The Swamp

Son of wlu and Mrs lax6 went to visit my nephew at u of VT and an tie in to check out Middlebury. My wife loved the school. My son thought it was too supportive of the kids. Basically the school does not let the kids struggle through it. Fascinating view from the kid.

My nephew is loving VT. He is not working that hard and doing great in the honors program. He is also deep into the historical fencing club and timber sports club. My nephew is a strange cat. Great kid but walks through the world in a different way. Really surprised he is not deep into Jam Bands.

"Timber Sports" sounds like a riot.

Pruitt IV wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 4:43 pm "Timber Sports" sounds like a riot.

I don't trust him with a chainsaw but see him enjoying log rolling

rass wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 3:48 pm

rass wrote: ↑Mon Nov 13, 2023 7:38 pm My wife took both kids and one of the oldest’s best friends to visit Fordham last week and all four of them fell in love with the campus. Bumped it up the list a bit.

Oldest had an official visit with NJIT yesterday and today. They weren’t really on her list at all, but their coach is friends with her HS coach and the NJIT coach really made her feel wanted. It was a lot nicer than I expected, and they have a very new and very nice athletic events center (the wall outside the basketball coaches office is plastered with photos from the 2014 victory over Michigan).

It’s a good school and they have what she wants academically and the coach arranged for her to have a meeting last night with a pre-med advisor that she says she got a lot out of. It’s D1 but an overall smaller XC/TF team than Rutgers, and she liked how close knit the NJIT team seemed to be.

Cons are how close to home it is, and that she’d probably join the team as by far (currently) the fastest mid-distance girl. And it’s urban, but it’s Newark.

So not at the top of her list but not off the list. Might be difficult for her if they give a ton of cash.

Or not. Seems they want give her a full ride and she really isn’t interested. Too small (area and enrollment). Too close to home. Too insular. No football team. I can’t argue with any of that. She only gets to do this once.

Debating whether she wants to use this to take one more try at prying more money from Fordham but she’s about ready to commit to Rutgers.

OK, I believe we're done.

That last post was exactly a month ago. She reached out to Rutgers that evening to confirm she still had a roster spot. Once she got confirmation of that she verbally (textually?) committed to them, but didn't get the actual commitment form to sign from the team until the end of last week (there was fretting over the delay but the coach texted her back to say it was on the way before we asked). In the meantime, we sent in a deposit to confirm her admission and she got the news that she got into the RU honors college and with that got a sizeable scholarship that should knock all-in cost down to something very close to four figures. And a sweet dorm room on the New Brunswick campus*.

She sent back the commitment form this week so we're official? She's already mapped out her courses for the next four years, is working on her social media announcement and I guess we're going to make sure she can get a signing ceremony at school. Missed my birthday last week so I had to buy myself a t-shirt or two from Homefield Apparel yesterday.

*she knows one other girl who is committed to the XC/track program and got into the honors college so feels like they're almost obligated to room together since their schedules should match up, this just happens to be the girl who my kid thought asked too many questions on the official visit they shared

Congrats, Rass!

That's awesome. Very cool.

Holy shit, that's great Rass.

Run kid run!

A_B wrote: ↑Tue Mar 12, 2024 5:17 pmRun kid run!

Her name isn't Lola, is it?

Congrass!

If only one of us was good at digging up old threads to see who predicted the first B1G Swamp kid

Congrats. Hope she enjoys the spring

Congrats. Harper, Bailey and (Kid Rass) is a pretty insane recruiting class.

Exciting news, wish my kid wasn't so down on Rutgers because he didn't get into the Business school. I think it'd be the best school for him, but we'll see. Has she looked into the athlete housing on Livingston campus? I hear it's incredible and way nicer than the other dorms. B-school is on Livingston, but other than that, mostly just the sports complexes, so not ideal for most majors. It does have a lot of food options, too.

Congrats Rass!

and..

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 13, 2024 3:59 pm Son of wlu and Mrs lax6 went to visit my nephew at u of VT...Really surprised he is not deep into Jam Bands.

If he stays at UVM long enough he will be.

I hope you hit up Burlington Brewing or Foam Brewing while you were up there.

Thanks guys. She's really happy and that's about all we could ask for.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:56 pm Exciting news, wish my kid wasn't so down on Rutgers because he didn't get into the Business school. I think it'd be the best school for him, but we'll see. Has she looked into the athlete housing on Livingston campus? I hear it's incredible and way nicer than the other dorms. B-school is on Livingston, but other than that, mostly just the sports complexes, so not ideal for most majors. It does have a lot of food options, too.

