<p>D’s books are outrageous. Her school is on the quarter system so that’s 12 classes (at a minumum) with books this year. Urgh!!! Fortunately, one of her dorm mates offered to loan her his Linear Algebra text books. She offered to buy them but he just wanted them back when the class was done. Saved her $350 for the 3 required texts/workbooks. What is his angle? Do I even want to know?</p>
<p>Son said he had to pay $50 for class fees for his J-term class, but the books needed for second semester aren’t on the bookstore website yet. Then again, they might not bother to do that earlier and they are, instead, posted in the bookstore or something. I know he is using chem book from his suitemate (and someone else is using S’s math book), but I can only even remember two of his classes!</p>
<p>Last semester D bought most books on Amazon at a pretty good discount. I have no idea why she didn’t do that this semester but for those of you whose students haven’t bought yet, check out those ISBN numbers and start shopping!</p>
<p>Eggdad visited S yesterday and most things sound “fine.” But, Eggson is having some roommate woes. Roomie was sick a lot first semester and even went home for a week. It seems that he has various medical woes (sound stress related to me.) When he came back to dorm, he started smoking (a lot S says).</p>
<p>Now that they are into 2nd semester, Roomie has added drinking to his pasttimes. He apparently comes in late and sleeps all day. Frequently he is “sick,” which means hung over. DS says roomie seems sad. DS is annoyed and says he will be talking to roommate and RA if necessary. Sigh.</p>
<p>I am fairly confident in S working out a solution for himself, but I feel sorry and concerned for roommate who I met just once.</p>
<p>That makes me sad too eggmom. I hope someone is watching out for and caring about the roommate.</p>
<p>They’re allowed to smoke in their rooms??? Wow. I don’t know too many places anymore that allow you to smoke inside and I believe I read somewhere where S’s school was a smoke free campus… mostly that just means you stand outside and freeze while you kill yourself (and I woefully admit that I used to smoke and when stressed still will on occasion - not proud). </p>
<p>But even as a smoker/x-smoker… I hate when people smoke in restaurants and really abhor walking into a building through a cloud. I am definitely closeted with a great airfreshner for the garage where I’ll go when it’s really cold called Zero Odor. You can order it online. The stuff is amazing. Seriously, I kid you not. It just takes any odors out. It has a slight smell when you first spray it, but that is gone almost instantly and just cleans the air. I use it when I burn microwave popcorn too. But I couldn’t live in a room where someone else was smoking. yuk.</p>
<p>Roommate sounds like he might be biding his time until spring when he flunks out.</p>
<p>Sad news for eggson – never nice to have to watch someone hurt and feel helpless. I had roomie issues like that in college (and other times caused them…)</p>
<p>On textbook front, if it’s any consolation, McSon’s tech package of software, periphials, pro computing & external drives, editing and film editing software, midi interface etc. was $6k this year…which makes his book budget look comparatively cheap (and was actually a steal for what would be double on market for a professional – then again, it should last him for all four years). BTW, did you know you can now “rent” textbooks? McSon is a booklover so buys his to keep, but students at his school all got info on rental. I can ask him for link if anyone is interested.</p>
<p>And #TM – I’ve often thought our sons are echoed in each others posts and indeed, the teacher knows, because both McSon and I told him – McSon by goey grateful teary letter on his retirement and then again the following year with update upon his acceptance, and me when he came back for graduation. Any cause that guy gets going (he’s not very “good” at being retired and is perpetually tapped for community efforts) I am in like flynn ; ) The world needs about six billion of him!</p>
<p>I know that roomie has several HS friends at the school and his parents seemed to be very involved (when I met them at move in). </p>
<p>I also know that DS is friends with RA, so I am confident that info will be shared. Here’s hoping the result is good for all.</p>
<p>Moda – I dont think they are allowed to smoke inside, but outside is OK. DS says roomie spends a lot of $$ on cigs and smells of smoke.</p>
<p>Eggmom, how sad is that about DS roommate? For all the struggles we go through as parents, it doesn’t sound like any of us are going through the kind of stress we’d have seeing our kids drinking their sorrows away. I have a friend whose 15 y.o. daughter is in rehab for methamphetamine. Perspective!</p>
