<p>tf: maybe make this post on the general Yale forum? The 2013 forum deals w/entering freshmen specifically and not about Yale features in general. I’m sure you’ll get more informed replies there. Congrats on your son’s “problem” of having to decide on Y!</p>
<p>Bluehouse, my freshman daughter was quite relieved to hear they wouldn’t be building new dorms during her time at Yale. She likes 12 houses, and thinks Yale is the perfect size. Silver lining, yes.</p>
<p>We also did the BB and B local purchase and picked up in Milford, which worked very well. Prepare to WORK during movein weekend. I’m from a dry climate, and was totally unprepared for the physical labor of getting this kid settled. I had pictured myself in fashionable linen late summer wear, strolling the ivied corridors, and instead was literally sweating myself into a lather, carrying furniture, boxes, rugs, etc. up multiple flights of stairs, assembling IKEA kits at midnight, etc. </p>
<p>If you are lucky, your child will coordinate furniture purchases/hand-me-downs in advance, with the future roommates. If you are average, much of this will happen during movein weekend, and whichever parents can make the trip will shoulder the work. It’s fun and exciting, but I did not attend many events for parents that weekend, because we were just too busy making sure the internet connection worked, assembling the bookcase, and collecting the rented fridge. </p>
<p>Wouldn’t trade this for the world…</p>
<p>Parents (especially of incoming male freshmen): warn your kids NOT to take the great deal on the used couch that the upperclassmen will be hawking come the first few days! And that ottoman by the residential college dumpster? It won’t be nice in your freshman suite. </p>
<p>Just indicate to them what’s probably taken place ON THOSE used items of furniture and what’s IN THOSE cushions.</p>
<p>You’re forewarned!!! LOL</p>
<p>(I speak from sad 1st hand experience!!!)</p>
<p>Riverrunner,
Thanks for the insight (I am getting on the treadmill right after I log off! I am chubby and hate humidity!) Also based on your email, I just made a hotel reservation for the night of move in (Friday) “assembling IKEA kits at midnight” tipped me off that we would not be hugging her good bye at 5:00 on Friday. </p>
<p>I don’t see anything on the website yet about parent activities during orientation. I guess I just assumed we would hit the road Saturday morning after a certain late-into-the-night move in. You mentioned “events planned for parents that weekend”. Does anyone recall (or can direct me to the website) a schedule? </p>
<p>Also, I just looked at the housing info and could not find if is there a basic list of things that are in each room? Or is there “no such thing” as standard room supplies. I am thinking there is a bed, desk, chair and closet…anything else (dresser?). Again if there is a place to find this on the Yale website…please let me know. Maybe others have the same question. I am assuming the common rooms are empty?</p>
<p>T26E4…probably the BEST advice given on this thread to date…what is “in those cushions?” Although my husband still “clings” to the end table he pulled off the curb sophomore year of college. Yes, we still have it…story for another day.</p>
<p>They just haven’t posted the information yet. When they do it will be here: [Yale</a> College | Class of 2013](<a href=“Yale College”>Yale College)
There is always a bed, a desk, a chair, a dresser, and a closet. No lamps. Some colleges have overhead lights and some don’t. My son in Morse had no overhead lights and no curtains, but the one in Silliman has both lights and curtains. The common rooms aren’t furnished at all. Most people get together and get at least a futon and maybe a rug. You can also get a rug to put by the bed for cold feet! Depending on the size of the rooms, which vary, some students put their desks in the common room, so there may not be a whole lot of room for furniture. When my older son was a freshman there were vendors on the street selling futons, which was great, but they have since banned those vendors. There is an Ikea in New Haven where you can get lots of stuff inexpensively. Two things you may not think about bringing, but are really helpful, is a toolkit for putting together purchases and a small vacuum cleaner or rug sweeper if you bring a rug.</p>
<p>My S is a frosh this year and if I remember correctly the Freshman Assembly was held on Saturday morning last year and is something that new parents who will be on campus will want to consider attending. It is very “high college” so to speak with speeches by the Dean and President and a certain degree of formality and pageantry. Also, we attended some of the panel discussions over the weekend which we enjoyed.</p>
<p>It is most impressive how many upperclassmen are available to help unload cars and carry things to the new frosh’s rooms. We were unloaded with everything in the room within 30 minutes if not less.</p>
<p>Congrats on being admitted to Yale. It is an amazing place and it seems as if everyone is quite happy there.</p>
<p>BlueHouseMom, basically you will find a bed, desk, chair, and closet–sometimes a dresser, but sometimes there are drawers inside an armoire-like closet instead. Every room is slightly different we have found. Sometimes you’ll find curtains, sometimes not. It worked best for us to purchase most things right in New Haven once we figured out what was needed and what space there was. Common room sizes vary as well. Second year S had no storage space for clothes (very small single), so we purchased a bunch of bins to store things under his bed. This year he had no room for shoes–go figure–so I ran to IKEA for a wooden shoe rack which he has in the hallway. So, I guess it’s always a ‘play it by ear’ each year.</p>
<p>NEW QUESTION: Have any of you seen the form to fill out for our new Yalies to get their ID card. On envelope A , there is a space to put your “Student ID” Does anyone know, should that be left blank? Also, there is a space to put your e-mail address. I am assuming they mean a non Yale e-mail address as our kids don’t have their Yale e-mail address yet. Thanks</p>
