Pets: No. My wife and I joke (but with a touch of seriousness) that we aren’t responsible enough to have pets, which is why we had children. Our daughters regularly suggest we get something, but we’ve remained firm on it.
Our school district has never closed for any reason I’m aware of. In the 40+ years I’ve lived here.
QOTD: Pets - it’s one of the reasons MIT is still on the list - it has dorms that allow cats. It’s asked at every school but no luck so far. Only therapy cats at most places.
Pets Earlier this year when my daughter was even more apathetic about the college search than she is now I sent her this link thinking it would help: https://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/blog/on-campus/20-pet-friendly-college-campuses/ 
CMU - Does CMU have big macs or need-based aid for incomes up to $200K? Our list is starting to slant toward techy schools with balanced gender ratios.
Carnegie Mellon had a reputation for zero merit based aid. That has changed a little in the last couple of years.
@nw2this Do run your NPC. Even CMU’s need based aid is crappy.
OK trying to figure out which schools I want to send ds’ ACT scores to (he took SATs as well but ACT is much better) and which I may wait until after he retakes in September. Came across the following on an admissions page:
“Submit your official ACT (#0734) and/or SAT (#5219) results for every test taken.”
Here’s my question does this mean I must submit both his SAT and ACT scores or just all of his scores for whichever test we choose to report (ie. all 3 SAT scores or both ACT scores)?
@STEM2017 - He probably won’t get as much snow as Buffalo (or Boston’s winter of 2015), but it will probably be colder, snowier and windier than it is in NYC. They probably, like Buffalo or Syracuse, deal better with snow and get things cleared out sooner than in cities less accustomed to snow. The ice is probably more of a problem than snow.
@STEM2017 Ice. I can’t really speak to Buffalo, and frankly I haven’t spent much time in Michigan in the winter, either, but I do think ice is a bigger concern than snow. Other than a raging blizzard, snow wouldn’t normally keep kids from class, while ice might. He may need to learn the duck walk that is optimal for traversing icy walks and to avoid injury. On the other hand, he could learn a useful life skill. Knowing how to drive on ice is very important in the Midwest.
QOTD: I had a fish in the dorms. Unfortunately I replaced the aquarium bulb with the wrong lamp. My beta might have been cooked alive while I was at class.
I notice a lot of dogs in off campus student housing around D14, so maybe the cat can come sophomore year @Dolemite
So how does the therapy pet thing work?
What if the roommate HATES dogs/cats/whatever? Do they make sure and assign you to a single or to someone who wouldn’t mind?
–only asking because I pretty much hate cats and D is not a fan also.
@carachel2 Here’s one story: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1547897-service-animals-in-college-housing.html#latest
@IABooks …thanks! D would be ecstatic with a service dog for a roommate. Just not a cat lol.
There is a girl at my college with a service dog and she has a medical single. Also reminder therapy dogs/cats are not the same as service animals. The ADA says places have to allow service animals but they don’t have to allow emotional support animals.
The problem with NPCs is that they don’t include merit, but I did run it for CMU - and result was :-q .
On pets in dorms: My D15 would not have been able to attend a school where furry pets were allowed in dorms. She is allergic to dogs and cats.
@Collegecue I was wondering about the same thing. I interpreted it as we could choose whichever test we prefer and send all of THAT test results. I came to that conclusion because it was more beneficial to us!!!
I hope someone will make it clear.
@Collegecue @HiToWaMom I am reading it the same way - either send All of SATs or send All of ACTs.
If they write ambiguously, we should be able to interpret to our favor ;))
** no to pets ** DS17 is allergic to cats and some dogs. He reacts to clothing and furniture where cat was around. So his roommate should not own a cat at home.
It was easy to say no to DS19 - Honey, we would love to have a puppy or a chinchilla (that was what DS19 wanted) but you know, you are allergic to furry animals. - in reality, I did not want to go through another potty training for kids or pets.
Ooooo, I like your attitude! Thanks!
@STEM2017 - another NYC native here who has also spent considerable time in snow country.
Unlike our fair city, those who live with snow do it very well. They have dedicated snowplows built for that sole pupose, some even have massive snowblowers for the roads. Places where 2 feet is normal, are equipped for it. It is a very different experience from the jury rigged garbage trucks with drivers who are unskilled in snow, trying to move massive amounts of it. Although they do do an amazing job considering there is no place to put it.
The miserable snow experience you have in NYC is totally different from places which get a lot of it all the time. Snow is part of life there, not an event.