What unusual/atypical service/perk has your kids had from their college?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oberlin lets students check out an original piece of art from its collection at the beginning of each year to hang in the student’s dorm room.

As a lover of art, this bugs me. Art belongs to all of us and is precious. Should not be in a personal dorm room. Just my view. I saw this on a college flyer and it turned me off to that college.

I can’t imagine it’s stuff that would otherwise be on display. Museums store tons of things in storage that never get seen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every school on the planet does resume help. Since the stone ages.

You must have needed help with your resume, since your school didn't teach you to read.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thinking unusual things people may not think of, like:

Typical would be resume help, maybe less typical is free interview outfits for students.

An interview outfit…you mean a suit?

Your example is comically bad.

Why? Because it's very common? We toured more than one college that discussed the fact that they provide interview clothing for students. My DC's current university has a free "career closet."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oberlin lets students check out an original piece of art from its collection at the beginning of each year to hang in the student’s dorm room.

As a lover of art, this bugs me. Art belongs to all of us and is precious. Should not be in a personal dorm room. Just my view. I saw this on a college flyer and it turned me off to that college.

I doubt they're letting students go take art off the walls of a public display space. Every art museum has a lot of art that is stored away and will never see the light of day. It will get more views in a dorm room than otherwise.

[Anonymous]

One school we toured had agreements with local restaurants that allowed a certain % of dining hall $$ to be used off campus. Lots of schools have restaurants (Starbucks, etc) on campus that take dining hall credits, but this was the only one I know of that allowed use at off campus restaurants. It's nice, because kids on financial aid have more ability to go out with friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One school we toured had agreements with local restaurants that allowed a certain % of dining hall $$ to be used off campus. Lots of schools have restaurants (Starbucks, etc) on campus that take dining hall credits, but this was the only one I know of that allowed use at off campus restaurants. It's nice, because kids on financial aid have more ability to go out with friends.

Yes, I think that’s pretty common nowadays.

[Anonymous]

The bicycles available for students at my kid's residence hall are insane. Literally, Olympic-level racing machines. And the school has a dedicated bike track for racing. My kid now has a new hobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thinking unusual things people may not think of, like:

Typical would be resume help, maybe less typical is free interview outfits for students.

An interview outfit…you mean a suit?

Your example is comically bad.

Why? Because it's very common? We toured more than one college that discussed the fact that they provide interview clothing for students. My DC's current university has a free "career closet."

This - and interview outfit covered more than a suit. Maybe a blouse, sweater for a dress, button down shirt, dress socks, only dress shoes, etc. are needed. These closets have a lot more than suits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oberlin lets students check out an original piece of art from its collection at the beginning of each year to hang in the student’s dorm room.

As a lover of art, this bugs me. Art belongs to all of us and is precious. Should not be in a personal dorm room. Just my view. I saw this on a college flyer and it turned me off to that college.

I can’t imagine it’s stuff that would otherwise be on display. Museums store tons of things in storage that never get seen.

+1 My spouse works for an art museum. There’s a lot of subpar stuff that gets donated that will never see the light of day otherwise.

[Anonymous]

Office of Sustainability sponsors a "free yard sale" in the fall with dorm stuff that would have gotten tossed out in the spring. Also a free-thrifting event for clothes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Office of Sustainability sponsors a "free yard sale" in the fall with dorm stuff that would have gotten tossed out in the spring. Also a free-thrifting event for clothes.

This is great esp that they can store this stuff from soring to fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oberlin lets students check out an original piece of art from its collection at the beginning of each year to hang in the student’s dorm room.

+1 I was just about to say this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oberlin lets students check out an original piece of art from its collection at the beginning of each year to hang in the student’s dorm room.

As a lover of art, this bugs me. Art belongs to all of us and is precious. Should not be in a personal dorm room. Just my view. I saw this on a college flyer and it turned me off to that college.

I doubt they're letting students go take art off the walls of a public display space. Every art museum has a lot of art that is stored away and will never see the light of day. It will get more views in a dorm room than otherwise.

DP. I thought it was a cool thing to rotate art out of storage and make available to students.

[Anonymous]

Things I’ve heard of while touring:

Cheap/free outdoor gear rentals — tents, kayaks, bikes, cornhole sets…

Free laundry

$250/semester for all class materials, bundled and waiting for individual students to pick up

Off-campus excursions — baseball games, museums, zoo, boat trips…

Professional headshots

Food truck Fridays (with no payment or dining dollars required)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bicycles available for students at my kid's residence hall are insane. Literally, Olympic-level racing machines. And the school has a dedicated bike track for racing.[b] My kid now has a new hobby.

Do you mean a velodrome? Or something else?