The Path to College (a request! WOW!!)

Hi all,

For those who don't know (since I have not gotten my act together and done the bio part of the blog yet), I founded and am Minister of Communication of the Bay Area Children's Literature List (and yes, I want a click through to sign up members, but I'm still a newbie, so I'm still working on it).  This list has been going on for well over a decade, so while it mainly has posts related to the children's literature world, occasionally I'll go into the personal.

Last year at this time I sent a post regarding my daughter Elise's journey to college.  One of my listees requested that I use it as a blog post (that was SO COOL!!  Thank you!)  So, you have her to credit (or blame) for this.

Here it is as it was sent to the list:

Some of you have known my kids since they were babies, some came in later, but those who have met my daughters have always been so sweet to them and interested in them that I thought I'd share with you the Elise College Process.  She really has become the best example of making sure you get all the info before picking a school and don't think you know what you want before you look.

Here's her journey:

I want to go to school in Manhattan. 

I will NOT go to school in California

Manhattan is too overwhelming.  I'm NOT going to school in Manhattan.

I will go to school in California, it's between Davis and Berkeley.

I HATE Berkeley!

I'm going to Berkeley.


The entire process was without any pressure from us (okay, she'd disagree with that).  We wanted her to choose the right school for her.    She LOVED Davis when she visited (as did I, we found a great independent bookstore and a restaurant with a large gluten-free menu)  She hated Berkeley on Cal Day and decided to go one more time to check out Psych classes.  She met the nicest students, realized that the Berkeley Psych Dept. is ONE THIRD the size of Davis' (meaning more opportunities for internships), sat in on a Psychology of Happiness class and decided Berkeley was where she wanted to be (one week before the decision deadline).

All I can say is, Phew.
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As a p.s.  Elise is entering 'Dead Week' at Berkeley next week with finals after that.  It has truly been a fantastic fit for her and given that there were two emergency room runs (if there is a germ, it will find Elise - and considering that Elise's dorm has gender neutral bathrooms, there are many germs) and various ailments it was good to have her close to home.  AND, before anyone flames me, I have no issues with gender neutral bathrooms, I am delighted that Berkeley has these.  It's just that Elise has seen boys' (let's point fingers here) dirty footprints coming OUT of the shower.  Okay?  All I can say is, eeeewww. (but to keep it balanced, Elise's half of her dorm room qualifies as a bio-hazard).