<p>I’m glad the roomie has a good support network. I too used to smoke (picked the habit up in Africa as a way to fit in). Passing a cigarette around there was used similar to the old Indian peace pipe ritual. Cigarettes were offered as a sign of hospitality and proof of the host’s wealth (even though they only cost 25 cents a pack at the time). It really would have been considered bad manners to refuse. Anyway, I became instantly addicted. When I returned stateside, I was able to limit my habit to when I was traveling but I had a job that had me on the road four out of five days, so that was a lot of smoking. I finally gave it up completely about fifteen years ago.</p>
<p>For the fall, S2 had tuition of $2,066 and fees of $1,170 (two big “engineering fees” and then some lab fees), so fees were huge. Books were $600. I didn’t break the fees out on my spreadsheet for S1, so not sure about the split there but my impression is that tuition was higher and fees were lower. WV’s Governor has just asked all state colleges to freeze their tuition for next fall, given the hardship on families paying for college. The college president at WVU said they were working to try to meet that goal, so we’ll see. At least they are trying.</p>
<p>S1 is skyping with some of his buddies back in Brazil and has talked to one of the professors about auditing a Portuguese class. He sounded like he was feeling better than in his previous email.</p>
<p>I think it would be very difficult to return after having such a great experience in Brazil. Hard to get back “in the swing”. I haven’t noticed much in the way of fees - only $10 designated as an “engineering” fee. Nothing additional for labs or materials.</p>
<p>Good Morning! Had a rude awakening when I got off the plane last night and felt the sub-zero weather last night! Florida was fun and now I need to play catch up around here today. Will go back a few pages and see how you all fared this past week! I am glad to be home.</p>
<p>Wow! You all have been super busy!</p>
<p>Missypie…did the peer mentor meeting happen yesterday???
Historymom…Sounds like twin D will figure things out and find another major. It is still early!
Shawbridge…I would also buy the book! Glad shawbridge S was able to change the schedule.</p>
<h1>theorymom…I keep praying for #TS to shine this semester!</h1>
<p>TheAnalyst…I also worry about my D2 not enjoying her college experience as you do with your S1. I’m hoping her transfer will help!
Modadunn…waited for you to show at the airport! 
woody…Yikes! Books this semester were outrageous!</p>
<p>D1 got another job offer! She is thrilled and looking forward to graduation this spring. D2 was offered a spot in the Honors program at her desired transfer school. Now we wait for the scholarship piece. She went off to school while we were out of town so no drama about returning after having a month off. There has, however, been drama surrounding the team. 4 players are now on academic probation with GPAs falling in the 1.2 -1.5 range! :eek: D2 reports that these girls just didn’t go to class and were partying all the time. I just don’t get it! I am thankful she is moving on. </p>
<p>On the summer job front…D2 has again been offered her job back from two summers ago. It is perfect for her but once again refuses to consider it. She did apply for others over break. Not sure how we are going to handle this one.</p>
<p>The peer mentor meeting happened. All I got when I inquired by text was “great”. He’ll be home over the weekend, so I’ll talk to him about it then.</p>
<p>Hey North MInn - great news for D1 and D2!
Missypie - At least he said “Great” and not the ubiquitous “Fine”.</p>
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<p>Right…and if he had said “meh” I would have driven down there this morning!</p>
<p>^^^ I missed you missypie! Thanks for the morning chuckle! :)</p>
<p>good missypie and good that he is going to be home this weekend and maybe you can get details. send back some goodies for her so she shows up next time to get them? :)</p>
<p>welcome back TM</p>
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<p>Ooh, great idea…have him become the Most Popular Mentee…Will just have to watch what I send so she doen’t think he “likes” her.</p>
<p>Does anyone send care packages to your kid’s BF or GF? Maybe a care package would be too much…maybe I’ll send the GF a funny card and a Starbuck’s gift card.</p>
<p>My daughter’s ex-BF’s mom sends my D care packages. They haven’t dated in over 2 years (and had a horrific, terrible break-up). My D is still close friends with his parents and brother. The grandmother even knit my D a beautiful scarf and sent it to her. She has a new BF at college - told him she had a boyfriend in HS at one time, but hasn’t told him that all the gifts are from his family. The ex-BF’s mom is one of my closest friends and we attend church together, so she just describes them as family friends. </p>
<p>I haven’t sent any to her ex-BF, however, or her new BF (who I haven’t met).</p>