<p>In agreeance with aShoreThing, I don’t get how Honors students getting first dibbs on detripling is demeaning. Beyond the scenario already described by aShoreThing, Honors students (of which I am not) generally get special perks in exchange for their additional acedemic requirements. It is not like they are getting something for nothing. Also, as far as the full tuition people deserving first dibbs, I can agree with you to some extent on this as I also had to pay full tuition 
However, as students who receive tuition garnered it for a reason, such students should not be punished for their tuition.</p>
<p>Cadiumred,
Sorry to be blunt, but do you think anyone really cares about your daughter’s having to triple? Why is she so special that YOU need to complain about it, where are all the other posts from parents whose kids got tripled? She should have sent the deposit in earlier. It’s just the same old same old, looking for something to complain about AU…</p>
<p>D is an Honors student, and has been assigned to a triple in the Hughes Honors floor. I think it’s regrettable (mainly because she’s a slob and will probably spend half her time searching for her possessions in a crowded environment), but she couldn’t care less, thinks the more the merrier. Tripled students pay less for their housing, so some may see it as a benefit. (There’s probably an AU parent out there somewhere complaining because their child is in a double and has to pay more!) I agree with the poster who pointed out that this has more to do with the mechanics of having set-aside Honors floors than with any explicit de-tripling preference given to Honors students. </p>
<p>We knew full well (and cadmiumred should have known, too) that by waiting till May 1 to choose a school, D was being pushed to the bottom of the housing list. I think every school D was admitted to was quite explicit about this.</p>
<p>Cadmium, I predict your daughter will have a miserable college experience if you don’t dial it down a notch. She will take the cue from you about how she should feel about American, and right now she must be thinking (wrongly) that she has been grossly mistreated. Weren’t we warned they might be tripled–for heavens sakes, it’s not the end of the world, and it’s certainly not a “nightmare”! This much drama from an overwrought Mom is probably not helping her deal with the little setbacks they will all inevitably have. As the parent of an incoming AU freshman, my throat tightened when I saw the word “nightmare” associated with the school my daughter chose. Good thing I read the whole silly thread and saw that you were way overreacting to every little setback you have encountered. Do us parents, incoming freshmen, and your own daughter a favor and give it a rest!</p>
<p>Cadmium,</p>
<p>As MommaJ stated even her Honors D was tripled. If that does not make you feel better then maybe this will. Early Decision students of which I was one, got tripled and a dorm they did not request.However, I received my second choice and a double. Many kids are not happy especiallythe ED kids; but, no one is crying and complaining about it. Heck if you dont like it; go rent your daughter a place so she can live all by herself in a single. Sometimes life is not fair and this is a prime example. I dont like many things; but, unfortunately you got to put up with them and make the best out of it. Maybe, step back and let your D take control of her stuff at AU; because, I have and my parents have not once called AU on my behalf. I have found the Academic Advisors, Fin Aid, and all other people I have emailed to be very receptive and helpful. Screaming on this forum, does nothing. I dont mean to be rude or anything; however, this thread has turned into joke( a sad one).</p>
<p>I’m a regular decision non-honors kid and I got the dorm I want and a double. This thread is hilarious, funniest one I’ve ever seen. Honors kids obviously aren’t getting that much preference, some of them are tripled and in the wrong dorms and I’m not. However, if they were given preference, THEY DESERVE IT. They worked hard in high school, and the honors program is designed to entice them to come to American. Entice by giving preferential treatment in things like HOUSING. If your daughter doesn’t care, why are you even posting here? Do you know college representatives read this forum? You think they’re going to want to help you out after reading what you said here?</p>
<p>Let it go. Let HER go. It’s time to stop the hovering. Retire the helicopter. Cut the umbilical cord and stop living vicariously in the life of your daughter. It won’t take long for faculty, staff and students to be able to identify your daughter from the postings made here. So what. She got a triple. Quit making her life and your life miserable.</p>
<p>Sometimes relationships are star-crossed and not meant to be and maybe, just maybe, this is one of them. If everything is going wrong and nothing is going right, maybe it’s a sign that your daughter will not be happy at AU…or maybe it’s a sign that you will never let her be happy at AU.</p>
<p>AU’s material are pretty clear that housing is assigned in the order that deposits are received…so who send their deposits in later in the enrollment period lose priority to those who sent in their deposits earlier. Early bird gets the worm.</p>
<p>Upset mom, how will you deal with other situations that will arise during your D’s college experience…roommate problems, a less than optimal grade on an exam or an art project…will you be calling the roommate/her parents/the ra/housing office/professor, etc.</p>
<p>College is a business. Yes, not everything is fair. For example, a student in need of financial aid may not be accepted at a school in favor of one that is going to pay full fare. (see the NYTimes article regarding Reed College.) I’m not saying that is the case with American or with your daughter, but it is a reality in some schools.</p>
<p>Also a reality is that schools want to entice students with the highest possible GPA and test scores. In order to do that many offer merit aid and have built honors programs that offer many perks (yes, preferential treatment.) The honors kids often get special classes, internships, trips and housing to name a few perks. Without doubt, American University does this. It is their way of building prestige and putting together a stronger class. So if your D did not receive merit aid and was not put in the honor’s program, there are going to be programs and enticements that are not available to her.</p>
<p>And the fact that you are paying full fare is not a factor.</p>
<p>I cannot believe I just read this entire thread. Oy. </p>
<p>First, I don’t understand that if your D wants a BFA degree program, why she opted for American, when she got into several of the most well regarded BFA programs. You say she wanted the mix with liberal arts and so I can see that if she does the BA at American but it sounds like she is hoping to do the BFA option there. If so, I don’t know that she is gonna get so much more liberal arts than had she done a BFA elsewhere. And the BFAs where she was already accepted offered much more well developed BFA programs than American. I could see picking American if she wanted a BA though. If she wants a well established BFA, AU doesn’t seem like the one to pick when she had much better options on her plate. </p>
