Road Trip!

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Road Trip!; NorthEast college tours
Tweet Topic Started: Nov 12 2012, 07:10 AM (680 Views)
Dan	Nov 12 2012, 07:10 AM Post #1
Senior Carp Posts: 1,767 Group: Members Member #40 Joined: April 19, 2005	We're off on our Eastern college tour starting this Thursday. Arrive at La Guardia around noon and pickup a rental car. Then: Friday we'll be at Hofstra. Then we're hoping to get to a show Saturday while were in town. Margaret says I need to get tix to "Book of Mormon" so that's what I'll be looking to pickup. Sunday is Columbia for their dual BA program with Sciences Po. We hit the road late Sunday afternoon for Lancaster PA. Monday is Franklin & Marshall, then on the road to Ithaca, NY. Tuesday is Cornell, then on the road to Toronto. Wednesday is Univ of Toronto. Sometime Thursday we'll hit the road on the way to Detroit. Plan right now is to swing by Niagara Falls as we drive down toward Detroit. Fly home Detroit on Saturday morning. Weather forecasts look pretty good right now, so I think our driving will be ok. Margaret is pretty excited about all of the various programs at these schools so I really hope one of them just jumps up and becomes "the choice". I'll try to keep everyone posted on our progress.



Dan	Nov 12 2012, 07:16 AM Post #2
Senior Carp Posts: 1,767 Group: Members Member #40 Joined: April 19, 2005	So Jon and other NYC forum members - Any concerns around NYC left from Sandy? We have a hotel in Queens (not to far from Hofstra). We plan on staying there Th, Fri and Sat. Then taking the Throgs Neck Bridge and down Henry Hudson Parkway to get to Columbia for our Sunday stuff. Then back up Henry Hudson and over the GW Bridge Sunday late afternoon to get the heck out of NYC and on to Lancaster. Mostly the rental car will just be parked until we head out on Sunday so I don't think I'll need to get any gas in NYC. It looks like the subway from Queens to the Theater District is running ok - is it really? Anything else I should be aware of? Thanks for the local scoop!



big al	Nov 12 2012, 07:38 AM Post #3
Bull-Carp Posts: 9,879 Group: Members Member #38 Joined: April 19, 2005	If you can rearrange your schedule, it might make more sense to take in Niagara Falls on your way to Toronto, unless you're planning to go around Lake Ontario on the east end. Also, be sure there are no issues taking the rental car across the border twice and be sure you have your documentation with you. Big Al
	Location: Western PA "jesu, der simcha fun der man's farlangen." -bachophile


jon-nyc	Nov 12 2012, 07:38 AM Post #4
Cheers Posts: 54,428 Group: Moderators Member #119 Joined: April 22, 2005	You'll be fine. There are still issues buying gas in the city but it doesn't sound like you'll be driving much before you leave town. And maybe the gas issues will be sorted by then anyway. The only residual effect of Sandy is the gas problem and one closed tunnel (Brooklyn Battery) - assuming you don't want to go to the Rockaways or the horribly affected areas of Staten Island. Subways are all good and traffic is back to normal.
	In my defense, I was left unsupervised.


Mikhailoh	Nov 12 2012, 07:39 AM Post #5
If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead Posts: 92,842 Group: Members Member #181 Joined: April 26, 2005	I guess you are not what they call a home body. Have a good trip.
	Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball


VPG	Nov 12 2012, 08:38 AM Post #6
Pisa-Carp Posts: 7,460 Group: Members Member #500 Joined: August 30, 2007	From NY to Lancaster you pass pretty close to Princeton and Rutgers. Of course U of PA is there in Philly. Gas up in South Jersey. Plentiful and much cheeper than up north. Plus they pump it for you.
	I'M NOT YELLING.........I'M ITALIAN...........THAT'S HOW WE TALK! "People say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look." Ronald Reagan, Inaugural, 1971


Dan	Nov 12 2012, 08:39 AM Post #7
Senior Carp Posts: 1,767 Group: Members Member #40 Joined: April 19, 2005	Thanks Jon for the info. Book of Mormon is sold out for both Saturday shows, so I'm not sure what we'll end up seeing. We'll find something though! al, we initially were trying to setup our UofToronto visit for Thursday so we could do that, but it got switched to Wednesday in order for us to meet with the right people. So, we'll drive thru Niagara Falls Tuesday night and then shoot back down there Thursday afternoon for the viewing. After that, we plan to stay in Canada and drive down between Lake Erie and Lake Huron to get to Detroit. Not sure what there is to see in that part of the trip, but it's certainly the most direct route. The rental is approved for Canada as well. Mik you're right. As one of our friends here put it "you don't sit still very long do you?".



