<p>I think I might be like a Wackaloon come late March. I’m mellow on the '14 thread at this point because the really important decisions for my S14 will come RD, not EA. His EA schools are safeties and one of them is annoying me because they seem very disorganized. </p>
<p>On the other hand, Barnardgirl called at almost midnight last night after a scary subway experience- her first averse event on the subway. She was quite shook up and I suggested she go talk to student health service if she’s still feeling as emotional about it today. Very relieved she is safe, but there was a man threatening her (verbally). She and her friends got off at the first available stop and took the next train instead. I feel <em>really</em> badly that I answered the phone with “Hey, it’s almost midnight and I do work you know!” Then she started crying and I had to backpedal. She DOES forget to watch the time when she calls and I have gotten annoyed with her for that before. Rarely is anything truly wrong. We talked for about a half hour and she seemed much calmer by the end of our talk.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about your daughter’s experience 2016. It is all so familiar. I went to Columbia post-baccalaureate for pre-med. Men flashed me all the time on the subway! It was horrible. I finally figured out how to bury my face in a novel for the long ride from Brooklyn to 116th street. My sisters said I was a magnet for perverts.</p>
<p>I grew up near Barnard and learned quite young how to handle subway and street weirdos, pervs and threats. It sucks but it made me a street smart adult who is confident in many unusual and even threatening situations. Hugs!</p>
<p>Hugs to you and your D, Barnardmom. Thanks for sharing your story as it’s a good reminder not to jump to conclusions when we get those late night (college hours) phone calls. I’m glad your D is ok and hope she’s fully recovered emotionally.</p>
<p>Sorry to hear about the negative subway experience. It is probably even worse hitting at this baseline stressful time of year.</p>
<p>In terms of abroad programs, D2 will definitely do one, but then she is an IR major. She is planning on spring term and deciding between two programs. D1 spent a semester in Argentina last year. She is very glad she did it, although there were times that were very hard and she was very, very, ready to come home at the end of the 5 months. Be sure they consider the length of the program, how organized, whether the program has a relationship with their home school, etc. Classmates and social media are great ways to get info on specific programs. D1 was able to get credit for all of her classes by submitting syllabi to the appropriate departments (she did have to translate them), one of them in her major, one fulfilling a distribution requirement. One department asked to see some of her assignments when she returned to school. Her friends that went abroad had similar experiences. It is easier with a program known to the home school and therefore has a track record. Make sure to budget for trips to other places from their abroad location. D1 went all over South America and would say that was one of the best things about her term abroad.</p>
<p>She didn’t mention the incident when I was texting with her yesterday so I think she’s ok now. I hope she doesn’t tell her dad- he will FREAK. He didn’t want her going to school in NYC in the first place. He didn’t like the idea of her riding the subway ever.</p>
<p>Hope your daughter has been able to process and at least temporarily deal with the experience on the subway, BarnardMom. Glad she wasn’t alone. It sounds like they did the right thing in that situation.</p>
<p>My daughter is hoping to attend Budapest Semesters in Mathematics next fall. So, she’ll take math and Arts/Humanities/Social Science classes that will fill those group requirements for her engineering degree. It’ll also give her another language to add to her collection. If she goes, she’ll be a 2nd generation BSM kid. :-)</p>
<p>Her school accepts very few engineering classes for transfer, but her school also has worked very hard to shorten the pre-req chains. That means that a semester without engineering won’t hurt her.</p>
<p>My son is home. He’s spent the day looking at summer internships and agonizing over what his major will be. He has narrowed it down to two and both have a lot to recommend them.</p>
<p>DD '12 was all fired up about abroad opportunities last year. As her major has evolved and the experiences narrowed by that choice? I’ve noticed her enthusiasm wane. Applications for Junior year fall semester abroad are due in March… so, we’ll see… I haven’t heard anything lately. She’s home on the 19th! :D</p>
<p>S has finals this week. He’s also moving to a single next semester so he somehow has to figure out how to pack up and move his room before he leaves. You should have seen what he considered “packing” at the end of last year. Here is a time I’m so glad I way too far away to help and he’s going to have to figure this one out on his own. He’s staying on the same floor so it’s not like he’s changing buildings.</p>
<p>DS is plugging through finals and will be home on Thursday. I am looking forward to him and my DD to be home. DS is starting an independant research project, is doing well in school and working, as well. Very proud of his ability to seek out opportunites and make them happen! It is so nice to see them setting their own goals and balancing the busy life of college!</p>
<p>Eyemom - my DD is still in a triple. How did you DS score a single with all the overcrowding? DD is looking at getting a suite with singles next year. She plans on having boys as her suite mates. Is that normal for a sophmore at “our” university?</p>
