<p>OWU has a three day program - kids have a choice of either a wilderness trek or habitat for humanity. S is considering it. Any thoughts/feelings/ideas? Does anyone have an older student who participated in a similar program and liked it (or didn’t)?</p>
<p>My college offered a preorientation where 50 students went to campus for 3 days before orientation. It’s certainly one of the highlights of my college experience. Many of my closest friends came from that event, and as soon as I arrived back on campus, I felt extremely comfortable since I already had a built in group of friends, sophomores who could help me out, and partial knowledge about what college would be like. </p>
<p>My friend who goes to Tufts opted to do the outdoor preorientation adventure they offer (despite having chosen the school because of its urban locale) and cited it as one of the best experiences of his freshman year. Like myself, many of his friends came from that event, and it also helped inspire him to participate in a hiking club on campus.</p>
<p>If it’s financially doable, I’d highly recommend your son participate in either habitat for humanity or the wilderness trek. I don’t know a single person who’s done a preorientation trip or multi-day event and regretted it.</p>
<p>Thanks Jane:)) I hope a few of you will stick around to help those of us in the trenches next year… it will be my final one through this process( Thank God)…and I agree… they all end up where they are meant to be.</p>
<p>smythic-- my oldest D did a pre-orientation program (at a different school) and loved it. She said the best thing about it was that when she got back on campus for regular orientation she had a group of friends already. Two of the students she met at pre-orientation stayed in her group of “best friends” throughout her 4 years of college. Whenever she hosted an overnight prospective student she told them the best thing she did was to sign up for the pre-orientation trip</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for the reminder to search for the pre-orientation program. D’s school has two options; Urban Experience or Yosemite Trip. Limited enrollment and the pricing is not very bad at all, only $200 for a 5-day adventure.</p>
<p>Now I’ll have to see if she has any interest… hoping she will get a job this summer but it’s going to be difficult since we are doing a family vacation Aug 8 - 20. That only leaves about 5-6 weeks of working somewhere.</p>
<p>Our oldest might have been the rare kid that had a lousy pre-orientation trip. The majority of the girls on the trip all knew each other from HS and became an impenetrable clique. She couldn’t wait to get back to campus and meet other, more open and friendly people. The theme of the trip was community service in health care organizations, and some of the settings fell through —that didn’t help too much either. Just bad luck on both counts. She did keep in touch with one of the upperclassmen leaders, however, so there was that.</p>
<p>More often than not, however, I think the preorientation trips are a great experience because kids usually DO make friends, and that makes the first few weeks on campus more comfortable. Also, most kids are just rarin’ to go in August, and the preorientation trip gets them on their way and out of your house!</p>
<p>My D has the option for pre-orientation - there are two programs offered limited to only 20 students each. Since she will be working all summer I am thinking those couple of days prior to orientation would be better spent packing, prepping and saying goodbye to friends. She’ll need decide soon since I am sure it will fill up!</p>
<p>Thanks for the pre-o info and opinions! I think I will nudge S in the direction of doing it - not that he’ll take much nudging. He’s always up for adventures/projects that don’t involve schoolwork! It does seem like a nice way to ease into college, and I think it’s pretty reasonably priced - in the $300 range.</p>
<p>As a mom of a rising junior- I wanted to share a suggestion I got. If you are pretty sure your student will be in the dorms at least two years and you have room to store things- you can buy a King size foam topper and cut it in in half. It works well for twin XL. After the first year- the 1/2 can be tossed and a fresh clean one can be used the second year.</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post-</p>
<p>Okay, so heres the story: DD joined UWFs social media site to try to find a roommate. After corresponding with several very nice girls, she received a response from a girl who I will refer to as A. DD and A clicked immediately. They have a tremendous amount in common, both in terms of their interests as well as their living habits. Incredibly, A is also from Jacksonville and lives a mere ten minutes away from us, attending a somewhat rival high school 
Even more incredibly, A. is Facebook friends with DDs best friend, having gone to the same dance academy! DD immediately texted her BFF to try to find out a little bit more about A. BFF told her that A. is very sweet and she could definitely see DD and A. rooming together. After texting each other continuously for a day and a half, DD and A. decided to become roommates. DD was so excited! It seemed that she had found a perfect match at a school that is still working its way into her heart. </p>
