<p>Crumbs, indeed, desiw. So far the most critical question I’ve been asked is “Just how much stuff CAN I put in one load of laundry, Mom?” ;)</p>
<p>I posted this article from today’s NYT on the Parents’ board, but I thought I’d post it here, too. It’s a thoughtful collection of short pieces written by current and former professors entitled “College Advice, From People Who Have Been There Awhile.” I e-mailed it to my son. Maybe it could even prompt responses from some of our taciturn offspring? Even if not, it’s good. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/opinion/06collegeadvice.html[/url]”>http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/06/opinion/06collegeadvice.html</a></p>
<p>Yes, my s is still working on a schedule. He was really wanting a certain freshman seminar and when that did not happen, he had to scramble. He now has more than one class, and seems happy with most of them. But he keeps getting excited about more and more activities…He really would like to keep up with his music, but that would put him at 5. Does anyone know how music lessons are done and what a time commitment they might be?</p>
<p>You have to audition to get private music lessons for credit. The auditions for my son’s instrument have already taken place, but I don’t know if that’s the case for every instrument. If you do get lessons for credit, you must concurrently take Music Theory, which is a one-credit course. Mandatory placement tests for Theory were last Monday or Tuesday. </p>
<p>But all this applies only to for-credit lessons. If your son wants to take lessons without credit, no audition is required. He’ll be assigned to a graduate student as his teacher and there’s a charge. The details are posted on the Music Department’s website.</p>
<p>Yes, “crumbs of information” is an apt description and it’s not just a male thing! My dd seems to be ecstatically happy from what we can determine, far too excited about all her activities to have time to call! </p>
<p>She seems to have her schedule figured out because she forced herself to choose four classes and is just shopping for the teachers and sections that work out the best. </p>
<p>She does seem, though to be trying out every possible club/activity and running from one thing to another quite a bit. I have a feeling that as the studying gets going she will have to pare down some more.</p>
<p>LOL: 50isthenew40, tell your daughter to hold off on settling on the four! I used to wait until the deadline to cut down to my final 5 or 4 classes. Stuff will come up btn even now and registration deadline! Tell her all the veterans do this! LOL</p>
<p>I tried to stay connected through D’s facebook albums. She had her FOOT trip photos up and I enjoy viewing them over and over again. That is how I get a glimpse into her life. In case you are curious, I am only given a limited access to her facebook stuff. But I gladly take whatever she’s willing to gives me. 
</p>
<p>Also, for parents who have not yet heard about the “Preseason scouting report” event that took place on Yale campus this week, read this. </p>
<p>[Yale</a> Daily News - Vulgar e-mail targets freshmen](<a href=“http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/university-news/2009/09/03/vulgar-e-mail-targets-freshmen/]Yale”>http://www.yaledailynews.com/news/university-news/2009/09/03/vulgar-e-mail-targets-freshmen/)</p>
<p>I was disappointed to say the least to learn about that awful email. I don’t do Facebook, but I read the online Yale Daily News, especially the “Cross Campus” page that highlights daily school happenings. Makes me feel more connected to S. Sounds like they had a great food fair yesterday on Old Campus (better than what we had to eat here at home!). </p>
<p>On another note - any thoughts about Parents Weekend? Since S will be home for an entire week at Thanksgiving I’m rethinking going out there. We live in the midwest so it’s no quick or cheap trip, but then again, this first Parents weekend seems like the most obvious one to attend. S doesn’t seem to care one way or the other - he says some friends’ parents are coming, but no big deal if we don’t come. Thoughts?</p>
<p>We are only four hours away so travel is not as much of a consideration for us, but I think you should try to go for Parents weekend. There are so many activities including a reception at the master’s house - we just had a wonderful time. We DID NOT spend that much time with DD. She is involved in the YPMB and another orchestra so she has other responsibilities, but we share a dinner with her, maybe breakfast and just get to see her in her element. If it is not a hardship, I would go and be prepared to just enjoy watching their happiness!</p>
<p>Thanks worknprogress - I am definately leaning towards going, even though I don’t expect to see much of DS. Like you said, the chance to be close to their world for awhile seems worth the trip, especially this first year. And this is probably the only chance for us to meet some of his new friends, given that we live far away. We’ll see…</p>
<p>Like wnp we are only about a 4 hour drive away, and went to Parents Weekend D’s freshman year. We had a great time meeting her friends and having her show us around campus. When she had things to do, we walked around on our own, went to the museums, etc. (If you go, do not miss the Beinecke Library and its Gutenberg Bible.) It was a lovely weekend, but we didn’t bother after freshman year - D was very busy, and the hotel prices get jacked up considerably. (And speaking of which, if you haven’t already made a reservation you’ll probably wind up staying pretty far away. The nearby hotels get booked months in advance.)</p>
<p>Be sure to attend a lecture or two. They’re wonderful!</p>
<p>My parents never came to Parents Weekend. They always chose a different weekend in the fall when there was a home football game. The hotel prices weren’t jacked up, all my friends were available to be taken out for drinks or dinner instead of hanging out with their own parents, and my parents got to see what “normal” Yale was like instead of Yale putting on a show. Plenty of parents don’t come to Parents Weekend and I never perceived it as being a very big deal to have your parents there. I highly recommend an alternate weekend if you plan to visit at all.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your helpful comments. An alternate weekend does make sense - I can’t believe the hotel prices! We have reservations at a hotel in East Haven, not exactly convenient and nothing fancy. I’m going to touch base with S again and try to get a sense of how he feels - perhaps it is too soon to visit? He certainly isn’t homesick…</p>
<p>Centraleagle, H & I are not planning on attending Parents Weekend. We live in South Florida and it is simply too expensive for us to make the trip. D is fine with it. She seems to adjust well, making new friends while keeping in touch with old ones.</p>
<p>AIM. skype, and cell phone technology are also very helpful in shortening the distance. D keeps me in the loop on her course selections. I get occasional bits and pieces of her non-academic lives, such as a dance team try-out.</p>
<p>I agree w/the suggestions for you centraleagle. Go another weekend – there’s no undue pressure to go Parents weekend. There are many many kids whose parents never can come visit. When one set does appear, it’s a great thing to have your student and a few select friends out to a nearby (cheap or expensive – it doesn’t matter) restaurant.</p>
<p>It’s a great memory of mine going out w/my friends and their folks. Great bonding and a chance to get off campus for a few hours. I came from a blue collar family and my parents only came out for graduation.</p>
<p>Good point T2 - because we drive, we stay outside of New Haven where the rates are reasonable, so I forgot that if you were flying how ridiculously expensive it is staying in town. </p>
<p>One thing about going out to eat in New Haven, there are so many restaurants with great food at reasonable prices - sushi, Ethiopian, Thai. We are not wealthy by any means, but we can afford to take a couple of D’s friends with us when we go out to eat. Since we have a car, the really big treat is a shopping trip to Shaws.</p>
<p>This probably isn’t of general interest, but I’m really excited to share that I’ve convinced my mother (very fit, active, engaged 75-year-old) to come with me for Parent’s Weekend. </p>
<p>My DH and I went last year, and for those of us from across the country, it IS a great opportunity to see New England and this special campus (and our darling daughter) at it’s best, and when we are most welcome. </p>
<p>My mom can’t wait for this particular “girls’ weekend.”</p>
<p>^^Always nice to hear this kind of news, riverrunner. Good for your mom! I hope your “girls’ weekend” is wonderful.</p>
<p>On a (tangentially) related note, today is my parents’ 71st (!) wedding anniversary.</p>
<p>So has anyone else heard from a sick S or D yet? My S and 4 of his 5- suitemates are down for the count!</p>