<p>@onlyonemom “It was cold and rainy outside and really crowded and hot inside” <-- we might have been there on the same day in February! My DS did know he had been accepted to the honors college at that point, so we didn’t do another ASD when we visited in April (when it snowed! – we joked that admissions should keep track of the weather on the day a student visited and their state of origin to see if that impacted their decision to attend or not) but did sit in on both an honors seminar and a calculus class (only 30 kids in the lecture! nice!) as well as meeting with engineering advising. We didn’t do any formal tours or anything that day. </p>
<p>I forget, what is your DS planning on studying? Mine is majoring in Mechanical Engineering, and the small Engineering school turned out to be a big plus for him. He initially wanted a smaller college overall than UVM, but the small E-school and small Honors college were big selling points. (And the large scholarship they gave him as an in-state NMF!)</p>
<p>Good luck with the STP! It sounds like a great idea, but hard to execute for lots of kids, I’m sure!</p>
<p>^^^My S is studying Neuroscience. He also wanted a smaller college but just liked the overall feel of UVM. The research opportunity was a big draw for him along with the honors college. We were told by the Neuroscience chair that Bio majors ( Neuro is part of the Bio depart.) has smaller first year Biology seminars. The class is capped at 45 students. I am glad to here the Calc class was 30 students. For a larger university, UVM has smaller class size compared to other larger U.
A year ago,if you told me that my son would end up at UVM - I would never have believed you however, I am happy at how things turned out.</p>
<p>My D’s last accepted student event runs today through Monday. Here’s hoping that she comes home from two nights in the dorms with a decision! I’m very conscious of the fact that one of her final choices (Pomona) requires deposits to be mailed the old fashioned way, and to arrive by close of business on May 1. I know from my home institution that in recent years nearly half of all deposits are received in the last week, a fact I never understood before this year.</p>
<p>We apologize for the rough seas today. Fortunately, the weather will be calming this evening and into tomorrow so we will be able to dock for the last round of port visits.</p>
<p>Please note that there are just 4 more days until we return to home port and everyone must disembark.</p>
<p>BTW, it is not just the “elite” private schools like MIT and Cornell who do not always put on the best show in terms of attracting students. Neither one of my sons got mail or e-mails from the U. of Virginia, William & Mary, JMU and Virginia Tech while looking at colleges. And we live in Virginia! Maybe they just assume every kid will apply. But neither boy felt any love from those schools. I made the older son apply to W & M – he got accepted. Never wanted to go there, either, but I made him apply to one state school. Same thing with Son '14 – one state school, and he chose CNU. Stopped considering the school as soon as he heard that at least 10 kids from his high graduating class will be attending the college in the fall. Considering both sons had extremely high math SATs, you would think VT’s engineering program would send each a flyer. Alas, no. They were not too offended. They really wanted to head OOS and explore other parts of the country. </p>
<p>Neither UVA nor VT sent emails to my DS either, but that didn’t really bother DS. He figured they are big state schools where everyone applies and that they didn’t need to market themselves to students. I don’t remember any marketing from JMU but it’s not a school that was on his radar. He did get emails from William & Mary but it was never in consideration because of a lack of engineering.</p>
<p>In the end he didn’t end up applying to any in-state schools anyway. But he has tons of friends who will be at the big three VA schools so there would not have been any way to avoid high school classmates if he had applied. </p>
<p>We’re still on board the SS Indecision. DD has narrowed the selection down to two schools which we visited in the last three weeks for their ASDs. She is torn between the PharmD and honors program at Northeastern and neuroscience at Vandy. Both of the ASDs were well done. She fell in love with the Vandy campus … as did I. The students seemed so happy. So if she ends up going to Vandy and still liking pharmacy, it will take two extra years. Obviously the weather will be better in Nashville. We enjoy the tropical weather at home so both places will be colder, but no (or not much) snow in Nashville. Financial aid at each of the schools are about the same so that isn’t a deciding factor. It’s going to be hard saying No to one of these two fine schools! Can’t believe it’s almost time to disembark. There are 5 days left right … we still have all of May 1st until midnight? </p>
<p>^^^ Northeastern also has an excellent Neuroscience program. If she started with the Pharm. D program and decided it wasn’t for her, she could switch her major to Neuro without having to change schools. IMHO </p>
<p>Completed housing application today! Now we can switch off the college talk for a while, its nagging time for AP exam prep. Why do we always have to play the bad cop??</p>