<p>Next, it seems that you want to change or make AU into what it is not. Yes, improvement is always a positive thing but as a buyer, your D should have assessed if what AU’s art program offers NOW is what she wanted and not what AU might become. It doesn’t sound to me that she explored AU art department extensively or talked to current students to get the skinny. For someone contemplating a BFA program, in depth research is crucial as it is a commitment to a specialized degree program and just attending the accepted student day might not garner enough specifics. If your D is such a talented artist, why would she be happy at a school that either has very few BFA students or not that strong of a BFA program? Again, I could see it if she merely wants a BA art degree and it is not as imperative in such a case that the art program be top notch. But for a BFA program, she should have compared it to the other BFA programs she was admitted to and their curriculum and strength of program and numbers in the program and so on. I doubt AU’s BFA is on par with RISD, MICA, or Syracuse. </p>
<p>If your D went to RISD, she could have taken some liberal arts classes at Brown. Students do that all the time. My D went to Brown and took classes at RISD. </p>
<p>If AU’s BFA program has the flaws you think it has, why did your D choose it? It is what it is. Rather than try to make it what it isn’t, choose a school that more closely aligns with what you want. </p>
<p>Anyway, you had a legitimate concern that your D could not register for the pre-requisite classes that the planbook and arts reps at the school had indicated that freshmen should and could take. But the school has now solved this. And I believe all along it was solvable. Mini explained how students can often advocate to get into a class that is supposedly full by contacting professors directly. My own kids have both been through college and were able to do this very thing (my kid at Brown got into an art class that way in fact by showing up…and she also got to do an independent study one on one with an art professor when she could not get into a class or it didn’t fit her schedule!). </p>
<p>I find it is not a good idea to be as involved as you have been directly with the school. I have two daughters. One graduated college a year ago and just finished her first year of grad school. The other just graduated with a BFA degree last month. That represents nine years of higher education between my two kids. NOT ONCE have I ever had any contact with anyone at their schools (other than the billing department). I think the excuse that your D has been busy does not hold water. My kids advocated every step of the way directly with professors and department heads throughout their higher education. Sure we were involved as parents at the K-12 level but never with the college. Your D should be emailing the people she needs to with regard to her college plans. This is now her job to do in college. </p>
<p>I am just amazed at the notion that since you are a full paying family, that your D’s needs should be met or prioritized. I don’t see how full pay has anything to do with it. Each family is paying what the school says they can afford (need based aid) or based on merit awards. Every student is entitled to the same treatment. Your D’s needs are important for sure but not because she is full pay. If I were you, I would never bring that point up with the college! </p>
<p>Then you bring up housing. I am not familiar with AU housing but from what I am reading here by other AU families, the sign ups were on a first come first serve basis in terms of deposits. Perhaps your deposit was on the later side. It happens. Triples happen. But your complaint that the Honors students had priority treatment is just very appalling to me. When a college creates an Honors program, those students often have some perks in that designation. Perhaps at AU, one perk is housing. And it also sounds like they are housed on special floors (though some still got triples it seems like). That is part of that program. If your D wanted the perks, she needed to be admitted to Honors. She was not. That is the way it goes. Ya know, my kid was selected for something called Scholars at her school and had some perks including a free arts trip to Brazil, among other things. Is that unfair? I don’t think so. This was a special program for a very small handful at her school. She won substantial scholarships there too. Is that unfair? I don’t think so. </p>
<p>I can’t say much about the welcome center as I have never been to AU (but as a college counselor, I have recommended the school many times to theater and musical theater applicants and have had some of my students admitted and one now even attends). However, I absolutely see NO affect on students in studio classes by having visitors into a welcome center in the same building. This would never ever bother me and I have a child who did a BFA program. I would actually think it was great that the arts at the school were exposed to so many people. Even in my D’s arts school at her university, there is a main lobby where many people congregate and also some gallery space and I think it is great. </p>
<p>I am sorry you are so disappointed with AU. It just seems it may not be what you or your D wanted and she had choices and so I hope she explored her options carefully as she chose this school for a reason supposedly. It is not as if she is going there by default. Either she did not examine the art program carefully enough or else you have negative thoughts before she has even experienced it. And now, there is a lot of criticism about other things about the school (once the course registration was resolved). If this unhappy before day one on campus, it seems odd to not see if she can go to another school on her list. But it sounds like she wants to stick with AU (a fine university indeed) and if that is the case, embrace what AU is and why she chose it and not try to change it so much. If you or she wanted something different, she had other options. </p>
<p>I also recommend letting your D take over now when it comes to direct contact with her college. And yes, even if she is busy. My kids are busier than anyone I have ever met but I do not do their contact with professors, department heads, or their university system for them. My youngest entered her BFA at age 16 by the way and she navigated it all on her own once she arrived. We advise and support from behind the scenes as this is college and not K-12 anymore.</p>
<p>a2009:</p>
<pre><code> I am not angry at all, just trying to solve problems. Still not having a dorm assignment is a bit of a concern, since we received numerous notifications that all dorm assignments would be up by June 15. College Confidential is for voicing concerns and obtaining helpful input from posters such as soozievt. Thank you all. I always appreciate it.
