Raise your hand if you tired of the caddy stories? Hmm, I don't see any hands. Are you SURE? **wink, wink, hee hee**
On to college visits . . .
As I mentioned before launching into the caddy-stream-of-consciousness posts, we planned to be out of town three consecutive weekends. It was exhausting, as anticipated, but FUN. Being busy is sometimes a blessing, although in all honesty I don't remember the last time I felt bored.
1997? Or maybe when Lad was 2 weeks late in June of 1998 -nothing left for me to prepare or wash or clean (plenty to eat though, an ongoing trend - see below), and Netflix didn't exist. We didn't even have cable.
Highlights from the three colleges we toured (not counting visiting Ed at college) include our kids' focus on how these colleges plan to feed them. I warned each of our guides that the way the cafeteria charged for food MATTERED to my offspring. It reminded me a little of the scene in the movie Blindside when the little brother wants to know what each coach would offer him.
A few schools scored points with their:
swipe your card and EAT WHATEVER YOU CAN JAM IN YOUR PIE HOLE.
One tour guide described how great it was that you could just enter the cafeteria and pay for one apple (read between the lines here: pay for each crumb you plan to ingest), and then you can always go back and buy more. 
It was a beautiful day for a campus visit.
Um, let me stop you right there . . . we are more of the EAT HUGE PILES OF FOOD family. No one in our house would purchase an apple and feign satisfaction. Ever.
Tank also asked the all-important: How much math will you make me do?
So, we covered the basics.
Our first stop was Omaha to visit Coach's alma mater where we took our niece to dinner. We shared a funny story with her about one of my visits to see Coach when he was a student out there. Remind me to share later.
They gave us an awesome personalized presentation of their business program. Super impressive. It was just our family members (Curly and Reg stayed home with friends) so totally tailored to us.
The professor running the talk met us and said: Hmm, a few years ago I worked to recruit an Ed Shenanigan from Chicago.
Yep, that would be one of our tribe. Coach decided we shouldn't tell Ed that this guy still remembers him and how he opted to go to a different school in case it might go to his head. I vetoed that, knowing Ed would not get an inflated ego. I assured the guy that Ed would've been happy at either school, but he loves where he is.
I stopped short of saying: Here, take Tank. He's our boobie prize.
Totally joking. Actually at one point he described a staff member who goes out looking for internships and comes up with amazing stuff because no one can say no to him, and I pointed to Tank and said, You just described this guy, which is why we think he would be good at sales.
 |
| Nothing like sloppy joe's in the car on the way home. One less reason to stop. Hope no one needed to pee. |
Tank: (turning in his chair, using his somewhat insincere, wise-ass voice, but in a loving way, complete with head tilt and cheesy grin) Gee, thanks Mom.
Anytime, son. Seriously he is going to be such an asset to a college. Wondering which one he will choose. My kids laugh when I point out that we didn't have internet searches to look up college stuff. I also point out that I never went on a single official college visit. Never sat in a class or spoke to someone about the majors offered, etc.
All of my siblings went to school in South Bend, IN. It wasn't really a choice. How about you . . . did you take your kids on tons of college tours? Did you look at lots of places? Did you bypass college and focus on a job? Happy with your college major/career, etc? I knew the minute I graduated that business was a mistake, but there was no 'do-over' button.
The rest of the college tours later. I know, you're on the edge of your seat.
14 comments:
I only looked at one college, other than the school in my hometown. I knew I wanted to go to a big school, relatively close but not at home, and this particular school fit the bill so well that I didn't see the need to keep looking. I often regret my major (dance) because once a person stops dancing, what is the use of that degree? My parents should have been much more vocal about majoring in something more practical with dance on the side.
I toured 4 schools, 2 in-state and 2 in other states. I ended up getting a large scholarship to the one 20 miles from home, so that’s where I went. I felt like I might be missing out on the full college experience, but I got my first bachelor’s degree almost for free. Like you, I didn’t end up using that degree. I went straight back to school for a different degree, which I did use for several years, but I’m currently a SAHM of littles.
I didn’t eat in the dining hall much but I can see where that would be important when weighing school options!
-AM
PS- not tired of the caddy stories!
Made me laugh out loud about your kids criteria for choosing a college.
I went on many college tours. They showed me buildings and dorms, but not one person talked with me about majors or careers. That was considered a private matter that each student would figure out on his or her own. Different times, different assumptions.
My oldest is a Junior now, so college is just starting to ramp up. We were supposed to use fall break to see colleges in Boston, MA, but Covid changed those plans. She did an online tour of ASU, and that's probably where she's going to wind up. It's less than 30 minutes from our house, and 15 minutes away from my office. Heck, there are "off campus" parking lots for students that are further away than my office. I don't think the middle one will go directly to college. She doesn't know what she wants to do and I'm not pushing her into something that she'll hate. I'll try to help her find an internship somewhere.