Amanda	Nov 12 2012, 10:48 AM Post #8
Senior Carp Posts: 2,409 Group: Members Member #100 Joined: April 20, 2005	An interesting selection. She sounds like a young lady who knows what she wants! I'd be interested in knowing how the U. of Toronto handles finances for a USian, if you have a chance to give feed-back. European schools are still loads cheaper, though I think they no longer give the same price breaks to furrinners. It was a ways back but I went to school in Paris and Jerusalem - not through a USA program - and paid at most a few hundred/per annum. Same as citizens. In fact, by the end in Israel I was a citizen. FWIW I THINK medical school is still dirt cheap overseas too, but admission is a horror - year by year too.
	[size=5] We should tolerate eccentricity in others, almost to the point of lunacy, provided no one else is harmed.[/size] "Daily Telegraph", London July 27 2005


brenda	Nov 12 2012, 10:49 AM Post #9
.............. Posts: 37,054 Group: Members Member #721 Joined: August 28, 2008	Have a great trip, Dan! Let us know how it went.
	�Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.� ~A.A. Milne


Dan	Nov 12 2012, 11:30 AM Post #10
Senior Carp Posts: 1,767 Group: Members Member #40 Joined: April 19, 2005	Amanda foreign schools are indeed cheap. The only way we can afford Columbia (if she's accepted) is because of the program they have with Sciences Po in France. She would spend her first two years in Reims, and final two at Columbia - and get a BA from each school. We'll need to save like banshees while she's in France to pay the last two years at Columbia. I'll post what we find out about UofToronto finances. On their website they appear to be a little less than what she's looking at in the US, but their website is kinda hard to interpret in some ways. And thanks Brenda for the good wishes.



Amanda	Nov 12 2012, 11:49 AM Post #11
Senior Carp Posts: 2,409 Group: Members Member #100 Joined: April 20, 2005	Thanks, Dan. Say, what IS "Sciences Po"? (Political Science/Sciences politiques?). Her French must be fabulous to be considering spending her first two years in France. She'll have to hit the ground running, to handle that. And the TWO B.A.s! That will look impressive ever after on her C.V. I am a great fan of overseas study - and NOT through a US program (equivalent of Jr. Year Abroad). That's because I really resent their charging US students the same as if they were still enrolled in their American school, when the real costs are a fraction of that. Also because the total immersion language angle is largely lost. I loved overseas living/studying. No matter what you do - even reading comic books, watching TV and arguing in cafes with buddies - is part of the priceless gift of mastering a new language for life. Still trying to persuade my sons to aim for that, if only after their US bachelors. Shame it's so much more expensive now than when I was their age. But tuition is still a pittance, even though living is pricey. I wonder whether one son could manage in Spain (an alternate language to work on), since the country is so bankrupt, living there still ought to be dirt cheap. Of course, I'd have to be ready to cope with the possibility they'd end up staying there. Falling in love with a lovely young native, is an occupational hazard.
	[size=5] We should tolerate eccentricity in others, almost to the point of lunacy, provided no one else is harmed.[/size] "Daily Telegraph", London July 27 2005


Dan	Nov 12 2012, 12:56 PM Post #12
Senior Carp Posts: 1,767 Group: Members Member #40 Joined: April 19, 2005	They're now branding the school simply as Sciences Po. I believe it was initially created by the combination of Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques and the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris back in the late 40's. About 46% of their 12,000 student enrollment are international students. The dual BA program Margaret is interested in only started a couple of years ago, one program partnered with Columbia and another (seemingly identical) program partnered with University College London. AND, while Margaret's French is quite good, the classes are taught in English - even the ones in Reims. Frankly I'm jealous of the options she has for college. While they may have existed back when I went to school, I sure didn't know about them. I'm NOT jealous however of the costs. Yikes! Good thing we've been salting away college funds for awhile but even so it would be great to score some scholarships.



kathyk	Nov 12 2012, 01:12 PM Post #13
Pisa-Carp Posts: 7,334 Group: Members Member #115 Joined: April 22, 2005	Wow, those are some great schools and quite the road trip. Sounds very exciting. Is she a junior or a senior?
	Blogging in Palestine: http://kksjournal.com/


Dan	Nov 12 2012, 01:26 PM Post #14
Senior Carp Posts: 1,767 Group: Members Member #40 Joined: April 19, 2005	She's a senior kathy and on track for her IB diploma. A couple of those are definitely "reach" schools for her (the two Ivy League schools) but in both of those cases she's interested in smaller very focused programs of theirs where she matches up with very well when it comes to the type of student they're trying to attract. Not sure how that will work out, but it's certainly worth going for in our minds.



kathyk	Nov 12 2012, 03:35 PM Post #15
Pisa-Carp Posts: 7,334 Group: Members Member #115 Joined: April 22, 2005	Oh, interesting. One of JF's partners kids is in that program. He (the partner) was raving about it to me recently.
	Blogging in Palestine: http://kksjournal.com/


Dan	Nov 12 2012, 03:52 PM Post #16
Senior Carp Posts: 1,767 Group: Members Member #40 Joined: April 19, 2005	The dual BA program I assume you mean kathy? Nice to hear of someone that's in it that likes what they're getting out of it. Which one are they in by the way - Columbia/SciencesPo or UCL/SciencesPo?



