What surprised you most about your DC's first year in college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not to be downer. But sort of sad that the race for internships is already on.... seems like they never get a break. Remember when kids aspired to a job as a lifeguard???

My DC spent his summer between freshman and sophomore year of college working as a cashier at Safeway. This year he has an internship. Not much different from DH's experience 30+ years ago. He spent his first summer working at a "job" and was a co-op by the next summer. Both are/were engineering majors.

[Anonymous]

Depends on how your DC sees internships, I guess. Mine really wants to figure out whether she wants to be a research scientist, so the opportunity to spend all summer in a lab is more appealing to her than something like lifeguarding would be. Probably doesn't hurt that her lab will be at the beach, LOL!

But, seriously, the opportunity to learn in different ways and to see different things than you could in a classroom can be really exciting. And if it doesn't turn out that way, good to know early on.

I did real world summer jobs (mostly secretarial) throughout college and for part of grad school. I needed the money. If I could have afforded a career-related internship, I'd have jumped at the opportunity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How well he did academically (much better than in high school) and how much he has matured. He has major executive functioning problems and not only held it together, but excelled.

I am also very happy to see how he is thriving generally.

First year used to be a weed-out year, now it's a joke. Advisors make kids take really light loads, and colleges water down first-year courses so they can inflate their retention numbers and keep kids on campus.

Get confident after your DC aces sophomore year courses.

You are a jerk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How well he did academically (much better than in high school) and how much he has matured. He has major executive functioning problems and not only held it together, but excelled.

I am also very happy to see how he is thriving generally.

First year used to be a weed-out year, now it's a joke. Advisors make kids take really light loads, and colleges water down first-year courses so they can inflate their retention numbers and keep kids on campus.

Get confident after your DC aces sophomore year courses.

You are a jerk.

I speak from experience. Many colleagues have boasted about their kid's first year grades, 18 months later Jr is home on the couch!

[Anonymous]

I was please at how DS took advantage of everything his university had to offer (with the exception of Greek life and drinking). I had told him how I felt I had spent all of my time racking up grades and didn't venture much from the library. He did both - he racked up good grades by studying hard and also went to the symphony when it came to his university, joined debate societies, ran for RA, went to dances, joined the school newspaper and created a nice group of friends. He doesn't drink, so that kept him able to juggle a social life and studies. I was very impressed with how hard he worked but also pleased at just how happy he is. Perfect fit!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How well he did academically (much better than in high school) and how much he has matured. He has major executive functioning problems and not only held it together, but excelled.

I am also very happy to see how he is thriving generally.

First year used to be a weed-out year, now it's a joke. Advisors make kids take really light loads, and colleges water down first-year courses so they can inflate their retention numbers and keep kids on campus.

Get confident after your DC aces sophomore year courses.

You are a jerk.

I speak from experience. Many colleagues have boasted about their kid's first year grades, 18 months later Jr is home on the couch!

I have no idea what kind of college your referring to but at selective school advisors will encourage student to take as hard a course load as they feel that they confidently handle. The students are pushed to challenge themselves. Maybe your experience has been with state schools or the like but you're way off base for top tier universities which really don't have to worry about attrition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How well he did academically (much better than in high school) and how much he has matured. He has major executive functioning problems and not only held it together, but excelled.

I am also very happy to see how he is thriving generally.

First year used to be a weed-out year, now it's a joke. Advisors make kids take really light loads, and colleges water down first-year courses so they can inflate their retention numbers and keep kids on campus.

Get confident after your DC aces sophomore year courses.

You are a jerk.

I speak from experience. Many colleagues have boasted about their kid's first year grades, 18 months later Jr is home on the couch!

No one is boasting on this thread. The fact remains that you are a jerk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was please at how DS took advantage of everything his university had to offer (with the exception of Greek life and drinking). I had told him how I felt I had spent all of my time racking up grades and didn't venture much from the library. He did both - he racked up good grades by studying hard and also went to the symphony when it came to his university, joined debate societies, ran for RA, went to dances, joined the school newspaper and created a nice group of friends. He doesn't drink, so that kept him able to juggle a social life and studies. I was very impressed with how hard he worked but also pleased at just how happy he is. Perfect fit!

That is so great. What a pleasure it is to see your child thriving in all of those various ways. It bodes well for his future-good for him, and for you!

[Anonymous]

I knew the education would be great but did not expect how small the classes have been and the extent of academic and social support among the kids. Despite the rigorous rep, it turned out to be a very happy place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How well he did academically (much better than in high school) and how much he has matured. He has major executive functioning problems and not only held it together, but excelled.

I am also very happy to see how he is thriving generally.

First year used to be a weed-out year, now it's a joke. Advisors make kids take really light loads, and colleges water down first-year courses so they can inflate their retention numbers and keep kids on campus.

Get confident after your DC aces sophomore year courses.

You are a jerk.

I speak from experience. Many colleagues have boasted about their kid's first year grades, 18 months later Jr is home on the couch!

I have no idea what kind of college your referring to but at selective school advisors will encourage student to take as hard a course load as they feel that they confidently handle. The students are pushed to challenge themselves. Maybe your experience has been with state schools or the like but you're way off base for top tier universities which really don't have to worry about attrition.

It's a mix everywhere. Advice depends on the advisor more than the school. Rigor of first year courses probably depends more on the major (and student placement) than on the school. Your assumptions about public vs (elite) private schools don't work either. Publics are, if anything, more likely to have weeder courses; lots of grade inflation at elite privates.

[Anonymous]

I was shocked at all the weird added fees on top of tuition
And how proactive DS became about booking trips home and arranging a summer job

[Anonymous]

Found a close group of friends, decided to do dual majors, did not spend much money, explored many other activities. Did not go crazy drinking or partying because her peer group was a bit nerdy. Showed excellent judgement in her food choices (made sure that she has veggies and fruits), kept her room cleaner than what she does at home, advocated for herself, killed all her assignments and papers, was extremely well prepared for college.

Bought tons of books from Amazon since she knows our Amazon Prime password! I thought she would use an e-reader, but she surrounded herself with real books. Volunteered and got internships without as pushing her for it.

Did not call very frequently.

[Anonymous]

Did you find DD called home more often than DS? The poster whose DC called every Wednesday - how did you arrange that?

[Anonymous]

They like to call as they walk across campus. To them it's just the right amount of time. They like to be seen on the phone, though if they run into friends, they will instantly hang-up on you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They like to call as they walk across campus. To them it's just the right amount of time. They like to be seen on the phone, though if they run into friends, they will instantly hang-up on you.

So funny. And good to know. (First DC leaving for college this fall)