<p>Here’s another “thing I wish I’d known.” The Yale Bookstore is a Barnes and Noble store. This means BN gift cards work there (hint for grad gifts?). Membership at BN costs $25, but that can made up pretty quickly in discounts on Yale stuff, not to mention books. If you already have a membership, make sure your kid has the barcode when they go to BDD in case they plan to bring back a new, blue wardrobe.</p>
<p>In the fall, D did end up buying some textbooks, new and used, from Amazon because they were cheaper there, but shipping can be a bit of a problem. D does do a lot of incidental shopping at the bookstore because it is the store closest to campus…</p>
<p>Riverrunner, Thanks. I have had several relatives ask for gift ideas. Does the B and N at Yale literally have all the required texts? (It is a campus bookstore with a B & N name? Is that right?) That sounds like the perfect idea…thanks.</p>
<p>Yes, Yale Bookstore functions as the primary book store and stocks the books required by each professor. You can check their website for more information:</p>
<p>[Welcome</a> to The Yale Bookstore](<a href=“http://yale.bncollege.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/BNCBHomePage?catalogId=10001&storeId=16556&langId=-1&level=1]Welcome”>http://yale.bncollege.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/BNCBHomePage?catalogId=10001&storeId=16556&langId=-1&level=1)</p>
<p>Sometimes I preshop the website before I visit to see what’s new!</p>
<p>Just checking in. Congratulations, new Yale parents! My son was admitted last year, but chose to take a gap year to study abroad in an area of interest that’s not part of the conventional university curriculum. So he’ll be a member of the Class of 2013.</p>
<p>Two things to know about the Barnes and Noble membership: 1. you must have the actual membership card, they won’t/can’t look it up using your phone number as they will at any other Barnes and Noble and 2. the discount doesn’t apply to textbooks, according to my kids</p>
<p>Bluehousemom, you should plan on staying at least until Saturday afternoon. You won’t want to miss the freshman assembly on Saturday morning. We left on Saturday evening but all the other parents in my daughters suite left on Sunday. Regarding furnishings in the room, there was an armoire, desk and bed - no dresser or shelving. There were curtains on the window. We got bins for under-the-bed storage - we needed bed risers so the bins would fit. D got a rug by her bed to keep her feet warm and loves it. Re: b&n, I concur with Yalemom2 - the discount does not apply to textbooks. D gets her books from Amazon and e-bay.</p>
<p>Yalemom2 and Dandemom, I agree, it has been sometimes easier and cheaper to order textbooks online. The BN card does work for other things at the bookstore, though, and might be especially useful for freshman and their families as they make their first pass through the Yalewear department.</p>
<p>In contrast to Dandemom, my daughter’s freshman room has a dresser but no armoire or curtains. Their common room is where all four desks and chairs are, and there is still room for a good sized rug, a couch, a chair and a coffee table, as well as a small microwave stand holding the microwave, some microwavable food, and dishes. Hard to hang loose and just not know what the setup will be, which is why move-in weekend was busy for us as we tried to figure what was needed, and get those things purchased, moved in and put together, all with a smaller rental car. </p>
<p>Which leads me to another tip: you can rent a bigger van or truck at IKEA, but reserve ahead, if you think you might go this route.</p>
<p>Just wanted to say thanks for all the great info in this thread! I decided it’s time to actually register on this board and do more than just read posts. My daughter will be going to Bulldog Days next week, flying from CA by herself. She will also visit one other school and then make her final decision. I’m hoping she chooses Yale-it looks like a better match for her. I try not to say TOO much, cause I think she’s going to reach the same conclusion, and then it can be all her own idea!</p>
<p>I just joined this thread and have a question about the Foot program…
If our student decides to do it… how does that impact the moving in process August 28th?</p>
<p>^ this is from the FOOT website
[Yale</a> Freshmen Outdoor Orientation Trips](<a href=“http://www.yale.edu/foot/apply.htm]Yale”>http://www.yale.edu/foot/apply.htm)</p>
<p>When will students arrive back on campus?</p>
<p>The trips are scheduled to return to Old Campus between noon and 2 pm on August 28. </p>
<p>When should parents arrive on campus? What can they do while they wait for their students to return?</p>
<p>We suggest parents to arrive an hour or two before noon. Parents can pick up their students room keys as early as 9 am and can help unload their students furniture, boxes, and other belongings. Also, be aware that move-in day is the worst traffic day of the year in New Haven!</p>
<p>How long do parents usually stay on campus to help their students move in?</p>
<p>Many parents stay for the weekend to help with room set-up, driving to Wal-mart, Ikea, etc. Some parents leave by Saturday evening while others stay through Sunday. But remember, as much as your student loves you and as much they will miss you, most students are excited to meet their new classmates and are generally busy with scheduled activities.</p>
<p>Hi yalemom, and welcome to CC! If you’re asking if the FOOT kids get to move in early, the answer is no. They spend the first night of FOOT on campus, but not in their dorm rooms, and then head off the next morning. </p>
<p>The way it worked for us is that we drove up the night before move-in day. The following morning D called us on her way back to campus, we met her at Phelps Gate with all her stuff, and proceeded to move her in (with the help of many wonderful upperclassmen.) It all works very smoothly, and it’s a real treat to see each FOOT group do its special ‘chant’ before dispersing.</p>
<p>Thanks Booklady and mangoho.
This forum rocks!</p>