We are trying to pencil out our travel schedule for the open of school. What has been everyone’s experiences with the various pre-orientation programs? We are primarily considering one of the Outdoor Orientation Trips, but are open to the other programs.
DS really had a good time on FOOT. Some people report that they are still friends with their FOOT participants, but DS, while not unfriendly with them, hasn’t really kept in touch. I think it was a good introduction to Yale for him; an “easing into it.”
During FOOT, every evening kids tell their personal story and DS was in awe of the accomplishments of everyone else on the trip, He was feeling a bit pedestrian (ha!, see what I did there?) in comparison. When it came to be his turn to tell his story, he was shocked and pleased that his fellow students thought highly of what he had done.
A good percentage of the entering class thinks they’re geniuses and that Yale is lucky to have them. A good percentage suffer from imposter syndrome. I think at Yale, the first group is much smaller than the second group; if that’s not to your liking, try Harvard. :)) FOOT moves them towards a more moderate view of themselves, but it’s only a beginning.
It is difficult to say exactly what made FOOT worthwhile, but I think it was.
My son did a 4-day FOOT trek. I thought it was a useful way to diminish the pre-first-day jitters that might have come up. It was a nice distraction.
My DD joined a 6 day FOOT and she, not an athlete, found it stressful and beyond her “fun.” She was, shall we say, glad it was over. Choose carefully if your kid is not naturally a “hiker.” She did not continue friendships with her FOOT-mates, so don’t feel like it’s necessary to “join Yale.”
My D had other commitments and was unable to do any of the pre-orientation programs. It did not seem to affect her ability to adjust. However she quickly auditioned for and joined more than one music group and another EC that she connected with during Bulldog Days. I think those groups and her roommate helped her adjust really quickly. She also connected well with her Froco.
As we were moving in, I only noticed a few coming late from FOOT out of more than a dozen girls in the two neighboring suites. While it is great if your kid wants to do it, they will find that most actually do not.
My son did not do FOOT either. He may have enjoyed it, but he’s not really the camping kid and honestly the logistics were a big minus. Just getting him to school, then doing another back and forth to move him in, etc seemed like a pain. I know people have raved about the trips so I felt a little guilty at the time, but he was fine not doing it. He also auditioned and joined two music groups within a week or two of arriving, and quickly made friends that he still has now. It also seemed odd to show up and start moving his stuff into his room without him there. But, lots of kids love it so I guess it’s just totally personal preference! But definitely not necessary. There is a whole week of “Camp Yale” when the kids move in before classes begin, so lots of time to meet other people and feel settled.
My daughter did one of the 6 day FOOT hikes in the White Mountains. She is an experienced mountaineer and absolutely loved it, so much so that she is going to be a FOOT leader next year. She has kept in touch with her FOOT group - they did a dinner once a month for the first semester, then got together once or twice this semester. Several of the kids from her FOOT group will also be FOOT leaders next year.
There are all different levels of challenge offered and I think I heard that some of the FOOT trips are going to be cabin based? There are other programs too - Harvest is one.
For my daughter, FOOT was an excellent way to transition into Yale. The FOOT group is actually encouraged to NOT discuss Yale and instead focus on getting to know one another and enjoy going through the outdoor experience together.
My daughter did not participate in FOOT. She had applied originally and they had assigned her to a hike up a local trail in CT that she has already done once before. She has OCD and the thought of having me move her in and having her get there later was much more stressful than the idea of missing out on a hike that she had already done. She decided not to go and backed out. She was a little sad that there were some established friendships and she did feel like missed out but the overall stress outweighed the positives.
Thanks for the tip @CIEE83
My daughter did FOOT and really enjoyed both the hiking and camping, and getting to know some of her classmates. She was of course a bit nervous about starting college and it seemed like FOOT was pretty helpful in making the transition.
Thanks everybody. My son is not a hiker and we are not a camping family, but he is a good athlete so the physical part should be ok. It might be a good opportunity to make some friends outside of his residential college if the logistics work (we also need to get his sister to school). For those of you that like outdoor activities, check out the Yale Outdoor Education Center. Used to spend Saturday mornings there shooting skeet. It is beautiful out there and you can rent cabins. http://sportsandrecreation.yale.edu/recreation-centers/outdoor-education-center
One child did it and loved it, the other didn’t and regretted it. The one that did it was far from the outdoorsy type. Highly recommend.
@tonymom, same boat here. Ordered the non filing transcript from IRS on the 5th. FA hasn’t received it yet. I thought that I had everything done in January.
@trackcoach79
Try giving the FA a call. I did and there had been miscommunication before. They thought I was referencing my son’s tax info when I had been asking about parent tax info with data retrieval. It’s work giving them a call. The lady I spoke with was very nice. She said our info was there and we were good to go.
Good luck! I know how frustrating it can be.
Question for the experienced on here! Son is at BDD this week and will be taking the CT shuttle back to LGA from Phelps gate when it is over. How much time should he allow to get to LGA and get through security etc? His flight is at 3:15 from LGA. Thanks!
@Biotechgirl I know that when my daughters music group travels for tour that they plan 5 hours. Two to get there, two to make sure you are in at the gate and through security and one just in case of traffic and delays.
My DD takes GO shuttle bc CT shuttle’s website was such a pain to book a shuttle and user unfriendly. With GO shuttle, they basically MAKE you get to the airport 3 hours early, to allow for the possibility for traffic when traveling from Connecticut to NY. As per memmsmom above, the shuttle pickup is 4.5-5 hrs before flight departure time.
Thanks! @Memmsmom
Daughter is sad that its raining today. She said that the two prefrosh she is hosting are both leaving this afternoon and are not even staying for all of the festivities of the evening. It really makes me wonder just how much experience you can really get in that short amount of time. I did remind her that she also had pouring rain for her BDD and one of her best memories was playing in it with new friends and running from event to event and ending it with an amazing day for the pizza party. I swear that she would have everyone matriculate this week if she could.
@Memmsmom Well, the rain didn’t stop BDD from working like a charm on DD. She’s raring to go & even changed her FB profile. She loved the Yale students & faculty she met – friendly, cordial, intelligent – & was amazed at the high level of music. Boola boola, I guess!
Lots and lots of music, for all levels of seriousness. Don’t know if she saw the Adams Center for Musical Arts, opened in February and funded through the generosity of an alum who’s given $110m in total to the Yale School of Music. Any number of a cappella groups and instrumental ensembles/orchestras. An Institute of Sacred Music, and, at the other extreme, the Yale Precision Marching Band. The musical scene at Yale is head and shoulders above that of any of its peers. If that’s what she likes, she’ll have a great time.