<p>Geo - my son is on a special interest floor, but one of the suites has some kids going to do study abroad next semester. What they consider a “double” in the this dorm is not what I’d consider a double. You can’t even have two beds on the floor, there isn’t room - so they had to loft, then between the desks and dressers you literally have to stand sideways to get around. I don’t know how the school gets away with calling it a double. It’s really just an extra large single. And yes, when you are in a suite with single rooms, they do have boys and girls in the suite together.</p>
<p>Geogirl, how is your D liking UR? They plan to really try to fix the housing issues next year by restricting acceptances this year… hopefully it works. My guy has applied to be an RA next year. I’m not sure when he finds out if he’s selected or not. If so, he won’t be picking his dorm, but should have a single.</p>
<p>To update on my BT, things get started with that on Friday - just before picking up middle son from BWI. It should make for an interesting day. I expect “the rest” to start in Jan (6 weeks worth as currently planned). It’s all going to be radiation as it’s in an inoperable position (radiation is less risky than surgery would be - “good” tumor, but bad position). I’m perfectly fine with that. I prefer Star Trek’s tricorder system to cutting into my gray matter!</p>
<p>All should be fine in the end (more or less), it’s just an inconvenience and a 6+ week “vacation” from school due to the commute (I’ll miss it…)</p>
<p>However, had I stuck with “my” Plan B of waiting until August (after dropping youngest off at college) I expect I’d have been burned at the stake and/or voted off the island by my co-workers, so… Peer pressure still runs strong in high schools.</p>
<p>Thank you Eyemom - now I know that it “normal” I feel much better. </p>
<p>So far she loves it Creekland! She is taking four classes and seems to be getting an A in 3 of them. Calc 2 is a struggle for some reason. She is a strong math student, received a 5 in AB Calc and seems to be struggling with this class. We will have to see how she does on the final and figure out what the issue is. Maybe she has found her “math wall”, but I don’t think so. She and a partner researched a BME project for her BME final. They received one of the six awards (out of 55 posters), so I think that is a good sign she is in the right place. I am a bit concerned that she keeps getting frozen out of classes. She has only signed up for 2 classes so far and plans on showing up to 3 others in hopes that other students drop out and then she will get a space in at least 2 of them? Seems risky to me. </p>
<p>She is in a double room with three girls and it is difficult. One girl is “not nice”. Thankfully the girl has found a boyfriend and only comes to the room to shower and change her clothes. That makes it easier, but still they are just crammed in there. Her floor is very close and she feels comfortable and is having fun. She has attended a few frat parties, but is not a regular. I think that is a good balance.</p>
<p>Creekland, I am very happy to hear that you have moved up your treatment schedule. I did not like your previous plan at all and am so glad that some IRL friends convinced you to move forward more quickly. I have been through radiation (no on the brain) and the process itself is not difficult, but the side effects suck. Side effects always suck. However, grit through it and come out the other side happy and healthy. Sometimes we have to survive some real crap in order to enjoy the good stuff. Best wishes to you!</p>
<p>Creekland, so relieved! Thumbs up to your colleagues at the high school. I felt extremely concerned about the big time delay in your plan B. VERY best wishes for a smooth and successful treatment. I hope you enjoy a wonderful break (and whatever holy days you observe) with your family.</p>
<p>Well D2 is one and done on summer internships. If all goes well on security clearance she is heading out of the country to spend the summer in an Embassy. She is very happy to have the opportunity and very happy to have finished her last final today. Unfortunately both DDs are stuck at school tonight waiting out the snow storm. Looking forward to having them home!</p>
<p>1012mom - congrats on the summer internship! And hoping for decent travel home.</p>
<p>Middle son e-mailed to let us know he got an A in Orgo (and had a bit of cushion with it rather than barely squeaking by)! I suspect that will be his best Christmas gift… even if he had to get it himself. Two finals are yet to go for him. I’m looking forward to seeing him again on Friday - and weather shouldn’t be a factor I don’t think - hopefully that won’t change.</p>
<p>Waiting and watching the tumor (for 6 months) was actually one of the options we had from the doctors (again, it’s not the “bad” type). August would have been 9 - 10 months, so a little longer, but not tons longer.</p>
<p>With respect to side effects… I’m fully expecting my body to be one of those “super bodies” that won’t give in to them - EXCEPT the weight loss one. I’d BETTER get that one if I’m dealing with all of this. (And do read this with humor… I’m pretty well aware that reality MIGHT be a little different than my plans.)</p>
I am a bit concerned that she keeps getting frozen out of classes. She has only signed up for 2 classes so far and plans on showing up to 3 others in hopes that other students drop out and then she will get a space in at least 2 of them? Seems risky to me. </p>