Most happy freshman so far

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Interesting reports about Cornell.

Freshman DD fell into a great, supportive friend group so is having a really positive experience. Work hard play hard. Says college boys are better than high school boys!

[Anonymous]

Our parents weren’t as enmeshed in our lives in general 30-40 years ago. Technology, different expectations on multiple fronts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Kids seem to have this unspoken pressure to come home with glowing reports about how they’re loving their college, loving their classes, have an instant tight group of friends, etc., etc. Adjusting to college is a process and it takes time. Different things come together at different times, depending on the kid and circumstances. Not only that, but things at college can change from semester to semester.

+1 A mom of a college freshman told me very candidly that she’s concerned about how many kids at her DD’s school are planning on (or at least talking about) transferring. She said so many of them travel on weekends to visit their high school friends rather than trying to meet new people at their own school. And when you add in social media, the FOMO is strong and they all think the grass in greener somewhere else.

My son is a college junior and truthfully, his group of MS/HS friends are still thick as thieves. They visit maybe once a semester at different colleges and are together every break. I love his friends and thankfully it’s a tight bond. I do hope his college friends remain close in the future also.

[Anonymous]

All girls:

VT - Mostly loving it. The only one struggling is facing things completely unrelated to college.

W&M - Mixed bag, roommate makes a big difference, time will tell

UVA - Generally loving it, but A LOT of drinking & partying. These were girls who didn't drink in HS and are going a little wild thanks to their new freedom and the culture. Local HS prepared them well for their college classes.

UGA - Enjoying the school, little weird being OOS, but finding their people. Loving Athens

Michigan - loving Ann Arbor and UM, some people party a lot, but easy to find groups for all types of people, fall was incredible

Clemson - similar to UGA with nice school, but a little rocky being OOS at the beginning

NYU - perfect fit for that student, loving being in NYC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All girls:

VT - Mostly loving it. The only one struggling is facing things completely unrelated to college.

W&M - Mixed bag, roommate makes a big difference, time will tell

UVA - Generally loving it, but A LOT of drinking & partying. These were girls who didn't drink in HS and are going a little wild thanks to their new freedom and the culture. Local HS prepared them well for their college classes.

UGA - Enjoying the school, little weird being OOS, but finding their people. Loving Athens

Michigan - loving Ann Arbor and UM, some people party a lot, but easy to find groups for all types of people, fall was incredible

Clemson - similar to UGA with nice school, but a little rocky being OOS at the beginning

NYU - perfect fit for that student, loving being in NYC

Oh, and the happiest seemed to be either Michigan or NYU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting reports about Cornell.

Freshman DD fell into a great, supportive friend group so is having a really positive experience. Work hard play hard. Says college boys are better than high school boys!

Yes, I heard very positive reports about Cornell, too. Quite social, which the reports here would never have suggested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My student is having a great time at W&M

+1 Mine too! We’re OOS and the price is a stretch, so it’s a relief knowing she’s challenged and loving life. She’s very close to her hall mates and I think W&M did a great job with orientation to build that network. It’s made all the difference to my introverted and slightly socially anxious kid.

[Anonymous]

Miami Michigan ohio state fsu UF UGA - all happy, all girls

Boulder/ many dislike - mostly boys

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting reports about Cornell.

Freshman DD fell into a great, supportive friend group so is having a really positive experience. Work hard play hard. Says college boys are better than high school boys!

Yes, I heard very positive reports about Cornell, too. Quite social, which the reports here would never have suggested.

College reputations vary depending on how introverted/extroverted and social/closed off they might be.

[Anonymous]

All are happy except the kid at Princeton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We hosted a "friendsgiving" on Wednesday so I have lots of info!

Michigan (x2): Lots of fun, still finding their people. Work is not overwhelming.
Cornell (x2): Super happy, great social life, classes are hard but manageable.
BC: Happy but not thrilled, classes very good/interesting, harder than expected.
MIT: Very, very hard (duh)
Chicago: More fun/social than expected, great friends, very hard, need to adjust to the quarter pace.
U Maryland: Not happy, transferring
Penn: Extremely happy, amazing classes, VERY hard (note: kid is in some kind of super accelerated engineering program)
Tufts: Happy, I didn't get details
Georgetown: Happy, didn't get details.

That's probably VIPER. Dual degree Engineering and Science program for students targeting PhD/research or top industry jobs. Freshman at our private HS in the south is there and loves it so far but it sounds very difficult. She is a neighbor's kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Princeton kid having a fantastic time

Same here!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My student is having a great time at W&M

+1 Mine too! We’re OOS and the price is a stretch, so it’s a relief knowing she’s challenged and loving life. She’s very close to her hall mates and I think W&M did a great job with orientation to build that network. It’s made all the difference to my introverted and slightly socially anxious kid.

I have a HS senior with her eyes on W&M who sounds a lot like your kid! This makes me happy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Miami Michigan ohio state fsu UF UGA - all happy, all girls

Boulder/ many dislike - mostly boys

Do you know why? Is it the frat scene?

[Anonymous]

Funny how nobody has mentioned any schools out of the top 60 or so.