</code></pre>
<p>My S is in honors and was tripled also. He sent in the deposit on May 1. Honors does not override sending in a deposit on the late side.</p>
<p>Thank you Soozie. Always liked your posts on the MT thread when D was pursuing that interest. By the way, D got a triple and she deposited very early. Also her floor was converted from all female to coed, not her choice either. She shrugged and said she’ll have brothers which she has never had…and as for the triple, it is what it is. Thats life. There will be harder things in life to deal with down the line. Try and find the positive.</p>
<p>Yeah I sent my deposit in like April 2 and got the housing I wanted and a double</p>
<p>Not angry, Upset Mom? Are you kidding me? You’ve had one outraged, angry comment after another, complete with pounding multiple question marks and exclamation points. You accused AU of “belittling” and “demeaning” treatment of art students, and when that was resolved, your outrage never skipped a beat. You switched your fury to the notion that honors students should not get preferential treatment, and that to do so is belittling to everyone else, especially full-ride students. So wealth should be rewarded over hard work? Wow. Here’s the thing–honors students earned the extra perks they get and they deserve it! In fact, it sounds like lots of honors were tripled, and that’s too bad, but I’m sure they will deal with that with the same quality of character that earned them honors in the first place. It will all work out for your daughter–just give her a chance to make it happen.</p>
<p>sadly it would seem the mom is into managing her daughters problems large and small. what i think she keeps failing to realize is that this just infantilizes her D further, if in fact D is running to Mom all the time (and maybe she isn’t; maybe mom just won’t let go.) But all of us, including me are also feeding Mom’s seeming need of attention, which makes me pray for her daughter going forward. as many have posted before, its time for Mom to let go and let D take over, and if D isn’t capable, then its time to get that on the table for the family to deal with. enough already…plus i think soozievt said almost all that could be said.</p>
<p>Cadmiumred,
has your D attended orientation yet? She may resolve a lot of her problems then.</p>
<p>My son and I just returned from his orientation session. It was well organized in spite of horrible weather on Thursday.</p>
<p>Some of the sessions were worthless, of course, but my son enjoyed himself anyway, especially getting more familiar with the campus as he had been there only once. It was also good to get to know some faces for the start of school in August.</p>
<p>The Kogod breakout meeting was very useful, as was the private meeting with his advisor. There is a problem with my son’s schedule; he is taking a class in the University College and for some reason the scheduling materials did not show a lab scheduled for 4 hours every Wednesday; when my son filled out his schedule request (and he received what he asked for) he scheduled calc and spanish labs in times that will interfere with his university college econ lab.</p>
<p>It doesn’t seem like it will be too hard a problem to resolve, though–his advisor suggested my son contact his calc and spanish professors explaining the situation and asking to get placed in another lab section. The advisor said to let him know by the end of the first day of each class if it’s not worked out and he will “force” a placement–and told son to go to the lab sections he wants to sign up for in the meantime! In other words, not a problem, and son is comfortable with the situation.</p>
<p>The good news is the math placement test he felt was easy and he placed directly in to the calc class he needs so at the end of his meeting he was very happy.</p>
<p>Cadmium,
has your daughter gone to orientation on campus yet to meet with her advisor one-on-one? I hope it all works out for her.</p>
<p>D attended orientation this week. Well run, lucked out on perfect weather, and overall a very positive experience. Despite some nerves that I am sure are lurking, she is very much looking forward to August…hope others students have as positive an experience.</p>
<p>My H and S returned from the new student orientation. My H was very impressed with speakers, topics, organization, and even Food, that was presented over the past 2 days. When I asked S about his impressions of the campus, students and presentations, he said, “I’m in love.”
I’m sure other parents can understand how I felt when he said that. I feel, after all the deliberating, questioning, and reading negative posts, his decision to attend AU was the right one. I feel wonderful, and just wanted to share that with you all.</p>