Girlie AGDee's College Search Thread

[AGDee]

Well, we live in a pretty diverse area and Detroit can be pretty shocking itself but the one thing she had never been exposed to is Judaism. Some parts of Metro Detroit have a large Jewish population but not in the area where she grew up. I wouldn't say it is culture shock. She is finding it interesting though.

She is definitely living the First Year life and loving it Even though she says she is swamped with reading and short 'response' papers.

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by AGDee

Well, we live in a pretty diverse area and Detroit can be pretty shocking itself but the one thing she had never been exposed to is Judaism. Some parts of Metro Detroit have a large Jewish population but not in the area where she grew up. I wouldn't say it is culture shock. She is finding it interesting though.

She is definitely living the First Year life and loving it Even though she says she is swamped with reading and short 'response' papers.

I guess I was thinking more regional...Northeast college campus life is its own weird animal. I know I was prepared for something a little like UF or Auburn when NO! So different. I mean, I knew it was going to be different but coming from the South, it was a whole other world.

The fact that half of my college campus skipped town about two weeks in for the High Holidays was a giant shock. I was like, where is everyone? They had either gone home or gone to Hillel. Columbia doesn't even have Friday classes; back in the day, so many of its students were observant Jews that they didn't have classes so everyone could prepare for Shabbat. I don't know if Barnard does it still; some of the professional schools do (except for Architecture--stab stab).

[AGDee]

She doesn't have Friday classes. I believe there were a few discussion sections available on Fridays, but most classes were MW or TTh.

Her biggest exposures to college campuses were Michigan and Barnard so I don't know that she had a lot to compare to Michigan might be more like a Northeast school than a Southern school would be. She is used to a pretty urban setting though.

I did ask her if she was getting enough "alone" time. She is like me in some ways. We both are very social and like to be active in organizations and go do things with people, but we also both need a certain amount of "alone" time. It was really difficult for me in college because I had a roommate who rarely left the room save for work and class. She was ALWAYS there. Hypo said her roommate went home last weekend so she got some time alone and enjoyed that. She also said she goes to the study lounge a lot and nobody else is ever in there so she gets her space there.

[Sciencewoman]

I'm glad that everything is going well for hypo! Thanks for the update! My daughter absolutely loves Washington and Lee and she definitely feels she made the right choice. I think it's funny that they were both drawn to the UM and ended up in completely different places...NYC and rural Virginia!

[AGDee]

Her FB status right now.. hilarious:

Today, I had a famed sociologist and essayist in Freakonomics as a guest lecturer in class, saw a Broadway performance of Porgy and Bess, witnessed Barbara Streisand in the flesh, and had some freakin' amazing cookies from the dining hall. You could say it's been a good day.

[christiangirl]

*roars with laughter*

[AGDee]

Hypo is a little stressed out. She is being very challenged academically, for the first time in her life. She has realized she is not at the top of the curve. She is also getting pretty concerned about money. The "work study" on her financial package is not Federal Work Study, but Barnard College Job, which has lesser priority. She is having trouble finding a job.

She has joined the Columbia University Marching Band (CUMB), whose tag line is "It's the cleverest band in the world". They are a scramble band which is known for its politically incorrect voice overs during performances.. SNL style, really. They run into formations and some members play miscellaneous instruments like trash cans, pots, spoons, etc. Its really laid back and informal and she is having fun with that.

I read somewhere that the first week in October is when first year college students have a mini meltdown so it is a good time to send a care package. She has asked me to send shampoo, conditioner, easy mac and velveeta mac n cheese. I'm also going to send a dress that came with a flaw in it but I've fixed it. I picked her up a button that says "Music is my life" at the band competition Saturday. I'm making some mini loafs of zucchini bread to send too. I figure she can toss a couple in her baby freezer for another week.

[happilyanchored]

^^This might sound silly, but my favorite thing my mom ever sent me in my carepackages were funny comics and clips and things printed from the internet. She stuffed them in the corners or silly places so I would have to find them, and they'd always crack me up. They reminded me of our shared sense of humor, and showed how much she'd been thinking of me as she collected and saved them up waiting for the next package. If Hypo is getting stressed out, she might love something silly just to let loose and laugh at for a moment

And yeah, October is definitely the first breakdown of freshman year. It's midterm season, and I was used to having midterms in January after four months of class, not in October after 2! But it will all be okay, it always is!

Also, I found this on a tumblr search (while writing this post haha) and thought maybe you or Hypo might enjoy it. It even included some thoughts on recruitment...

Edit:// I forgot the link.... http://blatantlybarnard.tumblr.com/

[AGDee]

There's one on tumblr called Barnard Baby that's pretty cute too. She's been answering questions from newly admitted students and hopefuls for months now. She ended up having a tea for girls who were following her. Hypo went to that too.

[AGDee]

It looks like Hypo is finally getting a job. She had a second interview today and shortly afterward received an email to fill out the online forms for hiring. Phew. She has tons of experience at doing this particular function because she will be calling people and asking for money. Well, she'll be calling alumnae and asking for donations. She's been practicing for this job her whole life with me! Who knew it was a marketable skill?

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by AGDee

It looks like Hypo is finally getting a job. She had a second interview today and shortly afterward received an email to fill out the online forms for hiring. Phew. She has tons of experience at doing this particular function because she will be calling people and asking for money. Well, she'll be calling alumnae and asking for donations. She's been practicing for this job her whole life with me! Who knew it was a marketable skill?

...sounds like Annual Fund! I like talking to Annual Fund callers when they call my house. I've heard that some people are real jerks but the people who do it seem to like it a lot.

[AGDee]

She definitely got the job. Phew! One less thing to worry about. She has heard that some people have really great conversations with some of the alumnae. I think it is different calling alumnae from a school like Barnard than somewhere like EMU where people don't have the same kind of school pride. Barnard women seem to have a kindred bond, not unlike a sorority bond.

[LouisaMay]

I called for the Annual Fund at my graduate school. I'm far too shy for that kind of work! Tell your daughter not to take rudeness personally.

I actually had dreams about ringing telephones.

And yes, October is a the time for it all to hit home. I think I *still* have a mini-meltdown every October!

[AGDee]

I think I'll send her some Halloween treats. She loves candy corn so that will be included. She also loves homemade pumpkin seeds so I'll do that too.

[lovespink88]

Bah!!! I was a Student Development Representative (our Annual Fund caller title lol) when I was an undergrad! The job was pretty fun, I did it for about two years and I was actually pretty good at it.