Parents of College Class of 2018 (A.K.A., "Is this the line to the poor house?")

[sk!mom]

Safety does concern me a bit. My DD mentioned that she doesn't think she's going out tonight for Halloween unless she is able to get a good sized group together. She said that they've been warned to be extra careful and a couple of her friends are nervous about going out.

 

[njmom47]

Boy, we must've all been busy again.

DS went to visit his bff at a different college and how he's all like "I wanna transfer here so I can play football." Ugh. Really? Has anyone else gone through this?
Honestly, ds was accepted more on athletic ability (not football though) than on grades (the coach helped him get accepted but he did very well on his placement tests), but his GPA is actually ok. I just keep going like this:

 

[sk!mom]

Boy, we must've all been busy again.

DS went to visit his bff at a different college and how he's all like "I wanna transfer here so I can play football." Ugh. Really? Has anyone else gone through this?
Honestly, ds was accepted more on athletic ability (not football though) than on grades (the coach helped him get accepted but he did very well on his placement tests), but his GPA is actually ok. I just keep going like this:

Oh wow! No my DD is loving her school. It's so much easier when your kid is happy.

DD drove 5 hours and left the state yesterday to visit her cousin for the weekend and get fitted for a bridesmaid dress. Baby girl is growing up, for sure!

 

[IDoDis]

Safety does concern me a bit. My DD mentioned that she doesn't think she's going out tonight for Halloween unless she is able to get a good sized group together. She said that they've been warned to be extra careful and a couple of her friends are nervous about going out.

I'm not an over-protective parent, but I worry about safety on campus, too. A girl was attacked and raped in a parking lot right outside of the dorms a couple of weeks ago. DD doesn't park in that lot because she has a parking pass for a parking garage instead, but that was still too close for comfort.

I had a bit of a meltdown a couple of nights ago. DD came home in the evening to pick up her new phone and activate it. Then we got to looking at the spring online course schedule since she registers next week and time got away from us. She left at 10pm. She sent me a text 30 minutes later saying she was at the parking garage. I told her to text me again when she was inside her room. She said okay. It's a 3 minute walk to her dorm room. She didn't text me back. I waited 10 minutes and then texted her with no reply. I waited a few more minutes and texted again with no reply (not like her at all). I called but she didn't pick up. I waited a bit longer and texted again and again -- and called. Now 30 minutes had passed since she texted that she was at the parking garage. I called the dorm front desk to see if an RA could check to make sure she was there. Right after that call (before the RA had time to go up to her room), DD called me saying she forgot to text me and turned her phone off while she took a shower so that it wouldn't wake up her roommate.

I had gotten myself into such a panic and felt so helicopter-y. I think the recent rape and me just returning from a very sad funeral of a family member's untimely death in California, got me worked up. I was in tears when DD finally called me back -- so unlike me!!

 

[Bluestars]

I'm not an over-protective parent, but I worry about safety on campus, too. A girl was attacked and raped in a parking lot right outside of the dorms a couple of weeks ago. DD doesn't park in that lot because she has a parking pass for a parking garage instead, but that was still too close for comfort.

I had a bit of a meltdown a couple of nights ago. DD came home in the evening to pick up her new phone and activate it. Then we got to looking at the spring online course schedule since she registers next week and time got away from us. She left at 10pm. She sent me a text 30 minutes later saying she was at the parking garage. I told her to text me again when she was inside her room. She said okay. It's a 3 minute walk to her dorm room. She didn't text me back. I waited 10 minutes and then texted her with no reply. I waited a few more minutes and texted again with no reply (not like her at all). I called but she didn't pick up. I waited a bit longer and texted again and again -- and called. Now 30 minutes had passed since she texted that she was at the parking garage. I called the dorm front desk to see if an RA could check to make sure she was there. Right after that call (before the RA had time to go up to her room), DD called me saying she forgot to text me and turned her phone off while she took a shower so that it wouldn't wake up her roommate.

