<p>My D lives in the most expensive dorms on campus- so it is actually less expensive to pay for the off campus housing for a year than the 9 months in dorms : )</p>
<p>Tulane requires freshmen and sophomores to live in the dorms, so my D will be in the dorm again next year. She hasn’t said much about room selections, so I guess they haven’t done it yet.</p>
<p>My son will be staying on campus for at least another year and perhaps junior year as well since he wants to do a study abroad and it’s less hassle to do it from a dorm room where you can just do that for one semester. I think he’s required to stay on campus the first two years and their dorms aren’t cinderblock dorms anyway, they’re converted Victorian mansions and upper classman get even nicer rooms.</p>
<p>We haven’t talked about changing majors so I’m guessing son is fine with his so far. I think next year he has to decide to specialize in cybersecurity or systems information.</p>
<p>My grad daughter is home! She brought a fellow grad student with her and we went to a neighbors annual Christmas party last night. Lot’s of fun, food, singing and eating! Today we’re going out to a tree farm to pick out a tree. Looks like a pretty day for it!</p>
<p>Kath: Enjoy the time with your daugther!</p>
<p>My D is stressed about housing for next year. Sophomores at her school have the worst options. If things don’t work out she may move off campus, but would prefer to stay on campus through junior year when she wants to go abroad for a semester. Like Kath said, it’s much simpler if you’re in on-campus housing.</p>
<p>My D1 moved off campus junior year and really loves it. She’s in a huge, renovated apartment just off campus on a street with lots of other students. She was able to buy furniture from the seniors moving out of the apartment so that wasn’t really a hassle. It is more expensive because of the 12 month lease, but she spent last summer in Philly for an internship. It was great not having to move her out for the summer. </p>
<p>D1 seems to be sticking with her original major. She’s joined a pre-professional organization and seems pretty excited about the field. She also likes the core requirements for her program - fewer math, science and language requirements than the school of arts and sciences.</p>
<p>At ShawD’s school, there is only dormitory space for one year (though technically she could do a second year if her transfer is deemed starting over as a freshman). But, she’ll be happy to move off campus to eat real food.</p>
<p>At ShawSon’s school, almost everyone lives on campus. There are alternative-y sorts of houses as well as standard dorms. ShawSon has a 10 person suite with 10 singles, 2 common rooms and, I think, more than 2 bathrooms. He’s going to stay in the same suite for his senior year.</p>
<p>Hmm didn’t think about the semester abroad & apts. That would be an issue to pay for 12 mos & only use 4. Not sure if S will go abroad unless he has a change of major, really can’t take those classes abroad, well you could but you might not want to. I think it would be better/easier to do 6 credits over a summer abroad. But who knows. S needs to pick a minor as well as confirm his major. We will discuss over the break, but S may need another semester to confirm. Even with substantial transfer credits, the first semester is still a lot of intro courses & S isn’t even taking a course in his major since he transfered in the 101.</p>
<p>Morning All.</p>
<p>Hope to hear from kiddo via skype today–even if for only a few minutes. Kiddo had an exam yesterday afternoon–(a new concept for me to give exams on the weekends)…and has 2 tom. So today will be stressful … so we are just checking in to say “love ya” and call after exams so we can go over travel arrangements etc…and remind about cleaning out fridge/trash/laundry from room which will be vacant several weeks.</p>
<p>At kiddo’s U the freshman mostly live together and then move into the multi-class residential colleges. I have no clue about how they lottery the choice of rooms etc. Guess I will learn more over the break about that. Kiddo and the roommate get along well and will need to select a 3rd (and maybe a 4th) roommate for the next yr…as they are triple suites or quads…no double suites (I think). Living arrangements on campus as so good that most stay on campus all four yrs. Is it possible to do it cheaper off campus? IDK. Food service on campus is so so very good there is no way kiddo can do better cooking in an apartment.</p>
