Girlie AGDee's College Search Thread

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

On the subway yesterday, I saw a group of Barnard first-years wearing their Constellation shirts! I wonder if hypo was in that group... Barnard does such a good job with their orientation programs.

I think my father had a much harder time with my leaving for college than my mom did; I wonder if that's true for fathers in general.

Will you be coming for Parents/Family weekend?

She may have been! Did you catch which Constellation it was? She is a Telescopium.

I think her dad and I have had equally hard times, but at different moments, if that makes sense.

I can't afford a trip out for Parents/Family weekend, unfortunately. I want to be able to fly her home for Thanksgiving.

Sciencewoman: An Alpha Gam from your side of the state might be persuaded...lol.

[KSUViolet06]

The initial OMGGGGGGG will pass and it will be fine. This time next year, she'll be running you over to get out the door and get back. lol.

[AGDee]

I know... I remember I very clearly remember!

[AGDee]

She called today and sounded like her normal bubbly self. She and her roommate are getting along great. They hang out with her roomie's best friend from high school and HER roommate a lot and she likes them all a lot. She had a list of things she would like me to send, including a sleeping bag, so friends can come spend the night. She walked into the room while her roomie was Skyping with a friend and heard her say that her roommate was really nice, so that made her happy too.

It was a relief to hear her gushing about all the great people she is meeting and how much she likes her academic adviser (who only has TEN girls to advise... cool, personal attention!).

All the women on her dorm floor are bonding in the one air conditioned lounge on the floor. She said she still feels really alone now and then but recognizes that will keep changing.

She is in the right place and I feel a lot better ...hearing her sounding happy was great. I will sleep a little easier tonight

[happilyanchored]

It's always so good to hear about people being happy with their college experience and getting over those freshman nerves. I'm so glad your daughter is happy, and Barnard is extremely lucky to count such an amazing young woman as her as one of their newest students! I've been lurking on this thread for a long time for a variety of reasons (my school was mentioned, which is how I found it, and I love to hear about college searches and their hopefully happy endings!), and I'm glad your daughter has truly found her home!

And in regards to your comment about her noting AnchorSplash... I've heard great things about our chapter at Columbia (/Barnard) and if she decides to go Greek and that chapter is lucky enough to pledge her, I will be happy knowing my organization has gained a fantastic new member! Is she planning on attending whatever sort of Greek introduction thing they have over there before deciding whether or not she wants to go through recruitment?

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by happilyanchored

I'm so glad your daughter is happy, and Barnard is extremely lucky to count such an amazing young woman as her as one of their newest students!

I second that! We're so happy for her and proud of her! Hahaha send her love from her fanbase.

[KillarneyRose]

AGDee, I didn't know this thread existed until just now and I just finished plowing through all 32 pages non-stop. What a story; so many ups and down and, ultimately, a happy ending!

My older daughter is a senior in high school and is in the middle of applications so I really enjoyed reading how another family survived that Merry go round!

I lived in NYC for a few years after college and, yes, it was definitely overwhelming at first. There's lots going on, all the time! Once your daughter gets "in the groove" so to speak, she will love it

Oh, tell her that Ollie's on Broadway has really good food and, if she likes Greek food, Symposium on 114th between B'way and Amsterdam is INCREDIBLE (and pretty cheap!)

[happilyanchored]

And on the topic of food, if she ever needs to treat herself (or if you want a still comparatively reasonably-priced fun place for dinner/dessert whenever you visit) and wants to explore the city, take the subway down to Union Square and go to Max Brenner's! It's the NYC equivalent of a modern-day Willy Wonka, and the food (both real and dessert) is delicious. Union Square is also a great area for college students, lots of little stands and cute shops and little cafes! It's one of my favorite places in the city.

[christiangirl]

Hahaha I just got an FB message from one of my freshman dorm friends asking how my birthday was and immediately thought of this thread. We lived together almost 10 years ago -- tell hypo this is what she gets to look forward to!

[AGDee]

After reading KRs comment, I just went back and read the whole thread. On October 20, 2011, let the record show that I said:

Originally Posted by AGDee

And, this is probably my last update for a while because we won't know anything until December 1st for the schools that have early action. My gut feeling is that she's going to end up at Barnard. That's just parent's intuition. We have a long wait to find out if I'm right or not!

I don't know if I ever mentioned... after finding that perfect dress, she went to another two shops and tried on a gazillion more dresses and ended up ordering the same dress as the the one mentioned here, but from a different shop...lol.

Originally Posted by AGDee

The deciding part is what I dread. After interviews we went prom dress shopping. She found the perfect dress but wouldn't buy it because "I've only had an hour of shopping! How can I pick one already?" It was perfect on her though, seriously. *sigh*

Today, she is tagged in a picture of a group of women from her dorm floor, smiling brightly. I only teared up a little bit today so I'm adjusting. They are at the Bronx Zoo tonight as part of Orientation. I do believe she is in the right place. I re-read the criteria she posted about how she wants diversity and that fits so well with her comments to me on the phone yesterday. This is definitely a happy ending, even though I miss her a bunch!

We'll see if she goes greek. Recruitment is deferred.

[Sciencewoman]

I hope she does decide to go Greek! It would be great to have a recruitment story, too. Plus, presentations are coming up. Ours is on Sept. 13.

[Psi U MC Vito]

I have have some great sorority women at Columbia as well. Granted from an outsider looking in, in a couple of ways, but I had a good opinion of them.

[AGDee]

Hypo called today, needing help in filling out her first W-4 (all of her jobs have been babysitting, no W-4 required). Hopefully that means she'll be working soon

It is crazy hot in her dorm room. Their windows have no screens and only open about 10 inches, although they are wide. She said it seems hotter in the room than outside. I know temps were in the 90s yesterday but should be lower today. I think she's ready for winter.

She said she's been hanging out mainly with other people from her hall. She said when she meets people at these random events with tons of people present, she can't even remember who they are five minutes later.

She's ready for classes to start. This seems like a really long orientation!

She skipped the Meet the Greek barbecue yesterday ("I'm sorry, I didn't go... I don't remember what I was doing during that time, but we were doing something else.") I told her it was no big deal. She has been to Tom's Diner (of Seinfeld fame) and last night she went to an open mike night at a comedy club where (she says) Amy Poehler got her start.

Today is the "meet the organizations" day and they all have assigned times. She has a few she wants to attend.

A group of them went to a couple parties and her perception was:
"These parties are just a bunch of senior guys trying to get freshman girls drunk and ...." Then she added "I just wanted to see what they are like. They are not my scene."

Sounds like her education is off to a great start.

[AGDee]

Oh my. Hypo called today to ask if she was vaccinated for whooping cough. I told her yes and asked her why. She said her roommate has it. Joy. Columbia health service wants Hypo to come in as a precaution. She was a little freaked out but I told her not worry, just to go and get checked out.

[Sciencewoman]

Whooping cough? That is pertussis, right? That is in the DTP vaccine, so she should be all set coming from Michigan. This is what happens when people don't get their children vaccinated. This drives my pediatrician sister nuts!