High School class of 2011

[Disneycrazymom]

Things have been rough around here. Something happened on DD's Prom day, long story, and not really sure if it was intentional or not. DD's BF and his mother were almost 2 hours late (and we really weren't even sure they were coming), and I have no pictures of DD in her dress with her group and no decent ones of her due to all the crying and drama. DD and BF have since broken up and while his events all went splendidly since they were a week earlier, hers were awful. I'm really upset about this as this is our only child. We now have been going through several weeks of all the "whys" and trying to help her move on. I hope she is able to regroup before school starts so she doesn't miss out on the opportunities to make new friends available to her when school starts. She and the exBF are, of course, headed to the same very small school.

I have really enjoyed this thread and getting to know all of you. It has been helpful to me to go through this process with you all. Best wishes to all of everyone's children this fall.

Sorry to hear of the break up. We have had the same thing happen here. DS has actually in the last 3 weeks - applied, been accepted, and has all his paper work in to an entirely different school. While it is crazy I think he made the right chose to move schools. He is now at his first choice school and not at hers!

I had an idea about her prom picture - maybe take her for a little make over day (hair nails makeup)and end with a professional picture in her dress. Only if it would be fun - not if it would bring back a bad memory. Maybe take her best friend along and have the picture done with both of them. Like fun last outing. We have been trying to build DS back up as he was hit hard by the breakup. He didn't see it coming at all! Not the way he thought his senior summer would be but he is moving ahead and doing better everyday. I hope your DD will also!

 

[johnsontrio]

Sorry to hear of the break up. We have had the same thing happen here. DS has actually in the last 3 weeks - applied, been accepted, and has all his paper work in to an entirely different school. While it is crazy I think he made the right chose to move schools. He is now at his first choice school and not at hers!

I had an idea about her prom picture - maybe take her for a little make over day (hair nails makeup)and end with a professional picture in her dress. Only if it would be fun - not if it would bring back a bad memory. Maybe take her best friend along and have the picture done with both of them. Like fun last outing. We have been trying to build DS back up as he was hit hard by the breakup. He didn't see it coming at all! Not the way he thought his senior summer would be but he is moving ahead and doing better everyday. I hope your DD will also!

Thanks for the reply. It has been really hard. We went from him being here 2-4 times a day and bringing flowers twice a week to him not even wanting to keep in touch via texting or phone. Like he flipped a switch. I think it may have something to do with what he thinks he needs to do in order to enjoy his summer of senior year but I'm not sure. Up until May 1st I kept asking her if she wanted me to pay her deposit at either of the other 2 schools we strongly considered. She was directly admitted to nursing school with a generous scholarship and that was not offered at either of the other schools so she still feels as if this is where she needs to go. She's worried about the first four days on campus with the incoming freshmen at the second half of orientation. I hope she feels like she can put on a happy face by then. She's very social and will do well there, she just needs a little confidence back.

Thanks for the suggestion regarding the pictures. I have considered that. I am going to send the few pictures I have to Costco to see if any of them turned out and then figure out what I need to do. I am afraid she won't want to put that dress on again. It was absolutely stunning on and that evening was a huge letdown for DH and I as well as DD.

 

[disykat]

On the great towel debate

We went with beige/tan towels figuring they could go with anything. My big thing isn't bleach (I don't use it) but rather "new." I have him using his towels now so they'll have been through the laundry several times to be through the "shedding" phase. Towels always cause so much dryer lint when they are new and also shed on other stuff. When they're new, I won't throw them in with anything but other towels.

 

[MichelleVW]

On the great towel debate

We went with beige/tan towels figuring they could go with anything. My big thing isn't bleach (I don't use it) but rather "new." I have him using his towels now so they'll have been through the laundry several times to be through the "shedding" phase. Towels always cause so much dryer lint when they are new and also shed on other stuff. When they're new, I won't throw them in with anything but other towels.

Good idea!! I will wash them a few times before she heads out. My oldest has beige/brown towels but my youngest needs color Lol!

 

[kbeverina]

On the great towel debate

We went with beige/tan towels figuring they could go with anything. My big thing isn't bleach (I don't use it) but rather "new." I have him using his towels now so they'll have been through the laundry several times to be through the "shedding" phase. Towels always cause so much dryer lint when they are new and also shed on other stuff. When they're new, I won't throw them in with anything but other towels.

That's what I did. I knew he'd be throwing his towels in with his clothes so I sent them through the wash a couple of times so they don't shed all over him and the rest of his laundry.

Hugs to the kids with the pre-college break-ups. Sounds like they're having a rough time. My son's girlfriend moved to Florida the day after graduation (military family) and her college is 15 or 16 hours away from his, so they parted amicably. I think it was more her than him, but he would never say that or act like it bothers him. He just shrugs and gets annoyed when I ask him about it.

