socialworker,
thanks for asking.
dd loves tufts. she has made the most amazing friends which sometimes i think is the key to enjoying the college experience.
she has some great professors that she has already developed relationships with.
she is loving the new england autumn and sent us some grogeous pictures.
my worry is the winter. she does not have the sort of warm coat (down fill) that i think she needs but until she can wrap her head around what she considers ugly, she will freeze her little tush off.

abranz, there are some stylish (and affordable) down jackets these days. I bought one last year from Eddie Bauer outlet (right in Downtown Crossing) - it's form-fitting and quite flattering IMO. It's nothing like those puffy jackets she has in mind.

But, having said that, when I was your DD's age going to school here, vanity was on the top of my mind, and I'd rather be freezing than be caught wearing a down jacket or wearing a hat! (Yeap, that was dumb, but we are only 18 once.).

Buy her a North Face. They are "in". Although I think college kids have some sort of extra cold tolerance. I see college kids wearing flip flops all winter.