<p>Can’t believe after this semester our kids will be half way through. We will soon be talking about jobs and graduate schools. </p>
<p>D2 plans on going to England next semester for study abroad. The application is in. I just looked at the cost and was pleasantly surprised. The tuition is going to be half of what we pay now and the dorm cost is quite reasonable too. Makes me kind of wonder why our college tuition is so high. D2 has a summer internship lined up, working at a legal aid in NYC. It is done through her school. Pay is not going to be much, but will compliment her law school application. She is coming home next weekend for a short winter break. I just hope we won’t have another snow storm.</p>
<p>That is surprising oldfort. Most schools charge the students the same as they charge locally for their semester/quarter abroad. It is good to see your school is passing on the exact costs.</p>
<p>Close to the halfway point here and, as far as I know, doing well. The weather has required more “away from home” nights than I’d like to think would have happened. It’s apparent that youngest still could use a “mom” there keeping up on whether he’s getting things (school-wise) done on time. Friends/neighbors are great at all the farm upkeep, etc, but sometimes it takes a mom.</p>
<p>Middle loves his classes this semester. We should hear from him later today. Later this month (or early in March) he should hear if he made the cut for a research position in Germany. Spring break he’s heading to Haiti. He’s hoping for Study Abroad his senior year if he can get a Take 5 approval (U Roc pays 5th year tuition for students who want to double major in things unrelated to their major - but they have to be approved - not just open to all.)</p>
<p>Haven’t heard a peep from oldest in quite some time. :-w </p>
<p>Creekland-glad you are doing well. You’re getting there!! :-)</p>
<p>With S going to school so close to home, I was lucky enough to get to spend the afternoon with him yesterday. He hasn’t really expressed a desire to come home for the weekend this semester. That is a good thing compared to last year. When I look back to last year it was full of retainer issues, a medical issue that needed follow up appts every 2 weeks for a couple of months and the all to famous RM issues and needing a break to get away from his unhappiness in that situation. He has really bonded with his 6 suitemates since he moved in September. This semesters classes are keeping him busy but not stressing him out like a few he has taken in the past. He is taking 17 credits plus is in a program that requires weekly meetings and a few survey type classes that he need to attend. It’s almost like a whole other class in addition to what his is already taking.</p>
<p>It was fun catching up. We do text quite a bit but to actually have a conversation was nice (and see his face). He has been expanding his palate and eating things he never would have here at home. I like what he is now eating but he would always pass on it. I think going to dinner so much with suitemates is broadening his food choices.</p>
<p>He does have a possible prosepect for a RM for the apartment next year. One of his suitemates may be interested. His mom is pushing him to figure out what he is doing (on or off campus) so S and he may disucuss it further. If that fails, there is a RM fair in a couple of weeks for those who have a room and those who need a room. </p>
<p>It is snowing again here. We got about 9 /12 inches on Wednesday. That shut down the city school system for 3 days. I live and work in the burbs so we were only shut down that day. I may have to work a 5 day week this week. Can’t remember that last time that happened with the holiday break and the bitter cold! The week after with President’s Day, it will be another 4 day week. Phew!! :-)</p>
<p>I like the idea of the Take 5. I have no more kids, but I will keep that in mind when someone with up and comers talks about looking for 5 year program ideas, which does happen from time to time. The roommate fair is a great idea. I never heard of it before, but it is something that once you mention it sounds so obviously good. </p>
<p>I can’t stand our weather,and look forward to spring. It can’t come soon enough.</p>
<p>Very true. All I can say is I TRIED to get him to keep his room (and our place) clean. Good luck… ;)</p>
<p>This next storm is likely headed their way. It’s a good enough excuse for us to try calling them this evening… and hopefully getting a real chat in.</p>
<p>Hello everyone! All is well with S and he’s managing being in the snowy, frozen tundra. I wanted to ask your opinions here as I have a d who is a hs senior. Her college of choice is a first come, first serve housing. If you choose your roommate via roomserve or whatever it’s called, BUT - you go by the date of the latest person to put in the deposit. Being who I am, she is of course about first on the list - lol Now the debate is - who fares better, those that choose a roommate from facebook vs random. My d is very nice and sweet, but she is a bit of a slob, she’s very particular and gets irritated easily by minor things. I think there is no way to know until you know, but it seems this school encourages picking a roomie. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Can you have her look and “shop” for a roomie, then, without committing, ask about the housing deposit? Perhaps she’ll find someone else who was certain enough about committing with housing early too… If not, then you can ask her whether she likes the person she’s found enough to potentially get a lesser dorm or if she’d rather keep dorm choice and see who she gets. Or, if she doesn’t find anyone, then you know at least she ought to like her room!</p>
<p>@ eyemamom-since S has had so much bad luck in the RM area I am not sure how helpful my thoughts are. When S first got accepted and all of the RM shopping started on the FB page, I found it funny that they wanted to find a RM on there vs going random. Essentially, isn’t that going random anyway? You don’t really know someone until you live with them. It does give you a small insight but not a real one.</p>
<p>S’s school does a “tell about yourself” form for the housing department and they are supposed to pair people up from that. Freshman year S was in a particular program that lived in a specific dorm. So this program had 150 kids, break that down to maybe half. I am guessing out of 7,000 freshmen on campus my S had to be paired with 3 other kids out of about 75. That didn’t work out well. (Moved in February).</p>
<p>This year, he lived on campus as a sophomore. I do not know how many other upperclassmen live on campus who did not already have specific RMs they wanted but I would imagine the pool was pretty small so he in going random got his polar opposite. That lasted even less time than the year before (moved in September).</p>
