Parents of the High School Class of 2017/College 2021

[cats mom]

Has anyone started shopping for dorms yet? I bought a couple of sets of twin XL sheets on clearance last year but that's all I have. DS doesn't care about matching or anything like that. I want to buy a mattress topper but other than that not really sure what he will need.

DD has a queen size bed at home, so we bought all new twin size bedding (ouch, that wasn't cheap!). She'll be living in an off campus apt, so I have a few of her kitchen must haves tucked away, but I'm not going to worry about too much of that until we see what her roomies already have. Same with bathroom stuff, as they may want to coordinate colors. I need to get a compact printer and I'll probably pick up a small shredder, but I'm hoping most of what she needs we already have around here and it will just be a matter of gathering it together. We'll see.

For kids in traditional dorms a few things I've seen mentioned fairly frequently: small safe for valuables, shower caddy and flip flops, laundry bag or basket, underbed storage containers, and if allowed a small space heater and/or fan. I know DD will be taking her oscillating room fan as I'm betting her roomies will like it warmer at night than she does... everyone likes it warmer at night than she does... except maybe me (perhaps that's where she gets it from). lol

It's tough to come up with a one size fits all list since every situation will be different, but I'll be watching to see what ideas others come up with.

 

[Poohforyou]

Has anyone started shopping for dorms yet? I bought a couple of sets of twin XL sheets on clearance last year but that's all I have. DS doesn't care about matching or anything like that. I want to buy a mattress topper but other than that not really sure what he will need.

I've done the same as you and picked up bedding on clearance. My daughter doesn't care about matching either.

My daughter will find out what dorm she's in on June 1st and will be able to see it during orientation a few weeks later. I'm holding off doing too much until then. The dorm rooms at her school are so different in size, some have walk in closets, so we don't want to do too much until we know.

All the rooms/suites have a microfridge and private bathrooms so she won't need a lot of the traditional things.

 

[LilTinkFan]

Big closet? My dd would love that! Our 1st year housing options are not fashion friendly. Dressers with 3 drawers. Closet size is such that my 10 yr old was able to stand inside it with arms outstretched and touch both sides. I see lots of weekend trips just to switch clothes! Lol.

 

[AustinTink]

If visiting consider staying in Santa Monica. Some good Hilton options there and a reasonable drive to campus. I don't know how much time you have spent in L.A., but if you are not used to it be advised that traffic is horrible and will make you want to quit driving forever.

Good luck.

Did you stay at the Doubletree in Santa Monica? That's the only Hilton that popped up in my search right now. I read last night about gang activity in Santa Monica. Did you feel unsafe there?

 

[punkin]

Niece is going to be expensive as far as dorm room set up. She and her roommate are already coordinating bedding and decorations. My older two just took whatever I got on clearance.

 

[J'aime Paris]

Niece is going to be expensive as far as dorm room set up. She and her roommate are already coordinating bedding and decorations. My older two just took whatever I got on clearance.

DD told me yesterday that her and her 2 roommates want to coordinate as well. I think they've agreed on light grey and burgundy. I had already bought a bunch of bedding and towels (on Clearance) in her favorite colors, purple and teal. Girls!!!!

 

[wannabee]

DS18 could not be bothered to search for a roommate or even update his preferences.... We just saw that he has been assigned a random roommate. We read his profile...... Opposite from DS in so many ways...... Should be interesting ... DS is not concerned.

 

[gemini2727]

DS18 could not be bothered to search for a roommate or even update his preferences.... We just saw that he has been assigned a random roommate. We read his profile...... Opposite from DS in so many ways...... Should be interesting ... DS is not concerned.

My daughter found a roommate who sounded perfect on paper...unfortunately, my DD chose to move out halfway through the semester due to serious personality issues, so you never know!

 

[aprilgail]

Has anyone started shopping for dorms yet? I bought a couple of sets of twin XL sheets on clearance last year but that's all I have. DS doesn't care about matching or anything like that. I want to buy a mattress topper but other than that not really sure what he will need.

She has some stuff that we bought for when she went to Brown last summer-so she has sheets, a fan, a desk light, a under the bed safe, shower caddy and a few other things. We have to wait to see which dorm she gets into because one has a small closet for the both to share and other dorm has no closet and just like a stand up armoire, another has 2 closets- so will have to wait and see. I know her room mate wants to coordinate so will have to see what they want to do for that.

 

[v.t.]

I can't remember, what surgery did your DS2 have?

He had a section of his small intestines and colon removed. We are finally came home today.

Has anyone started shopping for dorms yet? I bought a couple of sets of twin XL sheets on clearance last year but that's all I have. DS doesn't care about matching or anything like that. I want to buy a mattress topper but other than that not really sure what he will need.

Since my boys are going into the Corps, they have everything provided except a pillow, two white pillow cases, 4 white towels, 2 wash cloths, 2 hand towels and a lamp for their desk. That is all they are allowed for furnishings, everything else is provided. But we do need to get a good shower caddy and things like that. Too be honest, that is kind of nice not to have to worry about matching roommates, etc.

 

[cats mom]

Did you stay at the Doubletree in Santa Monica? That's the only Hilton that popped up in my search right now. I read last night about gang activity in Santa Monica. Did you feel unsafe there?