Eli - this story reminds me so much of my oldest sister, Ann. She is an amazing artist. Took a class at the Art Institute of Chicago while in high school. My parents said they weren't going to pay for her to go to college to draw pictures. She's a nurse. I think she is very happy with her career. I would think there would be a happy medium in there somewhere - do what you love as a minor maybe and have a good, solid back up plan. I think it is kind of sad that my sister doesn't paint anymore, but her nursing career has been pivotal for her.
AM - Back for a 2nd degree right away? That was ambitious. I was busy for years putting Coach through PT school, then a fellowship, then a doctorate, etc. I'm calling this 'my time' and crossing my fingers that I can get some of my writing published so I get that I DID IT feeling. Totally would not have traded being home with my kids though. Mini is trying to decide what she wants to study. Maybe high school English teacher or maybe business. She hopes to choose a career that works with motherhood. I was like: hey, how about an in-home daycare. Kidding.
Ally - I don't think the cafeteria plans will be a deal breaker, but it MATTERS to them. It is funny. I remember the joy of the dining hall, initially. It felt like eating out every day. Little cups of jello with cool whip on top? The bomb.
I initially wanted to be a teacher and kick myself for not going that route. The woman I babysat for told me not to bother because it would be too hard to find a husband. I was quite the impressionable 18 year old. What did I know? Not much, I assure you.
Kara -that will be very convenient to have a kid go to school so close to home. Coach keeps begging someone to start at our local junior college - an excellent place. They give him the ole eye roll every time.
An internship sounds like a good plan.
I didn't visit any colleges - went to one that looked good where my best friend was going and my boyfriend was already there. Best friend took off for BC in second year and I broke up with the boyfriend but still found a great program and made great friends (and met my husband) so all in all a win. Matt only visited one college with Angus - the one he ended up going to - because he was so overwhelmed with the process at that point that it seemed best to go with one that had everything we wanted. Also has turned out well, except for fucking Covid. Are you able to travel freely right now? I guess theoretically we are too within our own province, but it seems so strange.
Ali - It is an overwhelming process. Ed was SO torn in the 11th hour. I felt bad for him. He knew that he would be happy at either school. I think it will partly come down to which school offers Tank the most scholarship money. But with no test scores, not sure how they will decide on that.
We are allowed to travel. Some states are om a list that we aren't supposed to travel to. Indiana was one of them when we went but we walked outdoors or stayed mostly in our hotel. That was a few weeks ago now and we have all been healthy.
Every school that we toured required masks, etc. and limited what parts of buildings we could go into. It was weird - I was telling the kids: SO I'M GUESSING THIS PART OF CAMPUS WOULD NORMALLY HAVE LOTS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS MILLING AROUND. Sigh. It really does suck for them. Ed is at college and is so bummed by the lack of experience.
I'm not even a little surprised that your kids would focus on the food at college; I mean, you've been starving them!
I also might have asked about how much math would be involved too, had I done a college tour.
No college tours for me. No one even discussed college. My parents didn't go to college, nor did their parents.
I was going to try and work for Delta after HS but wasn't tall enough to be a flight attendant. SHOCKER. Beauty school it was because my bestie was going and she had a car. LOL
My girls toured about 2-3 schools each but ended up staying close to home. No biggie.
Funny how your son was remembered! I love that.
Suz - yes, they are clearly underfed. When we toured school for Lad, the other guys were mostly small. If a college gave us passes to eat in the dining hall it was like Christmas morning. I can still see the look on Tank's 11 year old face when he discovered soft serve ice cream machine: ALL YOU CAN EAT! That concept has stuck with them.
I am blown away by the Delta thing, so ridiculous. I assume they are no longer allowed to hire people based on height - I mean unless you are playing basketball for them. What the hell!
It was amazing that this guy remembered Ed. If he spends any time with Tank, he will be memorable too - possibly more so . . . but for a whole other bunch of reasons than buttoned-up, dedicated student Ed.
I didn't go to college after high school so no college visits for me. Just work, I know ..boring. I was the world's most boring 18-22 year old. Honestly. Bought my first car at the age of 21 on my own, had my own credit card, went to bed at a reasonable hour....borrrringg. I got more interesting AFTER the age of 22, fascinating enough.
I did the college visits with Anna and they were okay. Not too painful. I wasn't sure what we were supposed to be looking for though because I didn't go to college LMAO. So I was like "ooh this one has Insomnia cookies (they all do)! You should go here!" OH! THEY HAVE A DONUT SHOP NEAR CAMPUS! THIS IS THE ONE! So maybe I am motivated by food too? I thnk I would fit in well with your kids.
Kari - You so WOULD fit in well with my kids.
Once I went to a dance while in college and the date I got set up with was not fun. I wanted out, as did my girlfriend who was there as my date's date. Anyway, we made up an excuse that I had arthritis and I needed to go home . . . now who's boring? Ha. We laughed our butts off.
Post a Comment