<p>yellowgranite56 – Vandy and Northeastern certainly couldn’t be more different, could they? The rolling lawns at Vandy are very seductive. What go2girl and I both took away from there is that there is a sense of “balance.” I would not put as much weight on a major right now – they are only 18; it is bound to evolve. We visited Northeastern last year for spring break. Its co-op program is very enticing but you have to really have your direction nailed down. Certainly more urban but Boston is a fabulous college town. In the end go2girl chose Vandy – I want her to have the time to explore and grow. There is so much they just don’t know. </p>
<p>@yellowgranite56 – an unsolicited opinion here.</p>
<p>I think that go2mom’s point can’t be overstated – as focused as any of our kids are, they are more likely than not to change their major/plans in the next couple of years. For example, at Tulane’s Top Scholars weekend we were told that >70% of the kids at Tulane change their (original declared) major, and furthermore that at three years after graduation only half the kids are doing something that can be directly related to their major (on graduation). At Emory they told us that ten years from now many of our kids will be in jobs that don’t even exist right now. So, choosing a school based on her current interest in the PharmD program might be dicey. A liberal arts education (associated with a focus) at a truly top notch university might serve her better.</p>
<p>Getting into possibly shakier territory, Northeastern’s recent rise in prestige/rankings has to a significant extent been fueled by their becoming more selective due to a large influx of applicants. Northeastern is certainly a fine school, and the co-op piece works well for a lot of kids, but in terms of academics few would put Northeastern in Vanderbilt’s class. Vanderbilt is simply a remarkable school where she would have a broad array of academic opportunities. And speaking as someone who went to college and professional school in the Boston area, the ‘college town’ piece is IMHO over-hyped. She’ll have a blast at Vandy, with all the friends and social connections she could want.</p>
<p>You also mentioned the difference in climate/weather. We’re in California, and we were wary about sending our son (who doesn’t have a clue what about harsh winters) to the Northeast. I liked the way another parent out here put it – If everything is good, the weather won’t be an issue. If things are less than good, the short cold dark days can add to the down side.</p>
<p>I’ll likely take heat for coming out so strongly in one direction, so everyone should feel free to fire away.</p>
<p>^^^ Don’t worry Asleep at the Wheel we are all entitled to our opinions. I grew up in Boston and went to BU for Grad school and loved being in Boston. There are times I wish I never left!. I really wanted S to apply to Northeastern for the coop and neuroscience programs but he is not a city boy! I am too practical for my own good and worry about the job market for LA grads. My S plans to go to grad school but it would be nice to have real world work experience :> Hopefully our children will all be happy with the choices they made or will make. </p>
<p>Thank you go2mom and AsleepAtTheWheel for reminding me how the kids’ interests are bound to change over time. She really only wanted to be at Northeastern for the PharmD program. Vanderbilt was actually more generous than Northeastern was with financial aid. So if the PharmD program hadn’t worked out, she would have been reapplying to our state flagship because we wouldn’t have wanted to spend the extra $ for something she could have done closer to home. Really did like the co-op aspect of Northeastern, and we both loved the school. But when we visited Vanderbilt for the first time last weekend, it was just amazing! I had heard it was nice and seen pictures on the internet. This was one place where pictures just don’t do justice. I thought it was going to be like Emory (which we loved) and there was going to be one big green area … it was just one green area after another at Vanderbilt. And when we went into the freshmen dorms, I felt like I was in a hotel. My DD is very picky … “very” might be an understatement! She had a hard time deciding what to get in the dining hall to eat. I had a personal pizza cooked in the brick fire oven and a Belgian waffle with strawberries and whipped cream. I wouldn’t have a hard time gaining lots of weight there! And of all the colleges we visited, the students seemed so happy there … and confident, but not in a cocky way. They just all looked like they knew they were in the best place ever and truly enjoying every minute of it. Thank you everyone for your advice! I am fully convinced now that Vandy is the place for my DD. After listening to all of you and talking this out, I can comfortably put Northeastern behind me now (my DD already did … I was just having a hard time!).</p>
<p>@overthehedge - count me in as another who would deposit at both schools, don’t tell anyone, and decide when the time is right. This is a different situation than just not wanting to make a decision. The likelihood of finding out is extremely slim if you say nothing to anyone outside your home. Plus if you then explained why I have a feeling you’d be okay.</p>
<p>We just got back from a week away. It was glorious. A week of beach hopping, snorkeling and hanging out. We brought along d’s boyfriend and got a 3 bedroom villa. I wasn’t sure if they’d get along being around each other 24/7, but he’s really easy going. We had the one ‘circle of trust’ conversation at the beginning and all was well. </p>
