<p><<colcon: thanks=“” for=“” all=“” your=“” info=“” on=“” these=“” boards.=“” it=“” really=“” helps=“” me=“” to=“” find=“” out=“” what=“” a=“” parent=“” thinks=“” of=“” the=“” campus,=“” etc.=“” my=“” daughter=“” goes=“” cia=“” in=“” ny=“” and=“” their=“” campus=“” is=“” nothing=“” compared=“” ringling=“” (my=“” was=“” jealous=“” dorms=“” wished=“” she=“” could=“” have=“” gone=“” there=“” instead).=“” only=“” 4=“” hours=“” away,=“” so=“” will=“” be=“” difficult=“” send=“” son=“” florida…=“” i’ll=“” visit=“” lot!=“” asd=“” sounds=“” great.=“” just=“” he=“” needs=“” right=“” now.=“” wants=“” meet=“” other=“” kids=“” that=“” starting=“” fall,=“” hopefully=“” some=“” his=“” major=“” (digital=“” film).=“” around=“” creative=“” like=“” himself,=“” (instead=“” athletes=“” drug-addicted=“” academic-oriented=“” here).=“” laid=“” back=“” sensitive,=“” fit=“” with=“” there.=“” course,=“” as=“” parent,=“” i=“” worry.=“” nice=“” group=“” “true=”" friends",=“” not=“” kind=“” who=“” are=“” friends=“” when=“” they=“” want=“” something.=“” think=“” once=“” surrounded=“” by=“” him,=“” he’ll=“” fine.=“” types=“” activities=“” do=“” during=“” asd?=“” also,=“” areas=“” nearby…=“” big=“” help=“” us.=“” we=“” day=“” half=“” explore=“” area=“” more,=“” see=“” much=“” can.=“” you=“” know=“” if=“” transportation=“” target=“” or=“” stores=“” nearby?=“”>></colcon:></p>
<p>Hi NHMom,
You’re welcome! Wow, your daughter is in a great place! Do you get to visit and eat in the dining room there? I’ve heard it’s fabulous! Don’t worry about sending your son to FL. It is so easy to get there, especially if you’re not too far from a major airport. I went to college about a 7 hour car drive from home, and I can be in FL in just a few hours (including wait time at the airport) if my daughter needs me. If you think about it, you’ll move him in August, Family Weekend is in October, he’ll probably come home for Thanksgiving, and then again just a couple weeks later for Christmas/Winter break! I did see my daughter in September for a few hours since we were at my older daughter’s Family Weekend near Orlando. Since most of the breaks allow off-peak flying, the fares are very affordable and the airport in Sarasota is about 5 minutes from the school. Last time dd flew home there were 4 other Ringling students on the same flight…fun for the kids!</p>
<p>Your son will meet kids in his major and many others at ASD. Last year the day began with a nice breakfast outside under tents. All of the departments/services have tables set up with lots of info and some fun give-aways. There will be break-out meetings for each major, so be sure to go to that as they are run by department heads and faculty, and they welcome all of your questions. The studios are open and it’s a great opportunity to just go in and talk to the students. Also see the art show and gallery exhibits!</p>
<p>Regarding friends, your son will enjoy being around creative types, especially if HS is not a good fit for him. My daughter said from the get-go that what she loved about the school is she left ASD feeling like the kids at Ringling were just like her. My older daughter wasn’t buying it until she visited, and then agreed, LOL! My daughter was happy in HS, but also a smidge different than most of the kids. She is in her element at Ringling and loves being around kids who are serious about what they do, yet fun. I hope your son leaves ASD with a sense of belonging and excitement about starting in August!</p>
<p>Will you have a car when you move him in? (by the way, move in for freshman is great! Ringling volunteer students cart everything for you!) If you are making hotel reservations, go through the Ringling site for great discounts…better than I can get with AAA. There is tons of shopping, and you might want to pre-shop at Bed Bath Beyond in your hometown and pick up the items in Sarasota (the store is right next to I-75 on N. Cattleman Road, about 8 miles from campus). There’s a Target, Circuit City, sporting goods store, Verizon, Chipotle, Michael’s, etc. in the same shopping center. Ringling does run shuttles for the kids; they do it a couple days in August and did it again about two weeks ago with plans to run the shuttle again this semester. There are grocery stores, drugstore chains, etc. closer to campus, too. If your son needs a ride during the school year the kids are pretty nice about giving lifts here and there. The college bookstore is well-stocked and is right next to campus near the freshman dorm.</p>
<p>With your free time, do you want to just get the lay of the land, or sightsee? The Sarasota visitor’s bureau has great info on attractions, and I think one of the welcome centers in town offers free Big Olaf’s ice cream! 
One thing we enjoyed doing was going on the grounds of the Van Wezl Performing Arts Center and taking some family pics overlooking the water. You can’t miss it…south of the school on the west side of the road, big purple building! I’d like to see the Mote Aquarium but haven’t gotten there yet; we’re always so busy when we visit! If you need to visit a mall for anything, there are two heading south on 41, the first one you come to is smaller than the one further down. You can google and get a list of stores in each one. You can ship boxes to the school in advance of moving in and they will hold them for you in the mailroom, which is in the freshman dorm. Easy! They will loft the bed for you and then your son can store luggage underneath, and those Sterling/Rubbermaid drawers on wheels fit under for lots of storage. If you’re in BB&B, pick up a couple adjustable over the door hooks for jackets, bath towels, etc. Adjustable is the key word here!</p>
<p>Let me know if I can help with anything else!</p>