Is your Ivy freshman happy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For a counterpoint, DC is a freshman at Cornell and enjoying the first semester. Is it perfect? No - usual freshman concerns about finding friend group, making sure they picked right classes, etc.

But overall Cornell is turning out to be the right school. Yes, classes can be tough (especially in STEM), but DC said Cornell has the level of intensity they were looking for. Friends appear to be like-minded. That level of intensity might not be for everyone, but isn't that what you'd expect for Cornell? That's why DC applied there.

As for cliquey, DC fortunately hasn't seen that yet, or is at least avoiding groups where that's a thing.

Haven't been through a Cornell winter yet, but so far really happy DC is there.

Don't want to jinx anything but freshman DC also really enjoying their time at Cornell so far. Sounds like people tend to go out Wednesday nights and then once/twice over the weekend. Has not had any trouble getting into parties. Other times, they are working hard with classes but have also found really nice kids to study with in both STEM and non-STEM classes. DC didn't overload with classes first semester so workload has been comparable to decently rigorous high school. plus, fall has been beautiful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Having grown up in Princeton, doesn’t surprise me that kids complain there is nothing to do in the town. However the eating clubs probably have parties most weekends, same with the frats at Dartmouth and Cornell.

But what if you don't get into one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is at an Ivy and over the weekend, as part of a larger gathering we saw the parents of 3 former classmates who are also at Ivies.
The common theme was that none of the kids are particularly happy so far--difficulty finding community, missing school spirit, wishing there was more to do on campus and frankly being bored. What is also common is that none of them feel like they can complain and they all say some version of "I figure it has to get better."
The schools are Princeton, Cornell, Dartmouth and Yale.

The 4 challenging Ivies. Suspect situation would be much different at the easy 4 Ivies.

Yes, Harvard the easy Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having grown up in Princeton, doesn’t surprise me that kids complain there is nothing to do in the town. However the eating clubs probably have parties most weekends, same with the frats at Dartmouth and Cornell.

But what if you don't get into one?

I think like 70%+ of all Princeton students are in an Eating Club. Also, the 30% that are not are by choice (and it is a financial consideration for some not to join)...I am fairly certain 100% of those that want to be in one can be in one. A small group of the Eating Clubs are exclusive, while the others accept everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having grown up in Princeton, doesn’t surprise me that kids complain there is nothing to do in the town. However the eating clubs probably have parties most weekends, same with the frats at Dartmouth and Cornell.

But what if you don't get into one?

I read on this board that Dartmouth frat parties are open to all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having grown up in Princeton, doesn’t surprise me that kids complain there is nothing to do in the town. However the eating clubs probably have parties most weekends, same with the frats at Dartmouth and Cornell.

But what if you don't get into one?

I think like 70%+ of all Princeton students are in an Eating Club. Also, the 30% that are not are by choice (and it is a financial consideration for some not to join)...I am fairly certain 100% of those that want to be in one can be in one. A small group of the Eating Clubs are exclusive, while the others accept everyone.

Princeton used to be evenly split between the kids who wanted access to the selective eating clubs and the kids who thought selective clubs were silly and wanted nothing to do with them.

Then the selective clubs started accepting more women and minorities and interest in them increased. Now it’s a smaller percentage of kids who turn up their noses at the selective clubs. But now it can be a rich Black student from Brooklyn Heights or an award-winning Asian musician from Toronto making some suburban kid from Tenafly or Jericho feel like shit.

I had a very good time when I was there but it just seems relentlessly competitive now, both academically and socially. And it’s not something that stops after one semester. If anything the social competition peaks in the second semester of sophomore year (Bicker) and the academic pressure peaks junior (tougher courses) and senior year (thesis).

[Anonymous]

Mine is at Princeton and very happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having grown up in Princeton, doesn’t surprise me that kids complain there is nothing to do in the town. However the eating clubs probably have parties most weekends, same with the frats at Dartmouth and Cornell.

But what if you don't get into one?

That is a reason to pick Yale instead - everyone is randomly placed into a residential college. You don't have to apply.

[Anonymous]

Freshman daughter is absolutely in love with Brown. She did her research and determined it would be a perfect fit, and it is. The kids she's met are smart, kind, and passionate, but not competitive with each other--everyone is just pursuing their own thing. Amazing classes and professors who are getting to know her (that's the undergrad focus). She got involved in several clubs that are fun and interesting. And Providence itself has different cultural activities and great restaurants. Couldn't be happier. That said, it probably isn't a good fit for grinders, strivers, or rah-rah kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having grown up in Princeton, doesn’t surprise me that kids complain there is nothing to do in the town. However the eating clubs probably have parties most weekends, same with the frats at Dartmouth and Cornell.

But what if you don't get into one?

That is a reason to pick Yale instead - everyone is randomly placed into a residential college. You don't have to apply.

Yale ( annd the residential college system) is awesome but the comparison to eating clubs isn’t really apt. The closest thing you could compare to it Yale would be senior societies which do have a rush process for getting into but something like half the senior class ends up in one. It’s not just some super select group. Still the process can be Stressful for those involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Having grown up in Princeton, doesn’t surprise me that kids complain there is nothing to do in the town. However the eating clubs probably have parties most weekends, same with the frats at Dartmouth and Cornell.

But what if you don't get into one?

That is a reason to pick Yale instead - everyone is randomly placed into a residential college. You don't have to apply.

Princeton has that too. Everyone is put in a college as a first-year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is at an Ivy and over the weekend, as part of a larger gathering we saw the parents of 3 former classmates who are also at Ivies.
The common theme was that none of the kids are particularly happy so far--difficulty finding community, missing school spirit, wishing there was more to do on campus and frankly being bored. What is also common is that none of them feel like they can complain and they all say some version of "I figure it has to get better."
The schools are Princeton, Cornell, Dartmouth and Yale.

The 4 challenging Ivies. Suspect situation would be much different at the easy 4 Ivies.

Proven that you have no knowledge of any Ivy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is at an Ivy and over the weekend, as part of a larger gathering we saw the parents of 3 former classmates who are also at Ivies.
The common theme was that none of the kids are particularly happy so far--difficulty finding community, missing school spirit, wishing there was more to do on campus and frankly being bored. What is also common is that none of them feel like they can complain and they all say some version of "I figure it has to get better."
The schools are Princeton, Cornell, Dartmouth and Yale.

The 4 challenging Ivies. Suspect situation would be much different at the easy 4 Ivies.

Proven that you have no knowledge of any Ivy.

I think all the ivies are hard these days.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child is at an Ivy and over the weekend, as part of a larger gathering we saw the parents of 3 former classmates who are also at Ivies.
The common theme was that none of the kids are particularly happy so far--difficulty finding community, missing school spirit, wishing there was more to do on campus and frankly being bored. What is also common is that none of them feel like they can complain and they all say some version of "I figure it has to get better."
The schools are Princeton, Cornell, Dartmouth and Yale.

The 4 challenging Ivies. Suspect situation would be much different at the easy 4 Ivies.

If the student find Dartmouth challenging, he must be low caliber…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Freshman daughter is absolutely in love with Brown. She did her research and determined it would be a perfect fit, and it is. The kids she's met are smart, kind, and passionate, but not competitive with each other--everyone is just pursuing their own thing. Amazing classes and professors who are getting to know her (that's the undergrad focus). She got involved in several clubs that are fun and interesting. And Providence itself has different cultural activities and great restaurants. Couldn't be happier. That said, it probably isn't a good fit for grinders, strivers, or rah-rah kids.

Brown is a good fit for happy-go-lucky types. Hope the market still gives it the benefit of the doubt. ( except premed where it is perform or perish)