<p>BUT-when he moved this year, he is in a cluster with 6 other guys and they all get a long great! It is an honors dorm so that helps. My son is very academic so being around others who care more about their school work than where the next party is helps alot. Plus they all have similar interests. I am very happy he finally got something that works well for him.</p>
<p>I guess I would have to say the more she can find out about a possible RM the better but also go into it not having too many expectations. Living with a stranger is hard. You can make any room you are in on campus “yours” but living with someone where it is not working out can be very uncomfortable and stressful. My main concern for S with all of the problems was RM stress on top of the whole living away from home adjustments. I was afraid it would affect him academically.</p>
<p>I will say, S’s school has been very responsive and extrememly helpful when issues did arise. His hall director wanted him to be happy and in a good situation. We never had a problem getting him into a better situation. The housing department was wonderful. When the situation this year was escalating into something that was damaging of personal property and possibly to a physical situation S was able to move the day he decided he had enough.</p>
<p>Eyemamama, good luck with that. I would say let your daughter decide whether a potential roommate seems interesting enough to potentially bump her lower on the housing queue. You got her a good spot in the queue and if she meets someone she is eager to room with to the extent that it trumps her possibly getting a better room or dorm, so be it. You did your part! However, it may make some difference how much variety there is among dorms- is the difference between getting a posh dorm or a moldy one versus just a slightly better one?</p>
<p>On another topic, my son is in a CompSci program on track for a BS, but soon he will have the option of entering the 5-year accelerated Masters program. Does anyone have experience with this or have a student considering this option? If it makes any difference, he could finish his BS in 3.5 years total and his job options are good (internship company seems interested in hiring him). I think the main factor is how flexible the accelerated MS program is - can he enter the program and still have the option of deciding to stop at the BS if a more enticing offer from an employer or grad program arises? If that is the case there seems to be little downside. Of course I have been asking son to speak with his advisor about the flexibility issue but he hasn’t yet. Thoughts? </p>
<p>For me it would boil down to cost. Will his aid (merit and or financial) continue during year 5? I think not, but every school is different. A master’s in CS can be easily obtained at night and paid for by your son’s future employer. However, all that depends on whether he is the kind of person who can juggle full time work and school. Just things to consider. </p>
<p>Thanks Geogirl, I’m assuming tuition would be covered as it is my understanding that is usually the case for highly qualified students pursuing grad degrees in CompSci… certainly getting it at night while working is also an option and would enable him to enter the work force more quickly. All questions he needs to go over with his advisor.</p>
<p>bookmouse- I am a software developer. I don’t feel a MS really ads much, unless it is something he really wants to do. I started taking master’s classes at night way back when, but didn’t feel the caliber was up to what I experienced in undergrad. If he wants to learn more these days there are MOOCs. </p>
<p>Thanks for the input, Jackief. And no problem, Creekland! I guess I will just let my son figure it out and decide on his own… there probably are pros and cons either way a land ot of it comes down to his own inclination.</p>
<p>Well, I can’t believe that DS is almost through 3/4 of his first year of college. He is still loving SLU and keepig himself busy. busy. He skis every weekend up ay Whiteface Mt( Lake Placid area), and is doing a lot of ice climbing. He has a pretty serious GF. She came out to San Diego and stayed with us for 10 days before the two of them went back to school. She is absolutely lovely and everyone in our family adored her. She is from Minn so SD was a fantastic place foe her to visit. It was a record high for us in Jan, so my S took her surfing…LOL! </p>
<p>DS is working incredibly hard in his pre-med classes. It is really brutal, and he is realiziing how much he is going to have to sacrafice to keep up this schedule, but he is happy I think. Great grades first semester, 2 lab classes, GF and all. He is planning on driving home at the end of the school year w ith friends from SLU and Clarkson, stopping in the Tetons to do some climbing and then the BIG climb of Mt Rainer… then he will be home. He will be going back to his EMT job at the Naitonal PArk, and also spending as much time with his GF as possible. </p>
<p>DS 14 got acceoted ED to his dream school Kenyon. What a differnt expereince than DS12. GREAT FA package so we are all ecstatic.He will also be taking a gap year, as is older brother insisted that he do it:) He is looking into some volunteer abroad and theater programs. It will be nice to have him around( even for a bit here and there) for another year. Glad that everyone seems to be doiing great… internships. study abroad app’s, etc.</p>
<p>It’s almost over for me, but to make it just a bit easier my oldest and his wife gave me a beautiful bady girl as my first grandchild. It is everything that everyone says it is and more… just too good for words. </p>
<p>Middle son is also having a blast at URoc, though this coming weekend he heads off with a group (from there) to Haiti for spring break. I’m going to miss him.</p>
<p>In general, he’s been offered a TA position in Orgo next year (conditional upon keeping his A in the class, but he doesn’t feel that will be a problem), and he is likely to be an RA (official announcements come after spring break, but those he has talked with have assured him he’s “in”). Then he’s still in his Dance Troupe, ASL and Christian clubs, volunteering in the hospital, working in the research lab, keeping up his grades, and enjoying things like ice skating. It makes me wonder when he sleeps to be honest… but he’s thoroughly enjoying himself, so I’m a happy mama.</p>
<p>Soon we’ll be taking youngest back to FL to double check that he likes Eckerd. I hope he likes it as much as middle loves URoc, though they have totally different goals in life.</p>
<p>And soon we’ll be empty nesting. What a change.</p>
<p>Otherwise, my last day with radiation is today!!! so I’m on my own little “high.” No awful or lingering side effects other than appetite being off (just off - not due to nausea). Then it’s three months until we see if it actually worked.</p>