@Tperry1982 - Thanks for the tip on Dorm Room Movers. So they picked everything up straight from your daughter’s room and dropped off in her room in August? My daughter is going to be a FOOT leader so I am assuming she will be gone during the typical move in time, although sophomore FOOT leaders often are in support roles rather than out on the trail, so who knows. At least one of her suitemates will hopefully be there so they can probably handle the delivery.
When do students decide on next year suite mates?
@tonymom - I only know very basic information about the process, but from what I understand, my daughter’s college has already had a mandatory meeting to review the room draw process and discuss the rooming options for next year (which can vary based on the physical set up of the specific college, specific college traditions for room/suite options for each year (sophomore options, junior options, senior options). After that first meeting, my daughter and her friends came up with gameplan for a suite arrangement (who would be in the suite, who would be roommates, and what type of a suite set up they would try for (their options were 4, 6, or 8 person suite)) that would optimize their chance of getting the arrangement that they want.
Since each college manages the process themselves, it is probably different from college to college.
I just asked my daughter about what happens from this point. She said that many people (maybe girls are more organized) have an idea for who they want to live with next year by spring break. In late March, the decided housing groups will log into an online system; early April is pre-draw if there is more demand than number of suites available for the group size; mid April is lottery, an event in which students draw numbers out of a Harry Potter sorting hat to get a number; soon after that is when the groups use that number to pick the official suite. This is the process for rising sophomores in her college, so it could differ for your son’s college, but she thinks the process and timeline are similar for others.
Upperclassmen choose their own roommates. Each college has a different process for room draw, with seniors obviously getting first dibs on rooms. Students decide the configuration of their suite, and then bid on a suite of that size. My D’s group of 6 stayed together sophomore year so they bid on that size room. This year, junior year, one moved off campus so they got a quint. Next year, as a senior, my D is leaning toward a double which consists of two singles and a living room. Since each college is unique, it is incumbent upon the student to know the configurations in their college, know which rooms are “better” picks and hope for the best in the lottery.
@Faulkner1897 - yes, like elves, they come and pick up whatever it boxed up or labeled to go. They then magically bring it back at the appointed time and place. They are familiar with the schools they deal with so you just have to identify the pick up and drop off place. There is a calendar on the website which will show which dates are available for free and which you have to pay extra for. You also pay by box or item and it gets billed to the credit card you have on file. No money needs to change hands on the days of the moves. It has worked perfectly for us.
Family weekend has definitely moved to November, which incidentally in between fall break and Thanksgiving break. When I made hotel reservations, hotels were still unaware of the change. The Marriott had rooms for $187 and the Omni did not have a prepayment charge.
I also learned from the development office, but I was visiting Yale when I found out about the change.
Marriott was already sold out when I tried, oh well. Back to Milford!
@Musicmom2015 - Did you try calling the Marriott? I made a reservation at a different hotel that showed sold out online, but I called and was able to get a room.
Yale parents who do FA…
A few questions:
So for those who have done this multiple times…I understand continuing students don’t find out about their aid package for a while but for those of us doing a payment plan (we do 10 month) do we just estimate what we may get in order to set up our payment plan for next year? We are approaching our new cycle in May when payments are due. It all seems so casual but it’s giving me some anxiety… :-S
Ok, so I know we have discussed rings before. What about this letter that came in the mail today? Is it legit and are they trying to create a standard class ring style or is it just a promotion for that jeweler? I know that my daughter wants a class ring because she decided against one from HS for a college one but is this really a group of kids that researched this or is it just a sales ploy? Then there is the date that they are being delivered for parents weekend which we all know now is a wrong date. So there is also that. Thoughts?
I think the ring letter is legit as that same text and company are on the Yale ASA website, so it does look like it’s an official student agency.
