Anonymous
11/29/2025 09:36
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
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.
Transferring was viewed negatively decades ago. Not anymore.
In fact some T10 have announced transfer classes of 150 (from 10) for the next few years to increase class sizes and make more money.
If a kid knows it’s a bad fit, don’t stick it out. It’s 4 short years.
Anonymous
11/29/2025 09:33
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:When I was unhappy after my first semester I didn’t tell my mom or anyone else. I’m surprised so many kids are being this honest. Different generation? Or just me?
Different generation. I find kids are much more open with adults than we were.
Very true. I’m the OP, and have a close relationship with my college kids. Much better than I did with my parents (all around).
Middle child is a freshman and has had a much better experience than oldest did freshman year - different schools but similar in so many ways.
Anonymous
11/29/2025 09:32
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
It is not college. It is your roommate, your professor and friends. Those make a much larger difference.
Anonymous
11/29/2025 08:21
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
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.
Anonymous
11/29/2025 08:21
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
Anonymous wrote:Amazing that there’s very few “average” schools in the bunch. Are these private school kids?
+ 1
Anonymous
11/29/2025 08:11
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:When I was unhappy after my first semester I didn’t tell my mom or anyone else. I’m surprised so many kids are being this honest. Different generation? Or just me?
I don’t think we can assume they’re all being honest, much as these posters want to believe they’re the cool moms. I think there’s a lot of pressure on kids to act like they’re super happy, especially this early. They’re constantly seeing images of their friends at other schools having the best time ever. Who wants to come home for T’giving and be a Debbie Downer?
And these kids likely came from pressure cooker high schools where the parents were obsessed with them going to the “right” schools. Of course they’re loving it. Can you imagine admitting to your high-strung mom who can’t stop bragging about you that it’s not all that?
Did you read the reports? There were (in my view) a surprising number of negative ones. I don’t think kids with good relationships with their parents would hide the hard stuff. If they don’t have that, then ok.
Anonymous
11/29/2025 08:09
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
Anonymous wrote:When I was unhappy after my first semester I didn’t tell my mom or anyone else. I’m surprised so many kids are being this honest. Different generation? Or just me?
Different generation. I find kids are much more open with adults than we were.
Anonymous
11/29/2025 07:56
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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)
Its CU Boulder- yes, kid loves it.
It’s a great party school, I don’t know anyone who didn’t love it.
It’s usually kids from CO who may not love it…at least that was my niece.
If you live with all the beauty and outdoor opportunities, none of that is special when going to college…so a kid from Denver isn’t necessarily thrilled with it.
Anonymous
11/29/2025 07:51
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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)
Its CU Boulder- yes, kid loves it.
It’s a great party school, I don’t know anyone who didn’t love it.
It is way more than a party school. There’s something for everyone (like most large public’s) in a beautiful setting where students don’t take themselves too seriously (meaning they know there is more to life/happiness than grinding at school/work).
Anonymous
11/29/2025 07:50
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
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.
Anonymous
11/29/2025 07:27
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I imagine the responses are at least as much about the individual students as they are about the schools.
On a separate note, I would be so annoyed if I shared my experience with a friend’s mom and she turned around and posted it on an anonymous chat board.
It is about the individuals and how they are feeling. They can’t know much about everything going on three months. It’s still very interesting to see how the freshman kids are doing.
Also there is now way anyone could be identified by these posts, especially since they all seem to go to the same few schools.
Wouldn’t have to be identifiable to be annoying. If I could identify the group I was with based on the colleges represented and the things that were said, I’d be pretty ticked off.
Anonymous
11/29/2025 04:18
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
Anonymous wrote:I imagine the responses are at least as much about the individual students as they are about the schools.
On a separate note, I would be so annoyed if I shared my experience with a friend’s mom and she turned around and posted it on an anonymous chat board.
It is about the individuals and how they are feeling. They can’t know much about everything going on three months. It’s still very interesting to see how the freshman kids are doing.
Also there is now way anyone could be identified by these posts, especially since they all seem to go to the same few schools.
Anonymous
11/29/2025 04:10
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote: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)
Its CU Boulder- yes, kid loves it.
It’s a great party school, I don’t know anyone who didn’t love it.
Anonymous
11/29/2025 01:34
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
Can’t speak for others but from my kid and their close friends I think freshmen “happiness” factor is about the kid not the school. Some are much more homesick than others, some are naturally optimistic, all of the colleges have pluses and minuses. No situation is perfect
Anonymous
11/29/2025 01:25
Subject: Most happy freshman so far
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I dont speak with my daughter's friends.
That’s sad. It’s not like I speak to my kids’ friends all the time, but when they’re in my house, I speak to them.
+1
Who doesn’t speak to their kids friends? So closed off and weird (or a troll).
They don't come over. Daughter is always out with them. We share pleasantries but not like we'll have some independent discussion about college life.
Different poster. So everyone is exactly like you?
I've known many of my daughter's friends since they were 4 years old. They do come over all the time (including this week) and when they come over we talk at length.
DP
This poster stated they don’t chat with their kid’s friends. No judgment. It’s other posters who are saying that’s weird and closed off and sad. Judgey. Not everyone is like you.