I had gotten myself into such a panic and felt so helicopter-y. I think the recent rape and me just returning from a very sad funeral of a family member's untimely death in California, got me worked up. I was in tears when DD finally called me back -- so unlike me!!

If only kids knew what it's like for a parent when they forget to text that they got there ok! It must be scary for the parents of daughters when rapes happen so close.

 

[Bluestars]

Boy, we must've all been busy again.

DS went to visit his bff at a different college and how he's all like "I wanna transfer here so I can play football." Ugh. Really? Has anyone else gone through this?
Honestly, ds was accepted more on athletic ability (not football though) than on grades (the coach helped him get accepted but he did very well on his placement tests), but his GPA is actually ok. I just keep going like this:

I am dealing with this with my son. He loves his school, but hates the Corps. Most schools just have an ROTC program and not a Corps, so he would have a lot more free time. He is already talking about seeing if he can get his scholarship transferred to another school. Ugh.

He even texted me and asked if I would be disappointed if he went into law. I'm like, no, that would be my dream. His current plans are to become an officer in the Army, so if he ended up going into law I would be thrilled. He said that would be his last choice though. He is so unhappy being in the Corps and I feel sorry for him. He chose to do it, but he didn't realize the amount of time it would take away from doing the things he had hoped to do in college.

I told him that maybe when he looks back on his freshman year one day, he will find something that benefited him. On the good side, he loves the campus and his classes. He is getting an A in Arabic, which he thought would be his most difficult class. But now he wants to do a study abroad program this summer in some unsafe (to me) country so that he can be immersed in the language.

 

[njmom47]

Oh wow! No my DD is loving her school. It's so much easier when your kid is happy.

DD drove 5 hours and left the state yesterday to visit her cousin for the weekend and get fitted for a bridesmaid dress. Baby girl is growing up, for sure!

I think he is basically happy...he likes his roommate and suitemates (ds said he would room with him again next year but the 3rd roommate, eh, not so much but tolerable). He seems to have gotten into the groove. I feel like his bff is lonely and wants ds to be around. I'm not sure if going away to school with your bff is a good thing or not.

***Bluestars, that has got to be tough for him. I hope it all works out for him as it sounds like things do get easier as time goes on.

 

[sk!mom]

One of DD's high school friends got engaged yesterday. DD texted me a screenshot of her friend's photo and a comment of "what????" "We're not old enough to get married!" I reminded her that her dad and I married Freshman year of college and 34 years later we are still married so it does happen.

DD was shocked by this development. Me not so much. Her friend had followed her older boyfriend to his college.

It was just an interesting development- shocking to DD- and a reminder that our baby's have grown up whether we're ready or not.

 

[Pembo]

I am dealing with this with my son. He loves his school, but hates the Corps. Most schools just have an ROTC program and not a Corps, so he would have a lot more free time. He is already talking about seeing if he can get his scholarship transferred to another school. Ugh.

He even texted me and asked if I would be disappointed if he went into law. I'm like, no, that would be my dream. His current plans are to become an officer in the Army, so if he ended up going into law I would be thrilled. He said that would be his last choice though. He is so unhappy being in the Corps and I feel sorry for him. He chose to do it, but he didn't realize the amount of time it would take away from doing the things he had hoped to do in college.

I told him that maybe when he looks back on his freshman year one day, he will find something that benefited him. On the good side, he loves the campus and his classes. He is getting an A in Arabic, which he thought would be his most difficult class. But now he wants to do a study abroad program this summer in some unsafe (to me) country so that he can be immersed in the language.

Can your ds quit the corps? I don't know how it works. Reading all the things you've posted about the corps, it doesn't sound fun to me either. Good for him taking Arabic! I would think that would be hard.

