<p>Good for you oldmom. I just had a coffee date that lasted 2.5 hours! We both have one in college in Western NY and one still in HS, so we had a lot to talk about. Then I deposited a check for D, and saw how much she spent on books. Not too bad, considering she went to the campus B&N. Then I honored H’s request to bring home chocolate. </p>
<p>It looks like my D spent around $250 for books this semester - I’m relieved. She spent almost that much for a single French book for her summer class. My colleague whose daughter is going into nursing spent upward of $1000 this semester. D mostly used Amazon & was able to rent a few.</p>
<p>DS is taking mostly science classes and I spent around $1,000 on books this semester. We didn’t buy books until right before school start due to vacation so had to buy all new books. Ouch! </p>
<p>DS is also taking mostly science classes. I don’t really know what we’ve spent on books since we bought from three different vendors. Maybe $750? </p>
<p>I have to say, books are one of the few things that haven’t really gone up that much since I was in college (when compared to tuition anyway!). I used to easily spend $300-400 per term and we had two bookstores to pick from on campus, both of which were equally expensive. Tuition was $650 per term so books being that expensive was a big deal. </p>
<p>Books are a crapshoot. My oldest is in her final year of a BSN program. Most nursing students keep,their books to study for boards, so the used market is pretty small. She budgets $2000 a year for books and supplies. D’14 found a used calc book online for $84. If she was starting in calc one, she’d get 3 semesters out of it. Currently, I could sell it back on Amazon for $70. New one is close to $300. One book for an art class required a code. Had to buy new, $120 for a slim paperback, $40 for second used book, but over $200 in supplies. So, $84 for a calc class and over $300 for art. </p>
<p>My BarnardGirl had a $200 coursepack for Spanish and I was surprised but then I found out it they used the same coursepack for all of the Spanish classes (through the level required for graduation) which, for her, was 3 terms. So that’s not bad at all. </p>
<p>Oldmom, that is a great idea. Meeting up with a friend for a meal or just to chat. My husband travels for his job, so it is me at home. One of my fellow teachers is a single mom. Her kids are grown and gone, so it’s been tough for her. Her son, who is also a teacher, is currently on assignment with the National Guard. She and I have known each other since high school. Maybe we need to get together for some laughs.</p>
<p>Heard last evening from my son. He is almost over this viral thing that has made it around his roommates and teammates. It is amazing how grateful he is that I packed meds! They have allowed him to sleep through the congestion. Had an issue with an online physics program that he needs for class, but e-mailed the company about it. Got it resolved immediately – and to think, I had to do all the e-mailing when he was having the same type of issue three years ago in high school. Guess he learned by watching – Yay! Says he has one class that bores him so – a teammate took a picture of him dozing off the other night. Says he ate all the brownies I sent. This is the kid who said that I didn’t need to send anything. Well, if I make something, he said he will be happy to eat it! His weekend includes watching college football (it is a religion in Alabama), studying and doing some homework, e-mailing an adviser so he can get an appointment to prepare for spring class registration (it starts at the end of October), sleeping, going to services and going with one of his teammates to the store for some snack items, including his beloved Greek yogurt. All in all, he is a pretty happy kid, which is what I love to hear.</p>
<p>I heard from S14 shortly after posting last night. He let me know he added “blue bucks” to his student ID (for laundry, extras at the snack shops, stadium concession stands, fast food places in the student unions, etc.) and thinks college is “pretty okay so far”. I asked him what he did yesterday and he said “Way too much. I’m so busy!” First football game is today and he bought his first M shirt. He got a free t-shirt already, a free water bottle and “a boatload of club stuff” from the student organization tables. I got a text from my D in NYC whose boyfriend was very active in the Michigan Democrats chapter- his friends had sent the bf a text that my son had come by the table and they were really excited. He found the building he’ll need to go to for his research program (the only “class” this term that isn’t in his dorm). Some of his textbooks came to the house today and he and his roommate need a long coax cable for their room so I’m stopping by tomorrow sometime to drop those things off. He sounds quite happy :)</p>
<p>Spygirl’s books so far are around $300. The most expensive is a French text. For some reason she was placed in beginning French after 4 years in h.s. and a study abroad program in Paris. She’s asking to be moved up, so will be returning that text for an equally expensive one. She bought all the books on Amazon and unfortunately forgot to change the shipping address, so guess where they were sent? </p>
<p>Books on our end are about $1000.00. Used a mix of Amazon, Chugg (sp?), and school. Science major.</p>
<p>@Agentninetynine - My D had the opposite problem. She was placed in an upper level French with only 2 years of HS French! She bought the $200 book, went to one class, and texted me “French is brutal!”. Dropping down a level in French would’ve messed up her schedule so now she’s in Italian 101. She says it’s much better! </p>
<p>S was texting again today. This time he wanted to know if the new maize t-shirt should go in the darks or lights side of the hamper. 
