Girlie AGDee's College Search Thread - Page 32

AGDee · #1 09-02-2012, 01:07 PM

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 · #2 09-05-2012, 07:51 PM

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 · #3 09-05-2012, 10:47 PM

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!

Munchkin03 · #4 09-05-2012, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

Her parents could have very well have had her vaccinated to schedule but, from what it appears, the vaccine wears down after about 10 years so if she had it before kindergarten she may have needed a booster anyway.

Not sure if Columbia requires the DPT booster for an incoming student; I don't remember needing one when I started there but I'm pretty vigilant about vaccinations so the ones I had before undergrad and studying abroad were probably sufficient.

Did her roommate have to travel far to get to school? Airplanes and airports are pretty much vectors for this sort of thing.

AOIIalum · #5 09-06-2012, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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!

Hopefully she understands those of us who watched their infant have a horrible reaction to first DPT vaccination. Eldest ended up in the hospital after his first one and they determined it was due to the Pertussis component. From then on all three boys only had the DT shots. Unfortunately, middle did have Pertussis in HS but was caught early and he was fine. Youngest's last booster was the full DPT and luckily he did not have a reaction, but was watched closely during the possible reaction time by the doctors. Allergic reactions are serious!

Dee, hope Hypo's roommate recovers quickly and uneventfully. Glad Barnard is taking good care of them both.

Sciencewoman · #6 09-06-2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AOIIalum

Hopefully she understands those of us who watched their infant have a horrible reaction to first DPT vaccination. Eldest ended up in the hospital after his first one and they determined it was due to the Pertussis component. From then on all three boys only had the DT shots. Unfortunately, middle did have Pertussis in HS but was caught early and he was fine. Youngest's last booster was the full DPT and luckily he did not have a reaction, but was watched closely during the possible reaction time by the doctors. Allergic reactions are serious!

That's a medically legitimate reason to not have a certain vaccine...she's talking about the parents who listen to debunked urban legends/internet misinformation about vaccines, and don't listen to their pediatrician who tries to explain the research-based, acknowledged risks and benefits. They avoid all vaccines and it upsets her when their children contract illnesses that could have been prevented. As AGDee said, in Michigan you can "opt out" from the required vaccines, and parents have been doing this to the point were certain illnesses have flared up again...and that affects kids like your sons who can't have a certain vaccine for a legitimate reason.

My take is, if there's a shot and you don't have a legitimate reason why you can't have it...get it! My kids have gotten every optional vaccine there is! My daughter had the varicella vaccine as a baby, when it first came out. I had chicken pox when I was 25, and I didn't want her to deal with that, or worry about shingles later in life.

AXOmom · #7 09-06-2012, 03:54 PM

This isn't meant to scare anyone - just that this issue came up in another thread that I think I posted (don't remember now) regarding a young woman on my daughter's campus who died from bacterial menangitis last spring.

There was a brief discussion about school vaccination requirements for living in a dorm. (it would have been a moot point in this case since the young lady was living in a sorority house and not a dorm). Daughter's school (my am) didn't require them which surprises me even now. I believe her first school did. I can't quite figure, given the liability issues, why every school wouldn't require proof of this to live on campus. Actually it surprises me that GLO's don't require vaccinations to live in the house. Wouldn't this be a lawsuit waiting to happen?

Ironically, in this case, the girl had a previous bout with bacterial menangitis her freshman year and had, I assume, gotten treatment quickly enough that she recovered then.

AGDee · #8 09-05-2012, 11:05 PM

Yes, it is pertussis. Her roommate drove from her hometown (same state as Barnard, but kind of a long drive). Barnard did require those vaccinations but I imagine it is like the public schools... if there is an objection, you can get out of the requirement. Or, as you said, she hadn't had a booster. Hypo is up to date on everything so I'm sure she'll be fine but from everything I've read, they usually put people in the same household on antibiotics as a precaution.

AZTheta · #9 09-05-2012, 11:34 PM

Dee, this thread is one I return to (along with Badge Trends) and I'm quite appreciative of your willingness to share Hypo's story with all of us.