<p>As far as major…I would hazard a guess that it will stay the same though after one semester it is really way too early to tell. Kiddo started out leaning towards strengths and interests yet what I like about a broad university experience is the chance to meet others in different majors and to take courses across the whole liberal arts spectrum…opening possibilities.</p>
<p>fogfog, ShawD had a Hebrew exam on Saturday (yesterday). The mid-term was on Sukkot. Interesting. I figure that observant folks likely already know Hebrew and are not taking first year Hebrew, but who knows if that is creating a problem for some kids?</p>
<p>Both kids have exams at night. I don’t remember either weekend or night exams, but then I don’t remember a lot of things that did happen, so who knows.</p>
<p>I’ve been off the grid for most of the week due to mixed news and events here at home and it appears that I have several pages of postings to read and catch up. On the positive front, DD turned sweet 16 this week and we had a wonderful family dinner for her. Tonight she is having a party for 16 at a local fondue restaurant that she selected. Sounds like a lot of fun. DS is studying for finals and reported very positive feedback from the last day of class for two of his classes.</p>
<p>On the negative side, we spent a lot of the past week at the doctor’s and clinic as AvonMom got a call last week from her doctor to come back in for a follow-up on her annual mammogram. The tests were redone but the reults were the same and she had a biopsy which turned out to confirm the mammogram. She is now scheduled for surgery on the 20th. If there is anything positive, the cancer cell growth appears to be contained to the ducts and has not spread that far and was only found on one side and is considered stage 1. They won’t know if the lymph nodes are involved until surgery and they will go from there. As it stands, she will have surgery followed by radiation treatments. There is no chemo needed at this time. Thank goodness we have excellent medical facilities here in town. She will be treated at the Cleveland Clinic.</p>
<p>Needless to say, DD is rather freaked out. We debated about whether to tell DS now or not until after he finished finals and was home before the surgery but decided we couldn’t hold off due to DD and all of the social media and instant information as it wouldn’t be fair to him to hear about this from a third party source. We are hoping that this doesn’t affect his state of mind regarding his studying for finals. We have contacted his RA and the campus ministry office who will follow-up with him and monitor him for the rest of the semester.</p>
<p>We have had a lot of positive support from friends, family and neighbors as the word got out. I am positive that AvonMom will come through this just fine but anytime you are dealing with cancer you are on guard. I will keep the group posted as to our new journey. Thank you for your spiritural support.</p>
<p>The only countdown I am keeping right now is the countdown for DS to get home (7 days) and the countdown to AvonMom’s surgery date (9 days).</p>
<p>D had a Jewish religion final scheduled yesterday; prof is a Rabbi…he changed it to a take-home paper…no surprise there…</p>
<p>Don’t wanna go into details here, but make sure your kids check and re-check their grades…D was literally leaving for the airport and realized one of her profs did not post two of her assignments on Blackboard…and the final grades were already posted for the semester…</p>
<p>Feels like HS all over again?..glad she realized it though! Changed the grade drastically…</p>
<p>Crossposted w AVONdad…there is a NYTimes article from a couple of weeks ago regarding breast cancer isolated to ducts…briefly, the medical community is starting to not classify this as “cancer” per se apparently, which is very good news!! </p>
<p>Glad they caught it early…We know many women who have had stage 1- in duct; survivors for decades…</p>
<p>If you can’t find the article, let me know…I will send</p>
<p>Oh AvonHSDad, I am so sorry to hear that…
Thank goodness it’s only stage 1 so you have every reason to be hopeful for a full recovery.
I think you did the right thing to tell your DS. Better for him to hear it from you directly.
