<p>Don’t forget about the basketball team being the focus in articles in Sports Illustrated and the LA Times.
Liz–several people have gotten the grey t-shirt as gifts from S or me, with the ‘undefeated…’ saying. Its classy. Perhaps its too late for Mom’s Day, but I do like my blue Caltech mom" t-shirt.</p>
<p>Please forgive us hicks from midwestern corn and soybean fields. No one around here has heard of Caltech, as indeed my son had not until he received a mailing last spring. When people ask about his plans for next year and he replies, “I’m going to Caltech,” the usual response is, “Where’s that?” </p>
<p>However, folks can be excused from not knowing. After all, California University is not so very far away - in Pennsylvania. And, just think, I can drive 200 miles west to reach Indiana University, or I can drive 300 miles east to also reach… Indiana University. </p>
<p>As for T-shirts, Caltech needs one which says, “Little Old Lady Whose Child is in Pasadena.” Thanks to the Rose Bowl (this, after all, is Big 10 country), everyone knows where Pasadena is. </p>
<p>Pardon me, I should have written that ALMOST everyone around here knows about the Rose Bowl. I just asked my son if he knew. His vague response? “Some sort of football tournament somewhere in California, I think.”</p>
<p>people who dont know caltech are noobs…</p>
<p>EllenF,
I have a similar problem & I’m in Oakland, California! When I tell people that my son is going to Caltech next year, they say something like “oh, San Luis Obisbo is so pretty!” Many people in Northern California confuse Caltech with Cal Poly SLO. Though my son brought me a nice pink Caltech T shirt from prefrosh weekend, I might buy myself the “undefeated since 1993” t-shirt just to shake things up a bit. Or maybe one of the “MIT…because not everyone can get into to Caltech” shirts. (I’m not ready for the Little Old Lady shirt but its a very clever idea!)<br>
Are you going to come to California for Parent’s weekend or bring your son out for orientation? It would be fun to meet in person.</p>
<p>Yes, I’m planning on coming for orientation if my own schedule permits. Since we’ll already be paying a rather hefty tuition bill, I figure my husband may not notice if I add to it by taking a course at the nearby college. Besides, I have to do something now that I’m being involuntarily retired from my homeschool job. Unfortunately, the local college is on the semester system, so classes start in August. I’m hoping the professor won’t mind if I take a few days off. Let’s do plan on getting together if I make it out there. </p>
<p>Parents’ weekend is more problematic. Plane fares add up and the flights from here are not convenient. It took 12 hours to go out there for pre-frosh and 14 to return, including ground transportation on either end. Also, being a “Little Old Lady” means that adjusting to the time change takes longer than it did when I was a spring chicken. Going to Pasadena for a weekend would be rough.</p>
<p>My mom felt similarly… “I’m taking you up there for orientation, I’m not so sure if I want to come back in November”</p>
<p>Edit: You’ll like my mom a lot I think EllenF :)</p>
<p>I hope I have a chance to meet both you and her!</p>