She stayed on Livington in the athlete housing during her official visit last fall. She agreed it was very nice, but was worried because not all athletes are guaranteed housing there and freshmen get bumped first. The honors college dorm is apparently new and full of amenities and in a nice spot on the old College Ave campus. She's excited to live there even if it means getting up earlier to make practice.

The track offices are currently in the arena, and they hold some practices at Livingston, so she'll be there a lot no matter what.

Call it New Jesey because I think my wife and kid just bought every R in the state during a trip to the RU bookstore (and the gear shop across the street) this morning.

rass wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 1:21 pm Call it New Jesey because I think my wife and kid just bought every R in the state during a trip to the RU bookstore (and the gear shop across the street) this morning.

Then what’s she supposed to get y’all for Christmas?

rass wrote: ↑Sun Mar 24, 2024 1:21 pm Call it New Jesey because I think my wife and kid just bought every R in the state during a trip to the RU bookstore (and the gear shop across the street) this morning.

Then, I hope she likes it there.

A few years ago, my neighbor’s kid went to Washington State. They bought a TON of WSU swag. Then, their son hated it there. Left school after only one semester and transferred elsewhere.

rass wrote: ↑Tue Mar 12, 2024 4:06 pm

rass wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 3:48 pm

rass wrote: ↑Mon Nov 13, 2023 7:38 pm My wife took both kids and one of the oldest’s best friends to visit Fordham last week and all four of them fell in love with the campus. Bumped it up the list a bit.

Oldest had an official visit with NJIT yesterday and today. They weren’t really on her list at all, but their coach is friends with her HS coach and the NJIT coach really made her feel wanted. It was a lot nicer than I expected, and they have a very new and very nice athletic events center (the wall outside the basketball coaches office is plastered with photos from the 2014 victory over Michigan).

It’s a good school and they have what she wants academically and the coach arranged for her to have a meeting last night with a pre-med advisor that she says she got a lot out of. It’s D1 but an overall smaller XC/TF team than Rutgers, and she liked how close knit the NJIT team seemed to be.

Cons are how close to home it is, and that she’d probably join the team as by far (currently) the fastest mid-distance girl. And it’s urban, but it’s Newark.

So not at the top of her list but not off the list. Might be difficult for her if they give a ton of cash.

Or not. Seems they want give her a full ride and she really isn’t interested. Too small (area and enrollment). Too close to home. Too insular. No football team. I can’t argue with any of that. She only gets to do this once.

Debating whether she wants to use this to take one more try at prying more money from Fordham but she’s about ready to commit to Rutgers.

OK, I believe we're done.

That last post was exactly a month ago. She reached out to Rutgers that evening to confirm she still had a roster spot. Once she got confirmation of that she verbally (textually?) committed to them, but didn't get the actual commitment form to sign from the team until the end of last week (there was fretting over the delay but the coach texted her back to say it was on the way before we asked). In the meantime, we sent in a deposit to confirm her admission and she got the news that she got into the RU honors college and with that got a sizeable scholarship that should knock all-in cost down to something very close to four figures. And a sweet dorm room on the New Brunswick campus*.

She sent back the commitment form this week so we're official? She's already mapped out her courses for the next four years, is working on her social media announcement and I guess we're going to make sure she can get a signing ceremony at school. Missed my birthday last week so I had to buy myself a t-shirt or two from Homefield Apparel yesterday.

*she knows one other girl who is committed to the XC/track program and got into the honors college so feels like they're almost obligated to room together since their schedules should match up, this just happens to be the girl who my kid thought asked too many questions on the official visit they shared

Since that post my kid and this other girl submitted their housing application as roommates. This week the girl texted to tell my daughter that she is decommitting from RU because she got into the Navel Academy. That prompted a minor freakout - she's worried that most of the other athletes will be living in much closer proximity to each other - but I think she's over it now.

Jeez, there's a whole academy for that now?

Sure do love naranjas

I can edit that and no one would know and would instead think you guys are bananas.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Tue Mar 12, 2024 8:56 pm wish my kid wasn't so down on Rutgers because he didn't get into the Business school. I think it'd be the best school for him, but we'll see.

And it's official!

That Akron@RU Swampup is getting bigger. Congrats man.

rass wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 9:05 pm That Akron@RU Swampup is getting bigger. Congrats man.

After all those years of following your daughter in cross country races, he is following her to college.

Do they know each other? Maybe they could bond over both fathers belonging to a weird online friend group.

Syb..How did you get a picture from right after the fraternity formal before he got on campus?

sancarlos wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:23 pm Do they know each other? Maybe they could bond over both fathers belonging to a weird online friend group.