 

[cruisnfamily]

On the great towel debate

We went with beige/tan towels figuring they could go with anything. My big thing isn't bleach (I don't use it) but rather "new." I have him using his towels now so they'll have been through the laundry several times to be through the "shedding" phase. Towels always cause so much dryer lint when they are new and also shed on other stuff. When they're new, I won't throw them in with anything but other towels.

Good idea!! I will wash them a few times before she heads out. My oldest has beige/brown towels but my youngest needs color Lol!

That's what I did. I knew he'd be throwing his towels in with his clothes so I sent them through the wash a couple of times so they don't shed all over him and the rest of his laundry.

Great idea on the towels! I'll wash DD's at least once too!

 

[cruisnfamily]

So what kind of mealplan is everybody purchasing?

DD will be in a regular dorm and will have a mini fridge and microwave and there is a kitchen in the building but I can't imagine her cooking meals on a regular basis.

We've purchased the plan called "7 day all access" where she can go in and out of the cafeteria at any time and get whatever she wants. She also gets $100 dining dollars to use at subway and taco bell but I'm sure those will be gone in a flash!

 

[golfgal]

So what kind of mealplan is everybody purchasing?

DD will be in a regular dorm and will have a mini fridge and microwave and there is a kitchen in the building but I can't imagine her cooking meals on a regular basis.

We've purchased the plan called "7 day all access" where she can go in and out of the cafeteria at any time and get whatever she wants. She also gets $100 dining dollars to use at subway and taco bell but I'm sure those will be gone in a flash!

It depends on the school but we got DS the "big" plan to start with, second semester he changed it to the one that had more flex dollars to spend at the cafe type places. He ended up eating lunch in the cafe type places and dinner in the big cafeteria. He isn't much of a breakfast eater and usually had poptarts or something in his room. He said most of his friends ended doing this as well. His plan equivalent to your 7 day access plan had $360 flex dollars and they could carry over $100 each semester. He went to one that had $620 flex dollars.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

Where my DS is going, all meal plans are just different levels of flex dollars, and every meal is a la carte.
He picked the middle plan, not the highest points, not the lowest, but I think he may end up dpwngrading either in the spring or next year. He will probably find the middle plan too much when you factor in trips home and trips off campus for dinner with friends.

 

[ctinct]

At my daughter's school, all first years students have to get the highest plan...unlimited. It's expensive!!! I asked her to kind of keep track of how much she uses the plan to see what we can drop to next year. She gets six guest passes a semester, though, so at least I will be fed when I visit her in October.

 

[minkydog]

So what kind of mealplan is everybody purchasing?

DD will be in a regular dorm and will have a mini fridge and microwave and there is a kitchen in the building but I can't imagine her cooking meals on a regular basis.

We've purchased the plan called "7 day all access" where she can go in and out of the cafeteria at any time and get whatever she wants. She also gets $100 dining dollars to use at subway and taco bell but I'm sure those will be gone in a flash!

All the meal plans cost the same at DDs school, $1860. There is an unlimited, all-you-can-eat plan, a 14-meal +$200 flex bucks plan, and the 10-meal +$360 plan. Since DD18 hardly eats anything anyway and when she does it has to be healthy stuff and vegetarian, we thought she would have more control with the 10meal plan. She will have her fridge, microwave and hot pot at school. None of her classes starts before 11am, so she won't likely be hoofing it over to breakies at 8am. DD plans to keep tea, milk, fruit, cheese, crackers, PB, and granola bars in her room. And there are several places on campus that take the flex bucks--Starbucks, Nathan's, a sushi place, Chik FilA, etc. Even a small convenience store. I am not at all worried about her getting enough to eat. She has plenty of choices.

 

[ctinct]

All the meal plans cost the same at DDs school, $1860. There is an unlimited, all-you-can-eat plan, a 14-meal +$200 flex bucks plan, and the 10-meal +$360 plan. Since DD18 hardly eats anything anyway and when she does it has to be healthy stuff and vegetarian, we thought she would have more control with the 10meal plan. She will have her fridge, microwave and hot pot at school. None of her classes starts before 11am, so she won't likely be hoofing it over to breakies at 8am. DD plans to keep tea, milk, fruit, cheese, crackers, PB, and granola bars in her room. And there are several places on campus that take the flex bucks--Starbucks, Nathan's, a sushi place, Chik FilA, etc. Even a small convenience store. I am not at all worried about her getting enough to eat. She has plenty of choices.

Wow!!!! $1860 for all you can eat?!? Oh, wait, is that per semester or year? Gotta be per semester, right? I knew dd's plan was expensive, but I just about had a heart attack thinking it was more than double of yours. It's about a thousand more than your daughter's. They do have an excellent reputation and I think have been placed on some of those lists for best college food a few times , but still.....Ouch! But, then out of curiosity I decided to check our state U's cost, which is where my daughter would have been attending if her first choice did not work out. They charge an outrageous $5132 per academic year.

