College Weekend

In response to our quest for life-long learning, the family started looking at colleges and universities for James last weekend. We visited two different schools to broaden his horizons, maybe add a little cultural enrichment to, and explore what a teenager can expect at a four-year school. We visited Saint Mary's College in Moraga, and with UC Berkley so close, a quick trip there was decided as well. We might as well visit the university bookstore, which is always a treat, and yes I got a nice fluffy sweatshirt, and so did James and Brendan.

Saint Mary's had a Saturday prospective student orientation that we thought would be a great way to start our college tour. This visit would provide a base for which James can decide what kind of school he would like to go to. It was a quaint school modeled after the California Missions. It was modern with small classes, good security features, religious activities, sports and recreation, close to “the City” and some of the smaller towns in the area, and had a small college community feel. In fact only 2,100 kids go to the school in the undergraduate program. James got a presentation on what a liberal arts education was like, how to fill out the applications and deadlines, and the importance of the SAT and ACT college exams. Common themes were: “Now make sure your application is in by November 4th or you will not be admitted,” “It is important for you to do well on the college entrance exams as it will decide your fate later. Find your testing location and get a good night's sleep” and finally, "Having a well-rounded degree will prepare you for a vast range of careers, from business to education, nursing and healthcare, and math and the sciences.” And finally, “We also have a really good basketball program.”

We had lunch at the chow hall, a tour of the campus, and met with several of the student ambassadors, who were very helpful and friendly. Brendan fell in love with one of them while we were at Saint Mary's Day Care. Sean was with Brendan outside the theater with all the toddling young ones, while the young ambassadors spoke to the people who could not go into the theater. “Questions anyone?” Brendan was again the center of attention. He had his flower sword, his orange juice, Starbucks cup, and the keys to the car. He was ready for adventures as the presentations went on.

After a small but arduous trip over the hill to the City of Berkley, we arrived at this huge campus. Traffic on the way was awful, we turned around into Wildcat Canyon, which was quite pretty, and descended into the city before we got to the campus. I love the trees, the parks and streams, the architecture, and the huge campus feel of Berkley. Politics aside, it is a pretty campus. We arrived at the same time as graduation, which was a treat. It was fun to see the graduates in their gowns celebrating four or five years of super hard work. Darkness was coming quickly so we had to find a place to eat, get on the road, and find our way back over the hill. Prior to our long road trip, we had dinner at Pyramid Brewery. This is one of Sean’s favorite breweries and restaurants. Brendan was in circus mode, James was texting, and Lara was just trying to contain herself with all the activities surrounding the eating experience. Dad would have ordered Brendan a Thunderhead IPA, which would have made for a quieter dinning experience. With that, we talked about the schools, we talked about visiting Lara’s high school friend on the way over the hill, and we did a compare and contrast of the daily activities. All in all, it was a productive Saturday. Don’t forget to get your application in by November 4th.