Ds loves his school, found a great fraternity, his classes are great, and he is having a lot of great experiences with his music. His roommate is okay but has started snoring...so loud it wakes ds up! He is quite irritated by that. Also the food choices on campus are just okay. He can only have a fridge in his room and really wishes he could have a microwave! There are 2 in the basement but the day we visited one was out of service and the other looked pretty sketchy. He is hoping to get into a better dorm next year even an apartment.

His campus is safe however 3-4 blocks away is a very rough area. The kids are told not to leave the area. The campus is 10 mins from Ohio State so that's where they go to have fun and you have to drive.

 

[sk!mom]

So my DD went and visited her cousins and my sister out of state this weekend. Made the 5 hour drive alone and everything. My sister just called to tell me how much they loved having her and then she asked, "did you know how homesick she is? Especially for you? She said that she loves absolutely everything about school and never wants to return to her hometown but 'I miss my mom so much!" "My mom is really the funniest, coolest person I know and everything would be perfect if I could just see her every week."

Oh my! I bawled! I love that girl so much!! I know that my sister was trying to let me know how much DD loves me but it made me so sad to think that she ever has a moment of homesickness. I'm so proud of that girl!

 

[Bluestars]

Can your ds quit the corps? I don't know how it works. Reading all the things you've posted about the corps, it doesn't sound fun to me either. Good for him taking Arabic! I would think that would be hard.

Ds love his school, found a great fraternity, his classes are great, and he has having a lot of great experiences with his music. His roommate is okay but has started snoring...so loud it wakes ds up! He is quite irritated by that. Also the food choices on campus are just okay. He can only have a fridge in his room and really wishes he could have a microwave! There are 2 in the basement but the day we visited one was out of service and the other looked pretty sketchy. He is hoping to get into a better dorm next year even an apartment.

His campus is safe however 3-4 blocks away is a very rough area. The kids are told not to leave the area. The campus is 10 mins from Ohio State so that's where they go to have fun and you have to drive.

He has a 4 year national ROTC scholarship and at this school he must be in the Corps to be in ROTC. If he quits the Corps, he loses his scholarship and can't participate in ROTC. He is stuck for the year. He may or may not be able to get his scholarship transferred, but other schools have their own scholarships, so he's kind of looking into all of his options. He wants ROTC, just not the Corps, which requires daily participation and most weekends.

Sorry to hear about your son's roommate. That would be so frustrating. I wonder why he can't have a microwave in his room. I thought most dorms allowed them. (Of course I wouldn't know since my son can't have anything. haha).

It's good that his campus is safe and that they have a place to go to have fun that's not dangerous. One thing I really like about my son's campus is that it's in a very small college town.

 

[Bluestars]

So my DD went and visited her cousins and my sister out of state this weekend. Made the 5 hour drive alone and everything. My sister just called to tell me how much they loved having her and then she asked, "did you know how homesick she is? Especially for you? She said that she loves absolutely everything about school and never wants to return to her hometown but 'I miss my mom so much!" "My mom is really the funniest, coolest person I know and everything would be perfect if I could just see her every week."

Oh my! I bawled! I love that girl so much!! I know that my sister was trying to let me know how much DD loves me but it made me so sad to think that she ever has a moment of homesickness. I'm so proud of that girl!

That is so sweet!!

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

This will be my first Thanksgiving without my daughter! She is flying home December 14th for the winter break, so it's only a month away. She is enjoying 90 degree days, and I'm stuck here in this polar vortex. I would really like to relocate someday soon.

 

[sk!mom]

He has a 4 year national ROTC scholarship and at this school he must be in the Corps to be in ROTC. If he quits the Corps, he loses his scholarship and can't participate in ROTC. He is stuck for the year. He may or may not be able to get his scholarship transferred, but other schools have their own scholarships, so he's kind of looking into all of his options. He wants ROTC, just not the Corps, which requires daily participation and most weekends.

Sorry to hear about your son's roommate. That would be so frustrating. I wonder why he can't have a microwave in his room. I thought most dorms allowed them. (Of course I wouldn't know since my son can't have anything. haha).