And i would be remiss if I didn't casually happen to mention that there is a Kappa Alpha Theta chapter at Columbia. Just in case...you never know.

momof4girls · #10 09-06-2012, 06:36 AM

I return to this thread too. My daughter is a sophmore. Last year she was 25 minutes away, but this year she's 11 hours away, so I feel like we're experiencing being away for the first time. I've had the home sickness calls, the roommate is driving me crazy calls and now spider bite calls.

AGDee · #11 09-06-2012, 06:23 PM

They put Hypo on antibiotics as a precaution. She has also had her Menactra vaccine. I had bacterial meningitis when I was 13 and luckily my mom was wise and got me to ER immediately once I had a high fever and stiff neck. Smart lady.

In other news, she got a Betta fish. I asked her who's going to feed this Betta fish during school breaks since she can't exactly bring it home on the plane with her. She has no idea. Kids!

thetygerlily · #12 09-06-2012, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGDee

In other news, she got a Betta fish. I asked her who's going to feed this Betta fish during school breaks since she can't exactly bring it home on the plane with her. She has no idea. Kids!

There are always international students and those from far away. Just tell her to make friends with some of them- chances are she can find someone who's still around! I was one of the "far away" people and my now-husband was one of the international students who stayed on campus for most breaks.

At my school there was usually one hall director as well who was "on duty" during each break period. People would often bring their fish, turtles, etc to that hall director to take care of. Of course, that was a very small school where everyone knew everyone- but maybe they have something similar there.

ETA: One of the dumbest things I did was get a 20 gallon fish tank in college. It was fine throughout the year (could always find someone to feed them), until it got to time to move the tank! Maybe it wasn't a bad thing in the end that my now-husband had an accident filling the tank and most of the fish didn't make it. He thought that by turning both the hot & cold taps full force, he'd end up with lukewarm water. Umm... no! And of course he didn't bother testing it. Whoops.

adpiucf · #13 09-06-2012, 09:45 PM

There are autofeeders and some vets will board fish.

AGDee · #14 09-19-2012, 09:59 PM

Update:
Hypo has been in touch almost every day this week because she has had questions or needed me to do something (of course!).

Things she has been doing:
"Rushed" for student tickets to see Once on Broadway on Saturday. This means she got up at 4:45 am (unbelievable, this is a kid who sleeps til 1 pm if given the chance) to be in line at 5:45 am for a box office that opens at 10 am. They did get tickets though!

Joined the Columbia Marching Band (yay!) They are sort of a parody of a marching band. Google them.. they are hilarious and creative!

Went to the Columbia Democrats interest meeting and said it was totally packed. I guess when one of your alumni is running for re-election as POTUS, your club is popular!

Broke the phone charger I bought the day before we left for NYC. (already? really?)

Did laundry (lol)

Went to see Porgy & Bess tonight as part of her First Year Seminar class.

She and a group of friends went to the Highline.

AGZG: Pay attention!!! She was very excited that one of the authors of Freakonomics was a guest lecturer for her Social World class. I don't know which one.

Munchkin03 · #15 09-19-2012, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AGDee

Update:
Hypo has been in touch almost every day this week because she has had questions or needed me to do something (of course!).

Things she has been doing:
"Rushed" for student tickets to see Once on Broadway on Saturday. This means she got up at 4:45 am (unbelievable, this is a kid who sleeps til 1 pm if given the chance) to be in line at 5:45 am for a box office that opens at 10 am. They did get tickets though!

Joined the Columbia Marching Band (yay!) They are sort of a parody of a marching band. Google them.. they are hilarious and creative!

Went to the Columbia Democrats interest meeting and said it was totally packed. I guess when one of your alumni is running for re-election as POTUS, your club is popular!

Broke the phone charger I bought the day before we left for NYC. (already? really?)

Did laundry (lol)

Went to see Porgy & Bess tonight as part of her First Year Seminar class.

She and a group of friends went to the Highline.

AGZG: Pay attention!!! She was very excited that one of the authors of Freakonomics was a guest lecturer for her Social World class. I don't know which one.

She's living the first-year life! Love it!

Any culture shock?