I haven't stayed at either hotel, so I'm no help with reviews; but since you specifically mentioned Hilton properties, I do know a new Hampton Inn just opened last month in Santa Monica. Both DoubleTree and Hampton Inn are a couple of blocks from the pier area. I'd have no concerns about staying there.

 

[AustinTink]

I haven't stayed at either hotel, so I'm no help with reviews; but since you specifically mentioned Hilton properties, I do know a new Hampton Inn just opened last month in Santa Monica. Both DoubleTree and Hampton Inn are a couple of blocks from the pier area. I'd have no concerns about staying there.

That Hampton looks great!

 

[Sanchez]

That Hampton looks great!

Sorry for my delayed response. Yes, we stayed at the Hampton. Seems new and in excellent condition. Just a few blocks to the pier and the pedestrian shopping area.

I can't really answer about safety. We noted no issues. Don't know if you consider this a safety issue, but we noticed a significant homeless population in Santa Monica (but really no different than other parts of L.A., San Diego and San Francisco.)

 

[AustinTink]

Sorry for my delayed response. Yes, we stayed at the Hampton. Seems new and in excellent condition. Just a few blocks to the pier and the pedestrian shopping area.

I can't really answer about safety. We noted no issues. Don't know if you consider this a safety issue, but we noticed a significant homeless population in Santa Monica (but really no different than other parts of L.A., San Diego and San Francisco.)

We are pretty familiar with San Francisco and San Diego, just not LA at all. The homeless population doesn't bother us. Austin has a huge homeless population downtown.

Question about transportation... we are considering forgoing an car and Ubering everywhere. Is this doable? I though you or @cats mom might be able to answer that one. The Hampton wants $42 a day for parking!!

 

[cats mom]

Again, no personal experience in that specific area, but I can't imagine you'd have a problem finding transportation, there are tons of Uber and Lyft drivers here. You might even get a UCLA student doing the driving. My friend's son drove for Lyft when he was a student at UCLA last year.

 

[yeahdisney]

Award night was tonight for all the local scholarships. DD got $2000 total. She did not get the large private local one. She got a science award, we were both surprised . It was fun to see the kids get awards. We have 6 valedictorians for this class. We had one 34 ACT announcement going to Berkley and one 35 going to U of Illinois. One girl had 21,000 x 4 for president award and $34,000 x 4 for athletic scholarship and then one more award - very nice.

 

[v.t.]

Award night was tonight for all the local scholarships. DD got $2000 total. She did not get the large private local one. She got a science award, we were both surprised . It was fun to see the kids get awards. We have 6 valedictorians for this class. We had one 34 ACT announcement going to Berkley and one 35 going to U of Illinois. One girl had 21,000 x 4 for president award and $34,000 x 4 for athletic scholarship and then one more award - very nice.

Congrats to your daughter, sorry she did not get the large scholarship but $2000 in local is great! How large is her class to have 6 valedictorians? Our academic awards are tonight but we do not announce local scholarships until Decision Day next week. I am dying to know what mine got. (I am VP of our educational foundation but I am excluded from sitting on the selection committee or knowing the results since I have kids in the class.)

 

[bjscheel]

Our award night is Tuesday. DD said she understood some of the local ones she applied for will be announced at awards night, so hopefully she gets another one or two! There was one she worked on, on the way home from a track meet because the counselor just gave it to her at the last minute. From what I found online about it, I think the due date had already passed when he gave it to her. Then she found out he didn't turn it in right away because he thought it was incomplete until she showed him that it wasn't. Hopefully it wasn't too late after all that. Wish I would have checked that one out sooner but I didn't because it was marketed for STEM students. I guess Graphic Design is part of the Technology portion, and she does get good grades in math and science, so it counts.

Wednesday is Baccalaureate. I think I'll be playing piano for that as my pastor asked yesterday if I could. Not quite sure what that will be like.

This Sunday is her reception. Coming right up! We've barely been home but I was home last night and ran over my lists and tied a few ribbons on jars for the tables. I think all we have left is DD is going to make a sign for inside to point people in the right direction inside the church, then make a few notecards for the tables to tell guests about the Snapchat filters they made for the reception. Well and she needs to bring down the art she wants to show, and decide if we are going to put out any newspaper clippings.

And tonight is District Track! Should qualify for State in Distance Medley for sure, hoping she gets to go in one or two more events. Her 4x2 and Sprint Medley have a good chance. 4x4 probably not. Unfortunately DD won't be trying for the open 400. She is ranked first for districts, but she can't do Distance Medley and the 400 back to back. Distance Medley has a good chance of medaling at State so she decided to do that but it was hard for her to give up the dream of qualifying in an individual event. She would have liked to give 400 hurdles a try, but coaches don't want to take her out of the 4x4.

 

[aprilgail]

Award night was tonight for all the local scholarships. DD got $2000 total. She did not get the large private local one. She got a science award, we were both surprised . It was fun to see the kids get awards.

Ours isn't until June 8th- we haven't gotten a letter yet to attend (only the kids getting scholarships get letters to attend) but I know for sure she is getting at least two so we will get a letter when they send them.

 

[Poohforyou]

Congratulations everyone on the local scholarships!!

Our awards night is June 15th. Invitations to those getting scholarships or awards will go out in early June. I don't know if my daughter will win any of the scholarships but she'll be invited and recognized for being a National Merit Commended Scholar as well as a Presidential Scholar (95 or above cumulative GPA). So that's exciting in itself.