It's good that his campus is safe and that they have a place to go to have fun that's not dangerous. One thing I really like about my son's campus is that it's in a very small college town.

I hope that your son can find a good solution. A&M is a great school but the Corps is hard.

 

[Pembo]

He has a 4 year national ROTC scholarship and at this school he must be in the Corps to be in ROTC. If he quits the Corps, he loses his scholarship and can't participate in ROTC. He is stuck for the year. He may or may not be able to get his scholarship transferred, but other schools have their own scholarships, so he's kind of looking into all of his options. He wants ROTC, just not the Corps, which requires daily participation and most weekends.

Sorry to hear about your son's roommate. That would be so frustrating. I wonder why he can't have a microwave in his room. I thought most dorms allowed them. (Of course I wouldn't know since my son can't have anything. haha).

It's good that his campus is safe and that they have a place to go to have fun that's not dangerous. One thing I really like about my son's campus is that it's in a very small college town.

I understand now. I hope your son can find the right place for him without the Corps. It definitely sounds like a big commitment.

No microwaves, I think, because the dorms are so old. My guess is the electrical hasn't been updated to accommodate it.

 

[Bluestars]

Does anyone have vacation plans when their kid comes home for Christmas break? We were going to go on vacation, but my son just wants to chill out since he will only have two weeks and has to do something with ROTC the other two weeks. He thinks. haha. He's the type who will get information at the last minute, so who knows what he has to do.

Anyway, since they get so much time off after the first semester, it seems like a great time to take a family vacation.

 

[Pembo]

Does anyone have vacation plans when their kid comes home for Christmas break? We were going to go on vacation, but my son just wants to chill out since he will only have two weeks and has to do something with ROTC the other two weeks. He thinks. haha. He's the type who will get information at the last minute, so who knows what he has to do.

Anyway, since they get so much time off after the first semester, it seems like a great time to take a family vacation.

DS & I are headed to Universal for a long weekend the day after he gets home. He only gets 3 weeks for break and wants to work. So no other vacation for us.

Disneyfan32 - Hugs to you! I can't imagine being that far from ds. Your holiday will be so different.

sk!mom - How sweet of your dd. These kids of ours, now adults, can really amaze!

BTW- If you watch The Voice, Chris Jamison is a student at my ds's school and a member of his frat. He never got to meet him but his "big" is Chris's best friend. The boy has a great voice! I've never watched the show before but we are now.

 

[madge]

Does anyone have vacation plans when their kid comes home for Christmas break? We were going to go on vacation, but my son just wants to chill out since he will only have two weeks and has to do something with ROTC the other two weeks. He thinks. haha. He's the type who will get information at the last minute, so who knows what he has to do.

Anyway, since they get so much time off after the first semester, it seems like a great time to take a family vacation.

maybe. trying to juggle middle school & college schedules. LOL .... I'd love to take a short trip to WDW the weekend before Christmas, but it means pulling DD out of school for a couple of days. The 2 days before break are generally dead, but it's the end of the grading period and that gives me pause.

DS is home nearly a month for winter break. Dec 12 through Jan 11. I predict it will fly by.

 

[disneymom2one]

We are going on vacation. We work in higher ed and it's by far the best time to take any sort of vacation. I have mixed feelings about it because I know she could use the time at home but we've vacationed at this time every year for most of her life and she'd be really disappointed if we didn't go. My husband also has a pretty stressful job and it's hard for him to escape it if we don't physically leave for awhile.

Anyway, her finals wrap up on a Friday and ours the following Tuesday. We'll leave that day and be back just in time for a late Christmas celebration with my sister's family. She'll still have another week or so off after we return and I'm hoping that's enough time to recharge.

 

[elgerber]

We have no vacation planned for break, we took our vacation over the summer. Next year though, we are thinking of Disney from NYE through that first whole week in January, since she doesn't go back the first week.