@tonymom - yes. You can estimate. FA should probably be around the same since we had to use the same taxes as last year (2015). I learned the hard way that if you wait to begin the payment plan, you get behind a month or two and the resulting catch up payment can lead to a couple months of no food in the house :)>- . I am so glad my kid is going to be a senior and I am out of the financial aid rat race after this year. We have been doing this since she was in Kindergarten. Ugh.
Hello, my D was admitted to Yale during the early round and just registered for the Bulldog Saturday (one day event for admitted students). We look forward to the visit but know little about the area. I will be traveling with D but neither of us have been to New Haven and would appreciate feedback or recommendations regarding best logistical plan from experienced parents here.
We will be flying into BDL Friday early afternoon and depart Sunday afternoon. A current student has offered to host D for overnight stay. I need to book a hotel for myself - no need to be fancy; just clean and safe.
First choice is to not rent a car. Take Uber from BDL to hotel. Stay at hotel that provides shuttle to Yale such as LaQuinta or New Haven Village. How are these hotels and how is the area in term of personal safety?
Second choice is to rent a car. Then stay further away such as Homewood Suit in Stratford.
I only plan to go to Bulldog Saturday with D so prefer not to rent a car to avoid the expense. Is not having a car doable if there is a shuttle bus? If I need to rent a car, that is doable. I welcome any suggestions.
In your situation I would probably stay at the LaQuinta. We were not impressed the one time we stayed there (kind of dirty-- in the halls, the room was ok but a bit rundown) but we always have a car as we live in driving distance, so prefer to stay in Milford. I think you’re right in preferring to avoid the car, and avoid dealing with parking (pay lots) in New Haven. I’m not familiar with NH Village so can’t comment. The LaQuinta is certainly safe – we didn’t feel any issue on that front. The Courtyard in NH is nice (but expensive, and may already be booked)-- and walkable (not super close, but walkable).
BDL to Yale is a good hour drive, and the Uber will not be cheaper than renting a car and paying to park in New Haven. You could stay at a hotel someplace off I-91 such as Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin or Cromwell. These places should have better rates than along the coast, and you will appreciate not having to deal with I-95 traffic!
There appear to be a few choices of shuttles from BDL to Yale (I haven’t used any, so have no opinions one way or another): https://your.yale.edu/administrative-services/travel-relocation-fleet/travel/air-travel/airport-shuttle . If you take one and then stay at a hotel that’s walkable or has shuttles to Yale (or you use Uber and/or cabs in New Haven), you could avoid renting a car.
We have stayed at La Quinta and used the free shuttle. Very safe and easy. The hotel is not fancy, but not bad at all. We also have lately loved using The Q Club that has parking in the back of the hotel (if you need it) but it is a block away from Silliman and Timothy Dwight colleges so super great and easy location for just walking to campus! Great free breakfasts too!
I should really create my own Uber account and drive these poor parents trying to do a short trip like this…
Welcome!
I am in CT and have a daughter in her Sophomore year. You are more than welcome to ask my anything about the area. I do not live in the New Haven area but am there all the time and I used to live not far from there.
Yes, take a shuttle instead of an Uber- it will be much less and chances are that there will be others doing the same thing. It is an hour drive and it really might be cheaper overall to rent a car. I would also suggest the La Quinta- if you are not spending much time in the room. Its a budget style hotel and not by any means fancy but I suspect that you are there to explore Yale and not the room so that is what I would do If I were you.
Thank you all for your helpful recommendations; I decided to rent a car at the airport as the cost is not more than Uber or shuttle for two people. This way, I can drive DD to look around and take the current student D will be staying with out to dinner. Your comments on the hotel are also very helpful - thank you.
^I’m partial to the garage on York street. Convenient and not terribly expensive for a full day. Street parking on Saturday won’t work as there are time limits at the meters. We always stayed at the Hampton in Milford (though they may up their prices for “special” weekends). There’s a closer Hampton but it’s a lot more $$$. We never had trouble with traffic on that 10 mile stretch of 95 but who knows.