Ha! They are aware of each other and been to parties at each other’s houses, but I don’t think they’ve ever spoken. My son isn’t the most socially adept kid, though he’s made huge strides the last year or two.

Hey Rass, how did you get Bob Odenkirk to make an appearance at your daughter's signing day?

The Sybian wrote: ↑Tue May 07, 2024 10:58 am Hey Rass, how did you get Bob Odenkirk to make an appearance at your daughter's signing day?

He (not BO) has been one of her coaches since middle school. HS head coach had a family emergency overnight and couldn't make the event, felt bad.

The Boy just got notice this morning that he got into Rutgers Business School off the waitlist. So glad he already accepted at Rutgers (School of Arts and Sciences), otherwise he'd have to rescind an acceptance at another school and resubmit his commit announcement on his school's Instagram page. This was a big surprise as I heard they only accepted 250 incoming Freshman this year, as compared to over a 1000 in past years, and my wife saw there was a 2% acceptance rate off the waitlist in past years. Timing would have really sucked, as several of the schools he got into had deadlines yesterday to commit.

On a funny note, the deposit he paid to reserve his spot in the School of Arts and Sciences is non-refundable and won't be used towards tuition. Only $150, but it seems kind of sheisty.

First off, great news!

But, yeah, that's total bullshit on the deposit. I hate shit like that.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 11:01 am The Boy just got notice this morning that he got into Rutgers Business School off the waitlist. So glad he already accepted at Rutgers (School of Arts and Sciences), otherwise he'd have to rescind an acceptance at another school and resubmit his commit announcement on his school's Instagram page. This was a big surprise as I heard they only accepted 250 incoming Freshman this year, as compared to over a 1000 in past years, and my wife saw there was a 2% acceptance rate off the waitlist in past years. Timing would have really sucked, as several of the schools he got into had deadlines yesterday to commit.

On a funny note, the deposit he paid to reserve his spot in the School of Arts and Sciences is non-refundable and won't be used towards tuition. Only $150, but it seems kind of sheisty.

That's fantastic, Syb.

I guess the deposit is to disincentive kids from accepting at numerous schools and then cancelling the extras when the semester starts?

So, my oldest is done this month as well. He'll have his H.S. diploma and almost enough dual enrollment credits to have an AA. We toured Embry Riddle a year or so ago, as he wants to be a commercial airline pilot. Roughly $75k/yr, and you still need 1000 flight hours after graduation to get your commercial license. Seems like a waste of time and money.

We have a few friends, and I have a few clients, who are pilots and we learned that both Delta and United have started their own flight schools. The cost for those is roughly $100k total and it's a pipeline to a job with either airline.

We're working on a gap year plan for him now that will likely mean September to December in Europe, probably a combination of work exchange programs in Denmark and Italy before returning home for the holidays and then maybe spending the spring (their fall) down under in either Australia or New Zealand. Schengen European immigration/tourism rules only allow 90 of 180 days on the continent before restarting the clock, and as a non-EU citizen he won't be able to get a work visa. Sounds like work visas are much easier to get as an American in either Australia or New Zealand.

The Sybian wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 11:01 am The Boy just got notice this morning that he got into Rutgers Business School off the waitlist. So glad he already accepted at Rutgers (School of Arts and Sciences), otherwise he'd have to rescind an acceptance at another school and resubmit his commit announcement on his school's Instagram page. This was a big surprise as I heard they only accepted 250 incoming Freshman this year, as compared to over a 1000 in past years, and my wife saw there was a 2% acceptance rate off the waitlist in past years. Timing would have really sucked, as several of the schools he got into had deadlines yesterday to commit.

On a funny note, the deposit he paid to reserve his spot in the School of Arts and Sciences is non-refundable and won't be used towards tuition. Only $150, but it seems kind of sheisty.

Congrats, Syb Jr.!

So, because I like to make everything about me...

My dad was a pilot and I kind of grew up in airplanes. (I'm not giving you guys ammo to edit.) I "flew" many planes as a youngster and was pretty sure that's what I was going to be when I grew up... Until we had a "falling out" when I was 13 and I was so pissed I decided I wasn't going that route. (Almost changed my last name, just to show the level of how mad I was at him.)

Anyways, all of that to say I've remained pretty fascinated by flying and being a pilot and watch a lot of YouTube channels that breakdown flying, communicating with the tower, crash debriefs, etc.

