I have gotten a few emails from worried parents of freshmen students. I’ve also got some very sweet emails from students who are curious about starting college. Well after answering many questions over past few weeks, I thought I would post some of the emails and my answers.
One from a parent:
Hi, my name is Linda. My daughter is coming this Fall from Ohio.
I am not sure if she reads these blogs, but I do. She is my only child and I am a single mother, so I have to do everything myself….
…She wants to bring like lots of clothes & I keep telling her she is not going to have the room.
What about laundry soap? Should I buy her a supply & bring it or is it better/easier to just buy it there?
Are the mattresses comfortable? I was going to buy her one of those down, mattress pad things do you think I should?
Can you suggest a hotel that is not to far away and/or in between the school & shopping? Is it better to bring a comforter or wait until she meets her room mate & see if they want a theme color & get it down there when we get there…..
I wrote back:
Buy the laundry soap when you get here. Thank goodness you are going to have a car when you get to Lynn. It will be really helpful the first few days. There is a Walgreens and a supermarket less than 5 minutes away in the same shopping mall area. Its VERY simple to get to. Turn left out of Lynn and go about 4 to 5 blocks. It will be on the left hand side.
Don’t fret to much over the clothes. My roommate had a ton. So did I. *sighs* girls will be girls. If its only clothes she’s filling up on, you should be good.
The mattress sucks. My advise, get one of those foam things and anything else that is thick and soft.
For the room. Well, just because they are roommates doesn’t mean that they will have to have the same colors…. ….I’ve seen plenty of rooms that have two very different sides and it looked fine. It should reflect your daughter in the end. This is her new space, her new life. It should feel like home to make the move easier.
One email from a student name Samantha made me laugh. I wanted to know everying like she does when I got to Lynn.
When is rush week and how do i find out more about both sororities?
Will i get something in the mail?
And tell me about weekends are they crazy?
Im coming from oklahoma not knowing a soul at lynn so I’m trying to�
find out all the facts..
Rush week is the same day as the activities fair. All organizations and groups on campus will be out infront of the student center, very hard to miss with all the signs. It’s normally the second or third week of school. Thats when you can learn about the sororities and all organizations on campus. All the greeks will be out, wearing their letters, just stop any of them and ask why you should join their sorority or what organizations they are in.
Define crazy. Weekends are weekends. We are so busy that normally we pass out on saterday and work on sunday. We sometimes go to parties and have BBQ’s on campus. Watch movies or chill in each others rooms. A lot of times we go out to eat. There are a few clubs in Boca.
June 5th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Linda,
I recommend that you purchase everything here, unless she specifically wants her comforter from home. This is a big move, but also a new start at life as a college student. I truly recommend going to Home Goods and Marshalls (both are located at Glades and the Turnpike). They have great supplies there and for really inexpensive prices. Or you may want to try Target (there is one on Congress and Linton (9 minute drive away from campus). All of these places have everything a college student could need.
In regards to the hotel: I recommend the Hampton Inn on Yamato Road. The manager is a Lynn Alumni, and they offer a special ‘Lynn Rate’. It’s so close to campus. There is also the Courtyard Marriott on Military Trail, just around the corner. If you call admissions, they will give you a list of hotels in the area that offer the ‘Lynn Rate’.
About the clothes, let her bring them, and when you go shopping, get bed stands (little blocks that you place under the bed legs) and some plastic drawers. This way she can keep any additional clothes in neat containers under the bed. This saves a lot of room.
Best of luck, Linda! And remember, her first day at orientation is very stressful. I am an only child, and it’s difficult finding one’s feet. Don’t be upset if she’s snappy, on my first day I was definitely snappy and it was just because I felt insecure. I wanted to be independent, but at the same time I needed my mom more than anything! Get her a special teddy or something, and just leave it on her bed before you leave to go home. This will probably mean the world to her. Just something to hold close when she misses you.