 

[Holly]

At my daughter's school, all first years students have to get the highest plan...unlimited. It's expensive!!! I asked her to kind of keep track of how much she uses the plan to see what we can drop to next year. She gets six guest passes a semester, though, so at least I will be fed when I visit her in October.

I'll admit to some sticker shock regarding the meal plans. We also went with the unlimited plan for the first year but we'll see if he needs it.

He's going to UConn so there are pretty limited options for eating around there other than on campus.

 

[agnes!]

DD's meal plans for freshmen are all $2035 per semester (with varying amounts of points that can be spent at any of the on-campus dining venues including a food court, two coffeeshops & a snackbar).

agnes!

 

[kbeverina]

We picked the 16 meals/week plus $100 flex spending. It was the highest-priced at $1400/semester. There was a 21 meal/week option with no flex spending that was $20 less/semester and a 14 meal/week option for about $100 less/semester.

They have 25 locations that include all-you-can-eat dining halls and fast food places like Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Chik-fil-A and Burger King. They have a deli and a sushi bar. If you eat at one of the locations other than the dining hall, they have a set amount you can go up to that equals one swipe of your card. Over that, they take it out of your flex spending or Carolina Card money that you have to pre-load on to the card. Since one of the dining halls is right in his building, I'm guessing he'll go there a lot and hopefully not as much to the other places.

I'm a little worried about the amount of fast food options, just because he's diabetic and has always had to be disciplined about what he eats and when. With his pump he has a lot more freedom, but I'm hoping he won't go nuts with the snacking and start drinking regular soda, etc.

 

[MichelleVW]

We haven't decided yet which meal plan to get, but at DD's school (Stephen F Austin) it's $1,520 a semester for every plan.

 

[cruisnfamily]

Wow, sounds like some of you really have great choices (25 places on campus?? Wow!).

DD's has a cafeteria/buffet type place by the dorms and then on the main campus they have Blu Sushi, Chick Fil A, Subway and Taco Bell plus another cafeteria/buffet place.

Her unlimited access plan allows unlimited in the cafeteria/buffet places but you must use your dining dollars for the fast food options.

Her unlimited access is $1761 per semester and includes only $100 dining dollars per semester. This is the most expensive plan.

All the other plans are a set number of meals like 120 meals per semester or 75 meals per semester at the cafeterias but they include a lot more dining dollars for the fast food places. These options are a LOT LESS expensive. Like $500 to $750 less per semester. But I think that's because you'd have to buy groceries to supplement these plans.

I love reading about the way it works on the different campuses!


What about housing? What are your kids housing situations and the approximate cost?

DD is in a suite style room but it's different than any other college I've ever heard of. They have 3 individual bedrooms(nobody sleeps in the same room with you) and then they share a bathroom. Her housing is approx $3000 per semester.

 

[cruisnfamily]

All the meal plans cost the same at DDs school, $1860. There is an unlimited, all-you-can-eat plan, a 14-meal +$200 flex bucks plan, and the 10-meal +$360 plan. Since DD18 hardly eats anything anyway and when she does it has to be healthy stuff and vegetarian, we thought she would have more control with the 10meal plan. She will have her fridge, microwave and hot pot at school. None of her classes starts before 11am, so she won't likely be hoofing it over to breakies at 8am. DD plans to keep tea, milk, fruit, cheese, crackers, PB, and granola bars in her room. And there are several places on campus that take the flex bucks--Starbucks, Nathan's, a sushi place, Chik FilA, etc. Even a small convenience store. I am not at all worried about her getting enough to eat. She has plenty of choices.

What's a hotpot? I'm not thinking that would be allowed for DD as the contract states:

Cooking appliances permitted in South Village housing are small microwaves, mini-refrigerators, and automatic shut-off coffeemakers. All other appliances are prohibited.

 

[armomof3lvsdisney]

DS Meal Plan is $1750.00 per semester. He can choose either 19 meals per week and $50 declining balance or 15 meals per week and $90 declining balance.

We got his Billing Invoice today. $14,220.00 per semester and after scholarships the balance we have to pay is $45.00. We already knew this, but boy it's nice to see it on paper.

Move-in day was 5 weeks from Thursday, it's coming so fast. I picked up hangers today and 2 pkgs of DS favorite pencils black Ticonderoga. We have quite a pile of things accumulating.

Hope everyone has a Great weekend!

 

[Nancy]

I actually have no clue on the meal plan for my daughter.

Since OSU doesn't start until mid September I never even think about stuff yet. Bad mommy. I think a lot of me not thinking about it is due to the fact that her older sister is a senior this year at OSU and my oldest lives in Columbus...so she has family close by that can feed and help her if need be.