Parents of pre-college program students

[Anonymous]

I hope this doesn’t get locked and I didn’t post in the political thread for a reason.

Anyone have a high school student attending a school this summer for a pre-college program that is currently experiencing encampments/protests?

I do and I’m nervous - that’s why I’m posting. Not to debate the protests or what’s happening - plenty of threads for that.

This is not a pay-to-play program. DC worked hard for it, was admitted to a VERY small pool of students who get in and it also earns college credit (DC has participated in a selective school program in the past that was easy to get into, you cut the check and this one is not that).

Hence my concern. If this particular campus looks like it does in a month, I’m going to be very concerned. Student is rising Junior age-wise.

First world problem yes but not an easy program to walk away from.

Not sure how rising college freshman parents are feeling but happy to hear your thoughts, too.

[Anonymous]

My gut is that campuses clears after graduation and your summer program will be back to normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My gut is that campuses clears after graduation and your summer program will be back to normal.

+1 the campus will be empty, protests will move elsewhere. I think that's why they are all ramping up right now -- last burst before the students have to get home, plus wanting to disrupt finals.

[Anonymous]

As others said, the campus will clear out at the end of the semester. And I would guess, if it didn’t, the program will contact you about planned security measures, delays, or even cancellations if necessary. These programs take the health and safety of these underage students living on college campuses very seriously.

[Anonymous]

Two things will happen:

The protestors and protests will stop after graduation.

It will be so bad they will cancel.

[Anonymous]

Does the school your child is attending have violent protests right now? I've seen some demonstrations & tents during our recent college tours but nothing scary if you move in the other direction.

As noted, I think it will all pack up for the summer anyway.

[Anonymous]

OP here - I’m glad to see the consensus here, the thought that the activity would pack up for the summer crossed my mind as well. We’ll see what happens.

To answer last poster, school that DC is attending is one of the schools in the news but not Columbia or Austin. I feel like those two are getting the most chatter press-wise…

[Anonymous]

OP I would suggest you set up your own contingency plan with your kid, for this reason or any other - so you can get them out and home safely if you need to

[Anonymous]

I also have a student (rising senior ) attending a program on a college campus….also a competitive / free / fully funded opportunity they would hate to walk away from. I’m a pretty nervous person (but respect the right to protest) but am hoping the campuses are quiet post graduations…

[Anonymous]

"This is not a pay-to-play program."

Even if it is, you have every right to expect to get what you paid for, and to be concerned about the possibility that you won't. Or that they'll cancel the program and not refund your money.

I'm hoping the protests go away before July.

[Anonymous]

They aren't burning down campus. Your kid will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not sure how rising college freshman parents are feeling but happy to hear your thoughts, too.

I’m a Jewish parent who works a block from a place where loud protests occur all the time and who commutes through places full of heavily armed security people of various kinds.

I don’t dress in an observant way, but I think that I look like I’m obviously Ashkenazic.

I would let my kid go. The downside is that your kid might hear aggressive chanting, and there’s a small chance something bad could happen.

But, on the other hand, something bad could happen anywhere, and it’s probably helpful that there are a ton of security people around if something bad happens. I’d be more worried about places with lower-key protests and few or no security guys.

I know that the stories about protesters breaking windows at Columbia are disturbing, but Columbia has a big campus, and most students there are just reading about the broken windows, not seeing anyone break windows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"This is not a pay-to-play program."

Even if it is, you have every right to expect to get what you paid for, and to be concerned about the possibility that you won't. Or that they'll cancel the program and not refund your money.

I'm hoping the protests go away before July.

My comment was more to ward off the people who crap on pre-college summer programs with an easy “just pull your kid out”. As I’d noted, DC has done those, too so I have no issue with them and think they’re great experiences.

I’m just wondering if people are in the same boat as me - worried but not wanting to jump to pull my kid out of this program that was hard won.