<p>After reading the previous thread on roommate issues, it seems as though there may be questions you wish you would have asked schools during the interviews.</p>
<p>In reflection, what may be some questions you wish you would have asked that would have been helpful for you to be better prepared, to have clearer expectations, or to possibly make different choices?</p>
<p>As the parent of a new 10th grader, we would have asked what kinds of “orientation” to services at school would he miss. Are there any classes about study skills / organization that are only offered to 9th graders? In our case, those are important. Now, it may not have changed the choice of schools, but we MAY have thought about repeating 9th.<br>
What happens when a student struggles in a class? Although that last one is probably better for a re-visit question as you may not want admissions to think you beleive your kid will struggle.</p>
<p>One month into this and I still feel like I don’t know anything. I guess my main question right now is what happens on parents weekend when your parents can’t come. And what happens over Thanksgiving when you can’t go home. These are the two things I’m worried about right now.</p>
<p>PhotoOp–have you talked to anyone at your school about vacations? Some close and there are “homestays” where international and other students can spend the time with local families, not necessarily other student’s families.</p>
<p>Do you have any friends at whose home you would feel comfortable living during the vacation?</p>
<p>The amount of parents attending Parent’s weekend varies by school. If your school has a large population of international students, there may be other activities scheduled off campus for those students. </p>
<p>Talk to the administration at your school to find out what happens. It will alleviate your stress “wondering” what your fate will be!</p>
<p>PhotoOp, it may make you feel better to know that there are kids at these schools who look forward to the opportunity to provide hospitality to someone who can’t go home for breaks. I know that that is one of the things that my son will be looking forward to if he is accepted. He thinks it would be the “greatest” to be able to share a little of his home with a classmate who might be a little homesick (think Ron to Harry Potter). So if someone offers, they are probably really sincere in their offer.</p>
<p>Oh, PhotoOp…are you a parent or a student? I was assuming you were a student. It’s an entirely different set of emotions as a parent, I’m sure.</p>
<p>I’m a parent. That does make me feel better Neato - she has a friend who wants to invite her home, the parents want to meet her first - which I think is a good sign. It will work out I’m sure, it will just be different for all of us. Her being at someone else’s home for a major holiday - and us not having her home for the holiday. I think it’s going to be hard all around.</p>
<p>While I hope your child does get to visit a friend, some schools really make an effort for the kids who can’t go home. I remember hearing at a visit to St. Andrew’s stories of how faculty members had taken in students for the holidays resulting in lifelong friendships. You might want to discuss this with your child’s advisor.</p>
<p>PhotoOp: Yes, it will be hard for you as a family. But, try to remember what you said in your other recent post about what a wonderful opportunity your daughter has.</p>
<p>Also, you might want to look into webcams if you are good with the Internet…they are really pretty easy to use, and then you can have a video chat with your daughter. That might make you feel closer. I haven’t done this yet, but am going to try to getting around to setting this up soon.</p>
<p>Thanks Brooklyn - you always have great advice. We keep talking about setting up skype and never getting around to it, maybe now is the time :)</p>