He’s very happy. His first football game at the Big House was incredible (Go Blue!). He was invited to pre-game by one of my daughter’s friends and he declined. Then he saw a lot of kids get MIP tickets (minor in possession of alcohol) and even saw some getting arrested. He is glad he didn’t partake in that scene. He’s not big on the idea of partying and hopefully seeing that will help cement his ideas. </p>
<p>I know there was a home football game this weekend, but the idea of bringing 50,000 students to campus almost a full week before classes start seems like it is just asking for those kinds of issues. </p>
<p>In the mean time, I’m purging stuff. In true “One Bag a Week” fashion, I am going through EVERYTHING. Today was the family room. I love how clean it seems with all the stuff gone. Old software, old papers- my computer desk drawers are so neat and organized and they are going to stay that way! </p>
<p>@overtheedge,<br>
I was reading through these posts about getting settled in to college…visions of what is to come for us for next year, and there were many emotional stories, but when I read your simple little post, with your D saying “Mom, I’m so happy here.!” I just burst into tears. That is it, isn’t it?..the one thing we all want for our kids…and for those of us who have a kid who has had a difficult time along the way…well…I am just so glad to hear that your D is happy, and hope all of our kids find a ‘happy’ place too.</p>
<p>Today is the day. MoveIn weekend in Boston is an event in itself. Apparently the leases change Sept 1 and every uhaul in the NE will be here. I’ll let u know. Our report time is 10:30.</p>
<p>@shoboemom - Thank you :)! Yes!! It is what we all want! And my heart breaks for those who are struggling because I have been there. I hope that every kid finds their happy place! Good luck this year! We will be cheering for you and the Class of 2015 on its journey. </p>
<p>Hello all!
I haven’t posted in awhile because I am hoping and praying S adjust to school …he had to be pulled out of the hiking trip because he injured his knee…so the hope of connecting with a group of kids before school started didn’t work out as planned. He has a nice roommate and everyone we met seems to be very nice but he is not engaging but what was I expecting? …He didn’t engage in HS ! He is spending a lot of time in his room and that makes me sad…but I guess that he who he is…I am really hoping that he will join one or two clubs but so far that has not happened…maybe I am expecting too much?
A good friend suggested I visit him in a couple of weeks but I don’t know if that is a good idea? I live about 41/2 hrs away…</p>
<p>I just want him to fit in and be happy…</p>
<p>Good luck, @Evergreen1929. Move in day is hard enough without having to deal with traffic and dozens of other college students and their parents. The Targets and BB&B stores in Boston must have to triple stock.</p>
<p>@onlyonemom I think it can be hard sometimes for us to understand what might make them happy, but if he didn’t engage in high school and is spending a lot of time in his room in college, maybe that is just him and it IS what makes him happy. Not everybody is a “joiner” and some people just prefer more of their own space. </p>
<p>For those whose kids are having a harder time adjusting, I can tell you that BarnardGirl had a tough first year. The first week was absolutely the worst. She’s not the kid who makes instant friends. It takes her more time to warm up and form those bonds and she felt like everybody else had met their BFF that first week. She called in tears several times. Then she started getting really bad headaches, which she attributed to stress, by the end of September. She joined the Columbia Marching Band and she the Columbia Dems and started to meet people that way. She got a campus job and met some more people. In all of these activities, she found she kept meeting girls from this one sorority and she decided to go through rush during winter term. Then things really gelled for her. She ended up finding ways to stay in NYC this past summer and is starting her junior year now. It all comes together for most of them. </p>
<p>It’s true. I didn’t believe it until it happened to me. After a four day outdoor orientation adventure (which is the longest I hadn’t heard from my child), the first text I received from my D was “What is your credit card number?” </p>
<p>Afterwards she did send me a picture with the caption “Look mom, I have friends!” She does know what will make me feel good. The academics? Eh, right now I’m not too worried about that.</p>