<p>Creekland, Hopkins is just the kind of place I meant. I will add my prayers for you.</p>
<p>Creekland - I am glad you are getting top notch care. Having been through some health issues myself, my recommendation is to always go for the best known doctor and facility you have access to. It can make a world of difference. </p>
<p>DS texted today. He is taking Orgo this semester and all the pre-meds are making the curve very steep. He got 13/22 on his most recent test, which translates into a B+. We are thrilled. Med school is not in his future so an A is not a “must”, but grad school is, so we were a bit concerned. He recieved a C on his first test. So, I think he has figured out what he needs to do and I am confident that he is on an upward trend. Whew. We will hold a breadth a little bit till the end of the semester, but for now, we are doing a little happy dance!</p>
<p>Apparently, Professor re-graded one question on the test, and now DS has an A on the 2nd orgo test. And, I found out they will drop one test grade. Hmm, an A is in reach. DS says it is all luck. First test he read the chapter before class, committed to studying every other day and did all the things you are suppose to do to “learn” Orgo. He got a C on the test. He stopped going to class, spent 3 days and 2 nights right before the second test just crammng everything in and whola, an A. He says that grading in Chem is all random and after 3 semesters of Chem he has enough information to make a call that going to class is not worth it. Sometimes I wish I didn’t know this kind of information!</p>
<p>Glad to hear of the A, geogirl! Like you, I’m not sure I’d need to know all the petty details in that situation…</p>
<p>UM was a nice school, but my youngest is not going to apply. It bothered him that their Marine Bio facility was a few miles away and the grad students get to have the bulk of the fun. In all other ways he really liked it and was thinking he would apply… but the info session for Marine Bio changed that. Oh well. So much for our kids having the same schools - just in opposite order.</p>
<p>My guy has his classes set for next semester now (not sure if they’ve signed up or if he just knows what he plans to sign up for). He’s also decided to apply to be an RA. How he fits everything in and still does as well as he does amazes me. I fit a bit into my college experience with no regrets, but my grades in some classes did tend to be affected by it.</p>
<p>Creekland - If your DS would like to talk with my DS, I am sure I can arrange it. Yes, the main facility is on a different campus, but I can not tell you how awesome a time my DS is having because of that first rate facility. So, things your DS might consider:</p>
<p>1) There is a Marine Bio building on maine campus. It is the equivalent of what most other campus’ offer in total. The second campus is a bonus and is available by bus.</p>
<p>2) Miami students go diving off the Keys often to learn about the ocean environment ALL THE TIME. The location of the school is very hard to beat in terms of a Marine Bio major.</p>
<p>3) Undergraduate students are supported by their professors and there is opportunity to do research at a top of the line facility. </p>
<p>4) There is nothing like skyping home in Feb, in your shorts to your NE family that is freezing and scraping ice off their cars.</p>
<p>Best wishes to your DS as he figures out what works best for him.</p>
<p>Thanks geogirl… we saw the on campus building when we did the info session for Marine Bio. It is nice.</p>
<p>What my guy wants is a coastal campus… hop out of your dorm and walk to the water type. Then he wants small classes, the ability to do tons of hands on with marine “stuff,” and a tight knit small group to do dives and things with.</p>
<p>UM missed the first part, but he figured he could deal with it (after the tour) as it is a very nice campus. They have some small classes, but not all, so it was a little iffy after he came out of the class he visited. Then, when talking with the Marine Bio person, they mentioned that grad students get to do the bulk of “stuff,” but undergrads get to do “some” and that the scuba/dive club has roughly 700 members… that high of a number got to him. He’s a small group guy. </p>
<p>Then couple it with UM being a definite reach. My guy is positive he could hold his own in the Bio types of classes, but doing all the other classes with the pre-meds, etc, didn’t make him feel comfortable.</p>
<p>Contrast that with Eckerd… smaller school with all small classes + no grad students to do the “stuff” he’s hoping to do, right on the water with free use of all sorts of water equipment, very top notch in Marine Bio/Science (so is UM, of course) and taking the kids out on the boats from the beginning on a regular basis & extras… plus his scores putting him in the top 25% and he was very ready to choose them over the “better” bells and whistles on the campus at UM. It really is a better fit for him. His second choice was actually Nova Southeastern (loved that campus and their new Oceanographic Center + it nicely fit his stats with oodles of merit aid - best financially + ALL small classes), but ended up turning it down for his main reason - it’s not ON the water like Eckerd is and doesn’t do nearly as much hands on.</p>
<p>He’s figuring he gets to do undergrad once, so he might as well go where he really feels he fits in. I definitely agree… just I get to be more concerned with the finances. Financially Nova Southeastern would be a no brainer (and I still toy with making him apply for that reason), but it’s not as good of a fit for him for that major, so we’re reluctantly axing it knowing his backup plan is to take a year off to work if need be.</p>
