My student is having a great time at W&M

Yale: really unhappy and finding students “weird”, thinks people all are the same and not interesting. Considering trying to transfer into another ivy (initially turned down Harvard, Princeton, and Columbia and regretting)

Williams: getting used to the rural setting, but adoring the opportunities, strong friendships

Smith: Glove fit, can’t stop raving!

Anonymous wrote:Yale kid extremely happy. Got into extracurricular of choice and likes the residential college set up. 2 BFFs both went to UVA. 1 targeted it from day 1 and is surprisingly unhappy. Sad to hear from usually upbeat kid. 1 really felt they settled for UVA (shut out of top very selective choices that they were competitive at; unlucky) and they are extremely happy. Crazy how backwards it is. And the two girls themselves hang out, so they are experiencing at least partially the exact same things very differently. My kid gelt a little awkward about it.

You’re not allowed to say this in DCUM.

Anonymous wrote:Princeton: very happy, in upper level math classes which are inspiring and challenging (and gets 50% in these!), has met a lovely group of friends,
Dartmouth: came from a challenging high school and finding the academics to be a big step down (kid has essentially 100% in all Dartmouth classes). However, many peers are struggling. Kid finds this all very unexpected. Socially the fall was very slow and boring but is picking up a little (just in time for break).
Amherst: very happy, not working very hard. Has found an awesome group of friends who are all artsy and cool. Goes to parties with Umass kids.

Maybe Princeton kid should consider another major…

BC - happy but "it's sort of all upper westchester types" (in nyc. so this means umc suburban kids)

Columbia - super happy, in a million clubs. not doing as much in nyc as they were expecting but they think that's coming.

Rice - happy

Michigan - rushed frats, it was exhausting and felt stupid, but hoping it's worth it. undecided about it all. worried they getting tied to a bunch of guys they're unsure about

Williams - loves despite "weird" roommate. way more fun than expected

Bowdoin - as outdoorsy as advertised

RPI - okay. competitive clubs a thing here too

ND - loves. also "kinda westchester". ready for football to be done

CalTech - happy but focus is on his athletics

Brown: happy, but I don't have details on why

Wesleyan: thriving, says everyone gets along and friend groups are not cliquey, great professors (so far)

Columbia: thriving, feels challenged but not overwhelmed, loves the location

Ursinus: happy, feels supported, enjoying classes (this is a smart kid with executive functioning issues who really needed a small, supportive environment)

Anonymous wrote:Yale kid extremely happy. Got into extracurricular of choice and likes the residential college set up. 2 BFFs both went to UVA. 1 targeted it from day 1 and is surprisingly unhappy. Sad to hear from usually upbeat kid. 1 really felt they settled for UVA (shut out of top very selective choices that they were competitive at; unlucky) and they are extremely happy. Crazy how backwards it is. And the two girls themselves hang out, so they are experiencing at least partially the exact same things very differently. My kid gelt a little awkward about it.

What’s driving the unhappiness

Yale kid extremely happy. Got into extracurricular of choice and likes the residential college set up. 2 BFFs both went to UVA. 1 targeted it from day 1 and is surprisingly unhappy. Sad to hear from usually upbeat kid. 1 really felt they settled for UVA (shut out of top very selective choices that they were competitive at; unlucky) and they are extremely happy. Crazy how backwards it is. And the two girls themselves hang out, so they are experiencing at least partially the exact same things very differently. My kid gelt a little awkward about it.

Interesting reports about Cornell.

Anonymous wrote:All girls.

Wake: super fun but socially exhausting. A bit socially competitive? Unexpected vibe.

Columbia: very hard academically. Switching major. Enjoying it. But hard.

Colorado: Amazing. Having the best time.

Vanderbilt: ugh. Expected to love it. Hard social adjustment. People drop you in groups so quickly. Social backstabbing. Worried about rush.

Michigan (X3): football season is sooo fun. Best school. Classes are really big tho. Worried about sorority rush.

Dartmouth: Kind of ehh. Hope next quarter is better

Duke: nerdier than expected. Less fun than expected.

Wisconsin: very fun. Low-key. School isn’t hard at all.

Northwestern: much more fun than expected. Lucked out with dorm and friend group. Some guys having tricky time with dirty rush.

Cornell: super fun. Rush in winter is nerve wracking. Greek life and collegetown bars rule Ithaca.

Colorado College or UC Boulder? (looking at the latter for my DC)

Anonymous wrote:Princeton: very happy, in upper level math classes which are inspiring and challenging (and gets 50% in these!), has met a lovely group of friends,
Dartmouth: came from a challenging high school and finding the academics to be a big step down (kid has essentially 100% in all Dartmouth classes). However, many peers are struggling. Kid finds this all very unexpected. Socially the fall was very slow and boring but is picking up a little (just in time for break).
Amherst: very happy, not working very hard. Has found an awesome group of friends who are all artsy and cool. Goes to parties with Umass kids.

Hearing the same about the Dartmouth social life.

Princeton: very happy, in upper level math classes which are inspiring and challenging (and gets 50% in these!), has met a lovely group of friends,
Dartmouth: came from a challenging high school and finding the academics to be a big step down (kid has essentially 100% in all Dartmouth classes). However, many peers are struggling. Kid finds this all very unexpected. Socially the fall was very slow and boring but is picking up a little (just in time for break).
Amherst: very happy, not working very hard. Has found an awesome group of friends who are all artsy and cool. Goes to parties with Umass kids.

Anonymous wrote:I noticed when mine came home and reconvened with high school friends that there was a clear line between those in fraternities and those not in fraternities when it came to their enjoyment of college. The fraternity men were all in on college and mostly talked about the fun they were having, the parties they'd attended, and the girls they were getting. The GDI's didn't have much to say about college and seemed to be longing for the good old days of high school. I know it's a small sample size, but I thought it was worth sharing.

It's all fun and games until the paddles and whips come out.

All girls.

Wake: super fun but socially exhausting. A bit socially competitive? Unexpected vibe.

Columbia: very hard academically. Switching major. Enjoying it. But hard.

Colorado: Amazing. Having the best time.

Vanderbilt: ugh. Expected to love it. Hard social adjustment. People drop you in groups so quickly. Social backstabbing. Worried about rush.

Michigan (X3): football season is sooo fun. Best school. Classes are really big tho. Worried about sorority rush.

Dartmouth: Kind of ehh. Hope next quarter is better

Duke: nerdier than expected. Less fun than expected.

Wisconsin: very fun. Low-key. School isn’t hard at all.

Northwestern: much more fun than expected. Lucked out with dorm and friend group. Some guys having tricky time with dirty rush.

Cornell: super fun. Rush in winter is nerve wracking. Greek life and collegetown bars rule Ithaca.

I dont speak with my daughter's friends.