Is your kid enjoying college?

[Anonymous]

DD loves BU(BostonU). She was a little underwhelmed by the campus, and it wasn’t her first choice at first. However, after attending, she has really come to love it. In fact, she’s now glad that she chose this school over her other option. (Her friend goes there, so she knows what’s going on.)
The school has not only provided her with great academic opportunities but is also very friendly and socially vibrant.

[Anonymous]

My kid loves WashU. Great roommates and is enjoying the social scene. The one thing she is missing is some of her DC food options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My quirky kid is living his absolute best life at Rose-Hulman. The first night he was on campus he texted and said, "These are my people." This was a kid who spent much of high school playing video games in his room, but he is out socializing, rushing a frat, and making tons of friends. The workload is pretty brutal, but he's working hard and get a lot of support from his faculty. (Case in point, he reached out to a comp sci professor at midnight one night and she had emailed him back by 12:03 am.) It's definitely a great school for a certain
type of kid. Love seeing him thrive there!

Happy to read this. I’m originally from the Midwest and Rose-Hulman isn’t in the most exciting locale. It’s a great school.

Biggest understatement on this board

Honestly, I was shocked he picked it. I was pushing for CO School of Mines, but he fell in love with Rose. He and his friends are always out about in Terre Haute going out to eat, bowling, or thrifting. He loves the school and is enjoying Terre Haute.

That’s great. Happy to read this again. It’s a dynamite school. Congrats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My quirky kid is living his absolute best life at Rose-Hulman. The first night he was on campus he texted and said, "These are my people." This was a kid who spent much of high school playing video games in his room, but he is out socializing, rushing a frat, and making tons of friends. The workload is pretty brutal, but he's working hard and get a lot of support from his faculty. (Case in point, he reached out to a comp sci professor at midnight one night and she had emailed him back by 12:03 am.) It's definitely a great school for a certain
type of kid. Love seeing him thrive there!

Happy to read this. I’m originally from the Midwest and Rose-Hulman isn’t in the most exciting locale. It’s a great school.

Biggest understatement on this board

Honestly, I was shocked he picked it. I was pushing for CO School of Mines, but he fell in love with Rose. He and his friends are always out about in Terre Haute going out to eat, bowling, or thrifting. He loves the school and is enjoying Terre Haute.

And a little lol

[Anonymous]

Loves it! Transferred from another college that she thought was going to be great but hated from the first day. So glad to see her happy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Academics, social, friendships, professors/teaching, studying, grading, working, free time? Etc.

She loves it. DD is second year at UVA and has a new group of friends this year from her on-grounds job in addition to the friends she made last year from her dorm and her clubs. She has leadership roles in a few clubs and her sorority and it is a full and good year for her so far. Classes are more challenging than they were first year and she has one professor who is not her favorite, but managing that is a good life lesson for her. She is definitely at the right school for her and she's enjoying it.

I also have a daughter at UVA. Agree that there are lots of ways to get involved - Greek or not. My kid did pledge a sorority her first year but I think she’d be fine without it.
Housing kind of sucks for her this year. Definitely a couple of bad professors but that’s life.

Parent of 3rd year girl who skipped Greek life. She is very happy and has great friends so I think Greek or not, you can find your people. She actually goes to a lot of fraternity parties even though she is not Greek. They don’t care. I think they will always add girls to the door list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Daughter had a pretty good freshman year and is struggling this year - really enjoyed the big dorm freshman year and made a lot of friends, this year everyone is spread out all over campus and in Greek houses and apartments/houses. And she's a little tired of the Greek/football scene already which is unfortunate as she's living in a really intense sorority. Academically all is well.
College is a huge adjustment and kids who are really ready often have a "slump" later in college.

I thought I wrote this!!! DD having a harder time sophomore year. Friends spread out in sororities. Got the one she wanted this year but not living there.

[Anonymous]

Both my kids are at University in the UK. Most of their education was in public schools in Bethesda MD and then in Los Angeles for the last 2.5 yrs of HS.

They are definitely enjoying it, both the academic work and the social sides. In the UK the drinking culture is insane and neither kid drinks, so they find it really weird. But aside from that, its all good so far...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a parent of a HS senior who recently talked with a few parents with college freshman trying to get a feel of how their kids liked college. Generally, the boys were all loving their new schools and the girls ranged form a little disappointed to hating it. Sounded like the girls might have gone in with too high expectations for college.

Do you know what those expectations were?

[Anonymous]

DC in engineering. Says it is high stress. Some bonding with classmates, but all courses are graded on a curve which means grades are a zero sum game. Many classes curve to a B median. Labs consume two afternoons each week, plus write-ups after. Problem sets are due each week for each class. Needs to average 17 credit hours each semester to graduate in 4 years. Only time off seems to be Friday afternoon through Sunday lunchtime. When comes home sleeps a lot first few days. In short, it is a grind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Both my kids are at University in the UK. Most of their education was in public schools in Bethesda MD and then in Los Angeles for the last 2.5 yrs of HS.

They are definitely enjoying it, both the academic work and the social sides. In the UK the drinking culture is insane and neither kid drinks, so they find it really weird. But aside from that, its all good so far...

Which UK schools? Any feedback for prospective US applicant to a UK school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC in engineering. Says it is high stress. Some bonding with classmates, but all courses are graded on a curve which means grades are a zero sum game. Many classes curve to a B median. Labs consume two afternoons each week, plus write-ups after. Problem sets are due each week for each class. Needs to average 17 credit hours each semester to graduate in 4 years. Only time off seems to be Friday afternoon through Sunday lunchtime. When comes home sleeps a lot first few days. In short, it is a grind.

Where?

[Anonymous]

What's the number one thing they have said they liked over high school?

[Anonymous]

DC in London first year, thriving so far. Loves the city, academics and new set of friends. Has handled the additional adulting very well...so far so good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC in engineering. Says it is high stress. Some bonding with classmates, but all courses are graded on a curve which means grades are a zero sum game. Many classes curve to a B median. Labs consume two afternoons each week, plus write-ups after. Problem sets are due each week for each class. Needs to average 17 credit hours each semester to graduate in 4 years. Only time off seems to be Friday afternoon through Sunday lunchtime. When comes home sleeps a lot first few days. In short, it is a grind.

Yes, where? My child is first semester eng at UMD and is having a great time. Classes are not too difficult due to strong HS background...lot of review this semester. Also, Honors college has made a big university feel a little small. Kids is also enjoying attending games, football and other sports.

I fully expect school to get a lot harder sophmore year!