<p>It was far, far easier finding oodles of options for middle son wanting neuro and pre-med! He had plenty to choose from and ended up cutting some options for minimal reasons. Tropical Marine Bio (esp without the high stats middle son had) has been more of an experience. The “tropical” part eliminated so many schools - but made for a nice college visit trip! </p>
<p>To throw a little bit of a kink in things… I see a UVI brochure next to the computer this morning… and am wondering what it is there for and if it’s a new one we’ll be checking out. I’ll volunteer for the trip to check it out!</p>
<p>Glad that DS2 has found his fit, Creekland. Has he looked at Coastal Carolina too? There is a coastal marine/wetlands emphasis there. UT has a very nice, small program in Galveston too. Also, for some reason, I am thinking U of Vermont (UV is a lot colder than than UVI!) had a professor join their program and DS said many are really liking it there. Good luck on the process! </p>
<p>DD is really enjoying UR and seems to think the biomedical engineering is a good fit for her. She is enjoying the begining class, at least. She is thinking pre-med too, but I’m not sure if that is a passing fancy or not. She wouldn’t consider it earlier because she doesn’t like blood. LOL! Maybe they will run into each other on campus at some point. :)</p>
<p>Youngest is actually DS3 - I’ve been through this twice before ('12 is my DS2). Naturally, none of them even remotely considered the same schools making the search process easier, but all in all, it was fun - esp the trips (I’m a traveler at heart).</p>
<p>Coastal Carolina was not far enough south. TAMUG hit the radar, but there are so many in state students plus the school really isn’t good for anything else should he have changed his mind (not that ANY kid does that… 
). I looked at UVI today during my free time at school and I’m hoping it’s not really on his list - their stats are WAY below his. I understand the desire for tropical, but… being the mean parent, I also want an education up to his ability. UM may have been too tough in non-bio classes. Eckerd should be decent. UVI may be decent in Marine Bio, but…</p>
<p>Glad your DD likes UR! My guy still loves it there too. I hope his tests and labs this week went well. He had a bit on his plate, but that seems normal for him anymore.</p>
<p>Totally understand, Creekland. One of the things I like about UM is that the degree is actually a double major Biology and Marine Biology. Like you, we were concerned about what exactly a degree in Marine Bio could get you. Not much really, you have to go on for an advanced degree. Which is fine, as long as you know that is what you are getting into. Oh, that and a pretty dismal employment future. LOL! But, many kids, like my DS and your DS3 aren’t too concerned about the big money. So, that is fine with us. DS is happy now and will be happy in the future, so all is good! And I can dream about how Marine Biologists will be in high demand in the future as we try to tap into the ocean’s resources…I think that has been the unfullfilled dream of marine bio majors since the 1960s.</p>
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<p>That’s the truth! Jules Verne and Nautilus… my guy’s sustainable lifestyle heroes (more or less). He’s very interested in earth friendly, “green” aquaculture should they be able to do it.</p>
<p>Creekland - What do your kids do with their dorm stuff over the summer? Do they pack it up and store it, or do you drive up and take it all home with you? DS moved everything into an apartment, so there were no issues. DD will live on campus like most students at UR and I’m not sure what most kids do up there. Do we have any good choices? TIA!</p>
<p>Geo - my son and his future roomie got a pod together. They bring them right to the future dorm on the day you request in the fall. Sure made move in/move out super simple, especially since he didn’t need winter coat/boots/clothes over the summer.</p>
<p>Agree with eyemamom - if going home for the summer, sharing pods with a friend or roommate is ideal. My guy stayed on campus for the summer working in a couple of labs. I’m not sure yet what his plans are for this year.</p>
<p>No “pods” where my son attends, but they found a “storage unit” very close to school. They borrowed a car from another student and stored their stuff over summer. When we took him back in August, we rented a U-Haul (just for our “ease”) and in one trip had him back on campus! Def worth checking out storage options and getting a buddy or two to go in on them. Our S2 is attending clear across the country, so we really didn’t have another option, but we are happy with how this all worked. Next spring, they will do the same thing. Good luck!!</p>
<p>DD’s school allocates storage space in the dorm basement: students get more storage space if they live far away.</p>
<p>Thank you Eyemom and Creekland! A pod would be ideal. I can’t imagine all the pods brought on and off the campus on the last day of classes. Could be a mess. Is this what a lot of kids do? I will have to talk with DD about that. Could be ideal.</p>
<p>Kids actually move in and out at all different days and times so it really isn’t that bad. S has 2 guitars/amp and a computer that can’t go in storage so we end up having to go get him.</p>
<p>There is a storage company that comes to my D’s school for pick up during move out times and then they bring it all back to one location during move in weekend. The glitch this year was that she had to go back a week early for training for a volunteer program so she had a week without a lot of her stuff. She managed, but it wasn’t an easy week for her!</p>
<p>DD’s roommate dropped out of school. DD is concerned for her - I am concerned for DD. They are good friends at it is weighing on her.</p>
<p>glido-did your DD have any idea this was coming? So sorry she and you have this worry on top of all of the normal college stuff. I’m sure this lead to a “what happens now” scenario. I hope everything turns out ok…</p>