Dan	Nov 15 2012, 06:35 AM Post #17
Senior Carp Posts: 1,767 Group: Members Member #40 Joined: April 19, 2005	At DIA. The adventure begins...



marko	Nov 15 2012, 06:38 AM Post #18
Junior Carp Posts: 325 Group: Members Member #1,033 Joined: August 16, 2011	Dan Nov 15 2012, 06:35 AM At DIA. The adventure begins... Good luck Dan, have fun!!!!!!



Dan	Nov 17 2012, 07:16 AM Post #19
Senior Carp Posts: 1,767 Group: Members Member #40 Joined: April 19, 2005	Hofstra is a pretty big hit with Margaret. Me too for that matter. The attitudes of the students seem to fit well with her and they have a Global Studies program that matches what she wants to do. It's an easy "match" school for her and she should score some good merit scholarships. Our hotel on the other hand is a bit on the sketchy side. It's in Queens/Jamaica about 8 miles from campus. It's quiet, rooms are clean - but when my wife and I walked in last night about 11pm they had opened up the pantry where the continental breakfast food is stored and about 8 to 10 guys were having a pot party in the lobby. Muffins and cereal from the pantry were serving as munchies. They were pleasant and pretty quite and I certainly have no problem with pot parties. But the smoke drifted down the hallway and into to our room. On the other hand, I had a very pleasant sleep. We'll head out of town tomorrow afternoon late, after spending part of the day at a Columbia/Sciences Po information session. Then it's on to Lancaster and Franklin & Marshall.



brenda	Nov 17 2012, 11:14 AM Post #20
.............. Posts: 37,054 Group: Members Member #721 Joined: August 28, 2008	Sounds like you had a good visit at Hofstra.
	�Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.� ~A.A. Milne


Dan	Nov 18 2012, 06:11 AM Post #21
Senior Carp Posts: 1,767 Group: Members Member #40 Joined: April 19, 2005	Yes. After my post yesterday morning she had another full day talking to a prof in her planned major, visiting with Asst. Dean of Honors College, another tour of campus and dorms. Hofstra pretty much hit the ball out of the park again with all 3 of us. Sure does take the pressure off of the next few days since most of the upcoming schools are "reach" schools for her.



kathyk	Nov 18 2012, 06:41 AM Post #22
Pisa-Carp Posts: 7,334 Group: Members Member #115 Joined: April 22, 2005	JF and Puffin are off to Vermont today to visit Middlebury tomorrow. She's trying to keep an open mind, although she has her heart totally set on Pitzer. She sent off her early decision app a couple days ago, but it's got a tough admission rate - number 5 on the list of liberal arts colleges.
	Blogging in Palestine: http://kksjournal.com/


Piano*Dad	Nov 18 2012, 09:17 AM Post #23
Bull-Carp Posts: 7,594 Group: Members Member #412 Joined: December 15, 2006	Wife and youngest are off at a college trip this weekend. I'm home grading papers ...



Dan	Nov 18 2012, 05:52 PM Post #24
Senior Carp Posts: 1,767 Group: Members Member #40 Joined: April 19, 2005	Hey good luck to your kiddos PD and Kathy. We did Columbia this afternoon, and just arrive in Lancaster PA for F & M tomorrow. The Columbia program is really cool and a great fit for Margaret. If she gets into that one I don't see how she could turn it down. Anyway, we're 2 for 2 so far. She really likes both.



BeeLady	Nov 18 2012, 06:35 PM Post #25
Middle Aged Carp Posts: 888 Group: Members Member #166 Joined: April 25, 2005	Dan Nov 18 2012, 06:11 AM Yes. After my post yesterday morning she had another full day talking to a prof in her planned major, visiting with Asst. Dean of Honors College, another tour of campus and dorms. Hofstra pretty much hit the ball out of the park again with all 3 of us. Sure does take the pressure off of the next few days since most of the upcoming schools are "reach" schools for her. That would be Neil D? He is a wonderful man. Both he and Warren are very attentive. My son was an honors college student there, and it was great experience, like a small school inside a larger one. Their academic scholarships are pretty generous if your daughter is lucky enough. Our son's enabled him to attend for less than the cost of our in state school. And in a totally crazy turn of fate related to TNCR and Dewey...I met the daughter of the Dean of the Honors College at Hofstra on a mountain in rural Honduras! We have since become friends (the dean's daughter and I) but woo..what a weird experience.
	"My wheel shall sing responsive to my tread, And I will spin so fine, so strong a thread Fate shall not cut it, nor Time's forces break" "Distaff and Spindle: Sonnets by Mary Ashley Townsend" 1895


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