<p>They both packed their college t-shirts and loved going out and getting chatted up by everyone and their brother about it. </p>
<p>Best wishes to the final decisions everyone! @barnardmom - I’m waiting on pins and needles for the final decision. I know you feel like it isn’t the dream, but once the decision is made I have a feeling you’ll see more excitement and attachment to ‘the one’. </p>
<p>For those undecided - all I can think is if the kids really are having a tough time choosing, there really can’t be a bad choice. There isn’t just one school where they’ll be happy and successful.</p>
<p>Son '14 enjoyed an amazing track and field day. Set a new school record in winning the 3200 – broke the 12-year-old one by 17 seconds. Should be ranked among the top kids in the state in that event. His sprint medley relay team qualified for a national meet in mid-June, and also set a school record. He was over the moon when he walked through the day. Then, he and his teammates went to a local fast food place to celebrate their successes. Immediately, it dawned on me that his drop in times this spring could trigger a late entry into the college sweepstakes if some larger school offered him a scholarship. But, he said he plans to stay the course and with his commitment. </p>
<p>Thanks @eyemamom . S will be home from his whirlwind spring break trip to NYC. He saw more tourist attractions in NYC in 3 days than his sister has seen in 2 years of being there for college. Three of his friends on the trip are going to Western Michigan which is right next door to Kalamazoo College and the band director is a K College alumnus so I’m sure he’s had some K College pressure during the trip. We’ll see if it swayed him. Their NYC itinerary:
Wed- 9 pm- buses left the high school to drive all night. </p>
<p>Thurs- 7:30 am Arrived in NJ at the hotel for changing clothes and having a buffet breakfast. 10 AM- NYC TV and Movie Sites Step on Guided Tour, 12:30- Central Park, 2:30- The Met, 5:30- Dinner at BB Kings Blues Club & Grill, 7:00 pm- depart for hotel.</p>
<p>Friday- 6:00 Buffet Breakfast at hotel, Depart for Manhattan at 7:00 am
8:00 am- Arrive at NBC Studios- Today show- they saw the free concert and I saw several of the parents on TV. 9:30 am- Explore Rockefeller Center, 10:30 am- depart for the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum- the band performed on the USS Intrepid flight deck. 3:00 pm- depart for Times Square and explore. 6:00 pm Dinner at Garage Restaurant & Cafe. 7:45- Depart for the Empire State Building- 10:00 pm depart for hotel</p>
<p>Saturday- 7:30 am- Buffet breakfast at hotel- check out- depart for Liberty Park at 8:30 am
9:30 am- Liberty Park- Ellis Island- (S14 did find my Italian grandparents’ records which was cool for him). Statue of Liberty- Battery Park. 3:15 PM- National September 11 Memorial. 5:00 PM dinner at La Nonna in Little Italy. 7:30 PM- Les Miserables at the Imperial Theatre. After the show last night, they boarded the buses to drive all night and should be home in another hour or so. They stopped in Ohio just west of the PA border at 745 am for breakfast. </p>
<p>BarnardGirl was just too busy to meet up with him at any point. She thought she might be able to meet up in Times Square on Friday but it didn’t work out. </p>
<p>I guess we’re down to the wire. I hope he gets excited about where ever he chooses. </p>
<p>@momreads -17 seconds!! Wow, quite a difference between his time and the old record. Congratulations to your son!</p>
<p>Congratulations to all who have made decisions. For those of you still on the fence, I know it will work out. I was struck by my need to mourn one of the schools passed up by my son, and I hear other parents saying the same. If we need to mourn, I’m sure our kids do too. I wonder if this is part of what is happening for the undecided ones. </p>
<p>@momreads That’s incredible! It’s great when they can go out on these high notes! </p>
<p>@calla1 It is definitely the mourning that is happening for my son. He is comparing the two remaining schools to the ones where he was waitlisted instead of comparing them to each other. </p>
<p>I just picked him up from the school after his NYC trip and dropped him at his dad’s house so he can get a few things (including his car). He’ll head over here in a little bit. I asked him what he liked best and he said “I liked the anonymity of New York that I’ve been so afraid of with Michigan. I had to stay in a group but I really wanted to just wander around by myself. Everybody is out and about doing their own thing and going about their own business and that was appealing.” I didn’t press since he just got off the bus, but I think we might have a decision. Perhaps this trip was what he needed to realize he can thrive and enjoy a larger environment. </p>
<p>Well, we finally pulled the trigger! My S just accepted his admission to Vanderbilt! I have to admit it was a bit anti-climatic. I was expecting fireworks or something. :)) I will be much more excited when we start receiving information about he next steps. Anyway I am now ready to disembark but will stay on board to support those who are still waiting for their final decisions. Thanks to all who have made this process so much better by being there to talk to through this crazy time.</p>
however, I am happy at how things turned out.</p>