While I'm, by no means, an actual source of information... I, too, have heard that the school in FL is nice if you want to have the college experience, it's not really necessary to get into the airline industry. Technically, as I'm sure you know, you need 1500 hours on certain types of craft to get certified by the FAA and begin your career.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 12:20 pm So, because I like to make everything about me...

My dad was a pilot and I kind of grew up in airplanes. (I'm not giving you guys ammo to edit.) I "flew" many planes as a youngster and was pretty sure that's what I was going to be when I grew up... Until we had a "falling out" when I was 13 and I was so pissed I decided I wasn't going that route. (Almost changed my last name, just to show the level of how mad I was at him.)

Anyways, all of that to say I've remained pretty fascinated by flying and being a pilot and watch a lot of YouTube channels that breakdown flying, communicating with the tower, crash debriefs, etc.

While I'm, by no means, an actual source of information... I, too, have heard that the school in FL is nice if you want to have the college experience, it's not really necessary to get into the airline industry. Technically, as I'm sure you know, you need 1500 hours on certain types of craft to get certified by the FAA and begin your career.

Yeah, ERAU told us on the tour that pilots get about 250 hours in their 4 year undergraduate degree, and you need 1000 more (for some reason an ERAU degree lowered the 1500 hour requirement?). He's a pretty independent kid, is laser focused on becoming a pilot, and doesn't really see the wisdom in going to college just because. I'm hoping this gap year (or more, if he is so inclined and can afford it) is enough to give him the maturity to go right to his career path.

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 12:10 pm So, my oldest is done this month as well. He'll have his H.S. diploma and almost enough dual enrollment credits to have an AA. We toured Embry Riddle a year or so ago, as he wants to be a commercial airline pilot. Roughly $75k/yr, and you still need 1000 flight hours after graduation to get your commercial license. Seems like a waste of time and money.

We have a few friends, and I have a few clients, who are pilots and we learned that both Delta and United have started their own flight schools. The cost for those is roughly $100k total and it's a pipeline to a job with either airline.

We're working on a gap year plan for him now that will likely mean September to December in Europe, probably a combination of work exchange programs in Denmark and Italy before returning home for the holidays and then maybe spending the spring (their fall) down under in either Australia or New Zealand. Schengen European immigration/tourism rules only allow 90 of 180 days on the continent before restarting the clock, and as a non-EU citizen he won't be able to get a work visa. Sounds like work visas are much easier to get as an American in either Australia or New Zealand.

This is all just so great.

NLFC, did you get a pilot's license? I had one in college, but ran out of money in law school and haven't flown since. I could probably afford to pick it up again, but I've realized I am not very good at responding to emergencies, and flying here seems so much dicier than flying over the flat farmland of Illinois.

Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 12:42 pm

govmentchedda wrote: ↑Thu May 16, 2024 12:10 pm So, my oldest is done this month as well. He'll have his H.S. diploma and almost enough dual enrollment credits to have an AA. We toured Embry Riddle a year or so ago, as he wants to be a commercial airline pilot. Roughly $75k/yr, and you still need 1000 flight hours after graduation to get your commercial license. Seems like a waste of time and money.

We have a few friends, and I have a few clients, who are pilots and we learned that both Delta and United have started their own flight schools. The cost for those is roughly $100k total and it's a pipeline to a job with either airline.

We're working on a gap year plan for him now that will likely mean September to December in Europe, probably a combination of work exchange programs in Denmark and Italy before returning home for the holidays and then maybe spending the spring (their fall) down under in either Australia or New Zealand. Schengen European immigration/tourism rules only allow 90 of 180 days on the continent before restarting the clock, and as a non-EU citizen he won't be able to get a work visa. Sounds like work visas are much easier to get as an American in either Australia or New Zealand.

This is all just so great.

NLFC, did you get a pilot's license? I had one in college, but ran out of money in law school and haven't flown since. I could probably afford to pick it up again, but I've realized I am not very good at responding to emergencies, and flying here seems so much dicier than flying over the flat farmland of Illinois.

No, we had that falling out when I was 12/13 and while I'd "flown" with my dad in the co-pilot chair and had control of the stick a bunch, I never took the next logical step.

'chedda... speaking of cost, does Embry Riddle pick up the cost of plane rental and fuel? Because while that tuition is steep (very), that might be mitigated a bit of those costs are baked in. (I know this is just a theoretical question, just curious.)

It's weird we're talking about this today... One of my favorite YT channels was just talking about the many issues facing the airline industry and the correlation with problems in the flight instruction side of things. Way too many instructors that are really just trying to clock hours and not into teaching the students anything other than what's in the book. (very simplified version of what he was talking about.)