<p>The next day A. texted DD and apologetically informed her that her friend had decided at the last minute to attend UWF and asked DD if she would mind if they all roomed together in a triple. DD, H, and I all discussed it. Its not the triple that bothered me; as H pointed out, DD may be placed in a triple anyway since she signed up for housing rather late. What bothered DD and me was the fact that A. and her friend, B. have known each other since preschool (although they are not extremely close and do not attend the same high school) and we are afraid that DD will end up as the third wheel. DD expressed her concerns to A. who tried to allay her fears, even setting up a group message communication in which all three girls were able to talk to each other. DD does not have as much in common with B. as she does with A., but she said that B. seemed nice. Even though DD is concerned about the fact that these two girls are already friends, she feels that she has connected so well with A. that she is willing to try this just so that she and A. can room together. I should add that A. has never once tried to reneg on her commitment to DD; she is very excited about rooming with both her friend and DD in a triple and continues to text DD about fun things that they can do together (e.g. take dance classes.) This Saturday, the three girls plan to meet at Panera to talk about roommate stuff and to get to know each other better. I am feeling a little better about the situation as I see A. completely committed to rooming with DD, but of course, looking out for DDs best interests, Im still a bit concerned. Ultimately, it is DDs decision and I will support her in whatever she chooses.</p>
<p>Any thoughts, advice, words of wisdom?</p>
<p>One bit of perspective from one who has sent two girls off to room with various college roommates in the past - it is helpful to look at a roommate as a starting place for the MANY wonderful friendships she will have in college. Roommates are often not your child’s best friend, but are usually the first relationships she will have with fellow students. The fact that these two girls are already friends could be a good thing - it expands your daughter’s circle of friends by one immediately! I wouldn’t be overly concerned unless your daughter expresses discomfort after their meeting Saturday. How lovely that they can meet already!</p>
<p>T4: I think you’re revealing too much information here. Seriously, there are enough clues to figure out everyone concerned by kids who know your DD and A. I’d be concerned that A finds out that DD’s mother’s busy posting on CC about roommate situation before it even jells, and A decides it’s safer to room with someone else altogether. Most kids don’t become BFF with their college roommates, the roomie-friendship is most important the first few weeks of freshman year, and then people tend to make friends independently. Please let your daughter decide, and don’t post more details.</p>
<p>terrific4
Of course you are concerned! I don’t blame you! But, over time and very soon, we will have to relinquish our tendencies to try to control and protect as our ducklings go off to college. Trust your DD to make the right decisions for herself. And if the situation ends up being a disaster, she will learn from that as well.
I have roommate issues with my S as well-choosing to room with a friend from home BECAUSE they know each other rather than experiencing a new situation. But, it’s his choice and I’m working to be okay with it. Que sera…
I’m going to hold out my fussing over the bigger issues that I’m sure will arise!</p>
<p>Thank you to those of you who offered supportive advice and comments! DD met with her potential roomies and it went very well. They decided on the spot to go forward with their plan and have officially notified the school. While I’'m still a bit concerned, I have not seen DD as excited about anything connected with her whole college journey, as she is about this!</p>
<p>Happy Mother’s Day to all!</p>
<p>Great for Terrific D! I’m glad everything is working out well for her!</p>
<p>Well, I got the infamous automated call from school the other night "your child was absent from one or more periods today ". I panicked because it was AP test day and I thought OMG, is this the one day she decided to play hooky?? Turns out she was in the test and when it was over everyone started heading out so she assumed it was the end of the day and came straight home. Evidently, they expected the kids to go to their only remaining final period. </p>
<p>I called the office the next day and asked them to cut some slack and they changed it to “excused”.</p>
<p>Terrific4, that’s awesome news. It’s so wonderful when our kids are really, really excited about heading off to school! It’s a great way to start their adventure. </p>
<p>Coralbrook, thanks for the funny story about how we are all still somewhat in panic mode about them not screwing up these last few weeks!</p>
<p>I know someone’s kid is on the list for acceptance at George Mason. Did they offer any merit aid? And, what were stats? What did you like/dislike?</p>
<p>I can’t seem to stop looking at colleges, so my poor son (class of 2016) is going to be dealing with me soon. I think GMU would be a good in-state option for him. Since we’re vacationing in DC this summer, I thought I’d take him for a low-key visit. We’re in-state, but still a four hour drive away. Of course, no idea what his test scores will be, but he’s finishing up freshman year with a 3.25. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I need some help from my fellow Moms.</p>
<p>Soon D will be going to the prom. She went last year as a date of a Sr and we had rules and curfew. This year there is a serious boyfriend involved who is older. He will be done with his college semester and staying at his Dad’s in our neighborhood before he heads off to a summer film project in Rome (why didn’t I get to do that when I was 19???) </p>
<p>Anyway, I need to balance my natural instincts against the fact that she will be going off to college in 3 months where I can’t personally do anything to keep the boyfriend thing under control:) BF just got accepted to UCLA transfer and will probably have an apartment. They’ll only be about an hour away from each other if it even lasts that long.</p>
<p>How should I handle the inevitable "I want to stay out all night " fight. Her group of friends are not that organized, someone might have a sleepover at the last minute.</p>
<p>Should I just give up at this point? And let her do her own thing?</p>
<p>I would ask some of my local friends but they all have daughtes who are younger and on a tight leash. They’re kind of horrified that I let D drive herself places at night. Basically because I am so done with having to wait up until 11pm to go pick her up somewhere.</p>