What I learned from the returning freshman this week

[Anonymous]

This entire string sets a record for confabulation, and that's saying something.

[Anonymous]

I thought OP was going to ask Jeff to remove this thread. Must have fallen asleep from all that hanging out all weekend with the Top20 kids and taking copious notes on college life.

[Anonymous]

Take note of which school the kid with an internship already lined up attends: Bucknell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take note of which school the kid with an internship already lined up attends: Bucknell.

How much did you make on this post? three dollars? five?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bleak city?? I guess I’m biased and envious of Case students because I’m from Cleveland. Have him check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or the Cleveland Museum of Art. There’s also the Little Italy area by Case, West Side Market, and the Tremont neighborhood. Cleveland Orchestra. If he likes sports, he can catch a Cavs game.

He's from two major cities, so Cleveland doesn't feel like a real city, plus it's a depressed industrial city. I don't think he cares about sports much, and the Little Italy isn't ... "real" to him compared to the one in NYC or actual Italy. He's been going to the orchestra because it's free for Case students. I think he said a bunch of museums are on campus and he's been to them, but how much can you expect an 18 yr old to go to museums, you know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Very similar list

Yale: Very competitive and coursework has been pretty easy but next semester "it's so over."
Pomona: Super fun, overstated protesting and more time spent discussing it with friends, in LA a lot more than one would expect for a campus so far "2-3 times a month minimum," tons of things on campus, parties are okay but not really a partier
Harvard: overwhelming but love the city, tons of cliques but found the right people, already stressed about internships and where to go next, met many famous professors, politicians, etc.
USC: Hate the average student and "anti intellectual environment tbh," engineering students are very dedicated and the work is never-ending, hasn't attended a party but "might next semester," considering a transfer but loves the city and thinks the neighborhood is fine.

What is the average USC student like?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bleak city?? I guess I’m biased and envious of Case students because I’m from Cleveland. Have him check out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or the Cleveland Museum of Art. There’s also the Little Italy area by Case, West Side Market, and the Tremont neighborhood. Cleveland Orchestra. If he likes sports, he can catch a Cavs game.

He's from two major cities, so Cleveland doesn't feel like a real city, plus it's a depressed industrial city. I don't think he cares about sports much, and the Little Italy isn't ... "real" to him compared to the one in NYC or actual Italy. He's been going to the orchestra because it's free for Case students. I think he said a bunch of museums are on campus and he's been to them, but how much can you expect an 18 yr old to go to museums, you know?

My parents live in Cleveland. University Circle is cool but of course it's not the be-all, end-all.

Sometimes to cheer up, you have to just do more amusing things. Does he have a t.v. lounge? Can he start a comedy special watching weekly event?

Did you say the ladies there are on the prowl for long term relationships? Maybe then he can invite 2 girls at a time for coffee to eliminate the 1:1 pressure.

Lead a pack to the museum to make kiddie crafts just because.

https://www.universitycircle.org/events/2024/12/08/play-day-glow

Anything in Roadside America look amusing?

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/location/oh/cleveland

My thing was "mending parties" within the dorm. I was the only person with mending supplies among my friends. I'd buy some wine coolers and we'd sit around putting buttons back on and sewing up rips and passing the time.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, I think this often has more to do with the kids than the school. At my ds' gathering with HS friends this weekend, the Williams kid loved it, the Yale kid was having a quasi nervous breakdown, the Princeton kid was thriving, the Cornell kid was feeling down, and the Colgate kid was happiest of all. IMO, it is ridiculous to try use one kid's three-month experience to evaluate a school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Take note of which school the kid with an internship already lined up attends: Bucknell.

Working at a McDonalds franchise is not technically an internship, but ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought OP was going to ask Jeff to remove this thread. Must have fallen asleep from all that hanging out all weekend with the Top20 kids and taking copious notes on college life.

LOL

Life is rough for op!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So far Duke, ND and Yale have the happy kids?

NP: Duke freshman I know is having the best time ever, as is her best friend from
HS who is at UNC.

Northwestern freshman is not having very much fun.

I laughed about the Vanderbilt anecdata because I remember my friend’s older sister returning at break 25 years ago and saying the same thing about how intense it was socially and specifically that her roommate brought 20 pairs of shoes with her, which shocked all of us basic public school kids.

More anecdata, please!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So far Duke, ND and Yale have the happy kids?

NP: Duke freshman I know is having the best time ever, as is her best friend from
HS who is at UNC.

Northwestern freshman is not having very much fun.

I laughed about the Vanderbilt anecdata because I remember my friend’s older sister returning at break 25 years ago and saying the same thing about how intense it was socially and specifically that her roommate brought 20 pairs of shoes with her, which shocked all of us basic public school kids.

More anecdata, please!

+1 I enjoyed the thread, but as the parent of a college grad, I remember that when he came home the first time he was ready to transfer. Now he tells his HS senior sibling to consider the same university. This is a snapshot in time - it’s early yet and things will evolve over time.

[Anonymous]

The Emory students on tiktok seem to love it. Also best for quality of life from Princeton review

[Anonymous]

Anyone who has ever had a teen knows this is utterly fake and stupid. OP- get a job or hobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone who has ever had a teen knows this is utterly fake and stupid. OP- get a job or hobby.

Yes, my son and his friends don’t talk this MUCH about college. And when I ask him how his friends are enjoying their college experience, the answer is “good”.