What I learned from the returning freshman this week

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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”.

+1 for my boys, but I assumed OP's kid was from an all girls high school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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”.

+1 for my boys, but I assumed OP's kid was from an all girls high school.

All girls we know were out and about over the break. I’m incredibly close with my girl and this still doesn’t happen. Fake and stupid - OP is a liar troll.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

LOL

[Anonymous]

Troll post. Almost word for word the same descriptions they post every few months, trashing the schools their kid didn’t get into

[Anonymous]

I really don’t get all the hate for OP. If you don’t like this anecdata, move the heck on. The rest of us enjoyed this little snapshot.

[Anonymous]

I’m the OP. I’m not a troll. Wow this exploded.

My kid is at one of the ivies listed. I’m sure Jeff can verify that based on my post history or whatever. But ok if it makes you feel better to bash me.

This was what I observed. And it’s definitely a private high school thing. Maybe I should have posted elsewhere?

Clearly most of the negativity is coming from people whose kids were not close to their high school friends and did not have that special bond. I’m sure I’ll get more information at winter break. I’ll make sure not to ever post about this topic again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m the OP. I’m not a troll. Wow this exploded.

My kid is at one of the ivies listed. I’m sure Jeff can verify that based on my post history or whatever. But ok if it makes you feel better to bash me.

This was what I observed. And it’s definitely a private high school thing. Maybe I should have posted elsewhere?

Clearly most of the negativity is coming from people whose kids were not close to their high school friends and did not have that special bond. I’m sure I’ll get more information at winter break. I’ll make sure not to ever post about this topic again.

Ha ha- hold a mirror to find the source of the bashing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Troll post. Almost word for word the same descriptions they post every few months, trashing the schools their kid didn’t get into

+2 The descriptions of the schools are lifted straight out of recent posts on DCUM. Some are word for word.

[Anonymous]

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

My DC is having an awesome time at Emory. Academics are challenging, but not grueling. Social life is great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I'm hopeful this is true for most freshmen who are struggling.

[Anonymous]

NP. OP's post rang true - we heard similar things from DC and Dcs friends last week for many of the schools mentioned. Thanks for sharing OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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”.

+1 for my boys, but I assumed OP's kid was from an all girls high school.

my boy went to an all boys school and when they were over at our place the day after thanksgiving, I got a good run down. and my son told me more later. I'm not OP, but I do talk to my kids and my kids have friends they actually talk to .. in full sentences and everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They were all here.....
it wasn't that hard. I thought I'd share bc I thought it was interesting. Maybe its bc I know these kids?

Good thing I didn't post the rest!!!
I'll see about deleting this if you all really think its irrelevant.

Please post the rest!!! This is suuuuper interesting and relevant to this forum. Thank you!

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They were all here.....
it wasn't that hard. I thought I'd share bc I thought it was interesting. Maybe its bc I know these kids?

Good thing I didn't post the rest!!!
I'll see about deleting this if you all really think its irrelevant.

Please post the rest!!! This is suuuuper interesting and relevant to this forum. Thank you!

+1

+100. Thanks OP for posting it.

For those who do not like this type of information, move on. I think most people on this board are intelligent enough to realize that this information is anecdotal and will process it as such. It may lead some to investigate further something said about a school, whether positive or negative. Or it may provide further information to support a position already developed from other sources.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Based on other posts here, I thought these observations might help others. I overheard a lot of these (yes, eavesdropping on multiple conversations, and some they told me directly. Don't judge.) Please include your own if you also learned anything this week?

Kids are freshmen at various universities, from a non-DMV selective/well-known private HS (small graduating class - approx. 100):


Yale: Its what I expected. Go to NYC more than I thought. I've met a lot of kids from similar private schools across the country. Classes are really interesting. Love my professors.

Harvard: Yes, we do go to MIT to socialize. More striverish than I expected. But Im keeping an open mind. Classes are ok.

Penn: Miserable. Can't get into frat parties. Social dynamics are driven by cliques that formed in New York high schools.

Williams: Social life dominated by bratty NY douchebags. Its kind of ehh. Thought it would be more intellectual tbh.

Duke: Less work than expected; way more fun than expected. Not dreading going back to school. Feels like home.

Northwestern: It's meh; not much of a social life; taking mid-terms every 2 weeks. What I expected though.

UChicago: Econ classes are tough but everything else is really manageable. Very very fun. Very social. Hazing so far involves bottlecaps.

Cornell: Its cold and gray. And a lot of drinking. Worried about rush. And hazing. Social life is exhausting - constantly reaching out to people to make plans. Nothing is organic.

Vanderbilt: Great fall. Love love the football weekends. School is much harder than I thought. Social life can be cliquey and sometimes exhausting.

Michigan: It's amazing. Yes, it's big. But it's amazing. Did I say its big? Oh and the hazing is scaring us.

Emory: Its pretty boring. Thinking about transferring. Everyone is pre-med. And leaves campus A LOT. Not much to do on campus.

Georgetown: Can be socially exhausting as everyone is super extroverted and always "putting themselves out there". A lot of money everywhere. Maybe sharp-elbowed in a passive-aggressive way. Smart social assertive normal kids.

UCLA: love the weather, but its kind of hard to find your people. And sometimes it feels like I go to school at an outdoor mall.

WashU: started out kind of slow and miserable. Much better. Great professors.

Wake: Exceeded expectations. I wasn't excited to go. But its been really really great. No social pressure bc of how the freshmen are grouped together with housing and classes; I cannot relate to all the comments about college being "socially exhausting". Can't wait to get back to my people there.

Wisconsin: weirdly more social pressure than expected; constantly texting folks to make plans for meeting up (dining halls, library, working out) as its not natural because of how spread out everyone is. Its socially exhausting.

Indiana (Kelley): Love my school, love my major, love my people. Found my place.

Tulane: my roommate hasn't gone to class yet this year. There are only 8 people who attend my stats class regularly (in a class of 80). I may transfer.

U-Miami: Have a great tan. Very fun. But its more work than people think.

Bucknell: School isn't hard. Very social. Already have an internship. Go out 3-4 nights a week. Can't wait to get back.

NYU: loving the city. Classes are as expected. But love the city.

Wesleyan: a little too activist, purple-haired protest vibe but its better now. First few weeks were hard. Classes are great though. And schoolwork isn't hard.


I know Im forgetting others.

Is that you Rory Gilmore?