I will keep you and your family in my prayers…</p>
<p>Avon: here it is…</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/health/cancer-by-any-other-name-would-not-be-as-terrifying.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/health/cancer-by-any-other-name-would-not-be-as-terrifying.html</a></p>
<p>AvonHSdad, so very sorry to hear your news. Sending warm and positive thoughts to you and your family.</p>
<p>AvonHS I will certainly keep your wife and family in my prayers.</p>
<p>Avon - sorry to hear your news, but grateful it is very early and that you have a wonderful medical facility nearby. I agree that you did the right thing by telling DS. Hugs and prayers to you and yours.</p>
<p>Here’s to our kids finishing finals well, remembering to empty fridges and garbage cans, traveling safely, and being pleasant and respectful while on break at home! One can hope, can’t one?</p>
<p>I am at work today. Year end is brutal for me (finance job) as clients want stuff done before they close books, but many people I need to collaborate with (legal, compliance, etc.) are out. I do appreciate my job, but maybe a little less this time of the year ;)</p>
<p>D is finished with her toughest class. Hoping for a killer curve in that one! Others finish up this week and D seems calm. Four days 'til she comes home :)</p>
<p>AvonHS-So sorry to hear about your wife. Glad that she does not need chemo. Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.</p>
<p>Waiting to pick up S in about 2 hours. He is done with semester and will be home for 5 weeks.</p>
<p>Avon, so sorry for your news, hope it all goes well.</p>
<p>I am with D this weekend. She has finals this week. She appears to be calm, cool, and collected. She was an over achiever in high school and totally fell apart a year ago at getting her first B+ as a high school senior in a college level calculus based physics class. She is now accepting the fact that she will need to seriously study in a couple of classes to get a B, and may get a C if she falls on her face on the final. </p>
<p>In many ways I think that is good for her to be letting go of perfectionistic tendencies. I just hope a C on her transcript (if she ends up with a C) won’t ruin her chances at med school. I can’t seem to get through to her that taking 19 hours, being on the rowing team, working 15 hours a week, being in the choir, and having a social life may be a tad much. She is one that has always had to do and be in everything. So, I guess a couple of B’s, or even a C, is the price she will have to pay, as she isn’t willing to either take fewer credit hours or to not work the job.</p>
<p>Avon, so sorry to hear your wife’s news. I have a local friend who got the same news this week (also stage 1). Wishing your wife all the best for her surgery and treatment, and hope nothing shows up in the lymph nodes during the surgery! I agree that you did the right thing telling your DS. </p>
<p>That’s odd about the Hebrew and Jewish Studies finals being scheduled on Saturdays and Jewish holidays. DS doesn’t have any weekend exams, but did have a calculus midterm scheduled on Rosh Hashanah, which he was able to take at an alternate time. He said the profs have no control over when exams are scheduled, which probably explains what is going on in those other cases as well. He does have evening exams, but I do recall having those as well when I was a student. (I distinctly recall getting stopped for a DUI checkpoint heading home from an exam at 10pm on a Friday night…)</p>
<p>DS is experiencing the “power of the curve” for the first time as well. He has a 65 in one of his classes, but says the top grade is a 68 so he assumes his 65 will be an A (if his relative position holds up after the final, of course). In some of his other classes though he has no idea where the curve will leave him. I seem to recall having more concrete knowledge in classes where there was curving going on when I was in college. Usually they just “curved” a single exam on a one-time basis by adding a fixed amount to the scores. </p>
<p>4 days until our DS comes home as well. 3 finals between now and then. Looking forward to having him home.</p>
<p>AvonHSDad: So sorry to hear the news about your wife. Please know that I will keep her and your family in my prayers. Keep us posted.</p>
<p>AvonHSDad: sending hugs and prayers to you and AvonMom. Cancer is scary no matter what. Glad everyone will be home for the surgery and very best wishes that all goes well.</p>
<p>On the exam front - found out yesterday that DS has two 4-hour exams on the same day! Am irritated b/c one is for the required freshmen course which seems to me could have its own day since they have 4 days in which to schedule exams. So he has a one hour break between the required course and physics and then two days before the next exam. Aargh. And then time to clean and pack before flying home Friday - weather looking clear!</p>