shots. </p>
<p>I try to include some snacks that are fairly high calorie (I have a son) are decently healthy and will help late at night or early morning as a meal substitute. Food that can be eaten while walking is helpful, too.</p>
<p>In the past I have sent printer paper and ink because lacking those items was my personal nemesis during my own college days. And I heard it was helpful not just for my son but for several other students on his floor.</p>
<p>Good luck to your son (and mine:))</p>
<p>What a good idea to include printer paper and ink!</p>
<p>ps—this shows how young you must be. It was typewriter paper and ribbon when I was in college…</p>
<p>While not designed to help you in computer science courses a student might well find help from the [Harvard</a> Mathematics Department : Math Question Center](<a href=“http://www.math.harvard.edu/mqc/index.html]Harvard”>Math Question Center | Harvard Mathematics Department).</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for suggestions on the care packages!</p>
<p>Thank you marite and mathmom for your suggestions on asking academic help. I think the freshmen year is a big transition time for everybody even though they were very successful in high school.</p>
<p>My S reports that sometimes a problem is insoluble because it was not correctly written. On occasion, his class has received OOPS email from the prof or TF, often after several members of the class had banged their heads against a wall failing to solve a problem. So if your D cannot solve a problem, she should email the prof (and cc the TF) about the spot where she gets stuck. Ask questions such as: “Did I copy the problem correctly?” “Can you point me in the right direction?” Perhaps she did not approach the problem correctly; but just maybe, the problem was wrongly phrased. Good luck to her.</p>
<p>Thank you, Marite. It is good to know. My D had a good relationship with teachers in high school and she is quite proactive, but it might be little challenging for her to approch professors yet in Harvard. And no one can give her step-by-step guide or help on her computer science project during the reading period since everyone is busy studying. If she does not get a good grade, she will learn lesson and be more careful in selecting courses. I am praying and trying to give encouragements through emails and texts. I guess that’s all I can do now.</p>
<p>NWern, my older D has generally loved her TAs in large classes. They’re young paraprofessionals who, in a year or two, will probably be some other school’s prize faculty recruit. Also, popular disciplines should have paid student tutors (paid by the university, not by the student seeking tutoring).</p>
<p>NWern:
My daughter, after some reluctance, simply walked over to the departmental office to find a TA (hers was out of town) and ended up in the professor’s office, discussing her paper topic for an hour! This was an unexpected result, and a great learning experience for her!</p>
<p>northwestern</p>
<p>Is the class CS50? The staff for that class is huge. ([Harvard</a> College’s Computer Science 50: Introduction to Computer Science I](<a href=“http://www.cs50.net/staff/]Harvard”>Staff - CS50)) There were multiple walk-in and and online office hours every day during the term. It may be a bit different during reading period, but her TA should still be available.</p>
<p>Thank you all for sharing your S and D’s experience for asking academic help. I just left it up to her because I couldn’t do much about it from thousands miles away. She finally went to TF /TA last night and TF also couldn’t figure it out. The problem wasn’t solved yet, but she feels much better now. Thank you again everyone. I am so grateful to know this online forum.</p>
<p>All,</p>
<p>My D is planning to go to Mountianview for summer intern (she is earger to go and see Silicon Valley since she is tech “savvy”). We are from east coast. Housing, local transportation need to be taken care of herself. She is freshman. I’m wondering:</p>
<p>1 how is she going to get apt. without credit, job? Will apt let you rent for 2-3 months for the summer?
2. renting a room may be a better choice, however, i’m a bit concerned about safety.
3. she will not have a car. Is local transportation convienent? bus, rail, etc.?
4. how about safety in the area?
5. is Stanford dorm open during the summer? Is it easy to get to mountainview to Standford through public transporation?</p>
<p>Thank you very much in advance!</p>