Thank you discode for explaining about GroupMe
Nathan's activity on Insta(last couple of months) indicated he really lean towards east coast not just the most recent bulldog like.
Coaching, I am glad that this could be an opportunity for Nathan to have new perspectives in figure skating, people and life. Many new possible arrangements can be made, and Nathan can broaden his horizon in many ways. If Nathan will focus more on GOE, SS, TR, choreo, components that is really a great thing I believe every fans would like to see. Many great people(in figure skating community) are located in east coast (New England) and it is closer to the figure skating clusters of Canada as well.
I would not worry about Nathan if he has to train by himself (but I think he will have someone to monitor him). For example, worry about him over-train himself, he has grown as showed in his growth over OG, I have confidence in him and trust him. Also I think Nathan's current PT trainer can easily relocate to New Haven if needed.
What other social media evidence did you find to show his leaning toward the East Coast? Please kindly fill me in.
I am sure he has grown in many ways--two clean-ish programs at Worlds is proof of that. But his prudence hasn't grown to the extent that he quits doing quads in exhibition programs *sigh*
yyyskate - great points and being able to train at an ice rink right on campus is a big plus - Nathan has previously been driving all around socal to train and get enough ice time.
It will be interesting to see what his coaching situation turns out to be, and being away from Raf may result in Nathan being able to focus on the parts of skating that Raf doesn't feel are of much importance.
It will be great if the addition of another coach, another voice will result in Nathan's focusing on skating skills and the other parts of skating Raf hasn't improved over the years. I'm glad yyyskate and you and other wise folks here are pointing this out.
re ribbit's scary post in the Marin thread
I think Nathan wants to give his 4 year college dream a shot. When I saw Yale 2022, I thought no way in heck is he graduating in 4 years if he wants to train even part time. If it works out, he stays. If it is too much, he transfers to a more accommodating college.
But it's good to have a year to try it out, to see if it's something you're willing to give up to chase your other dreams.
ETA i don't know the recent rules, but i could graduate in 3 years (6 semesters) using AP classes credits, without taking an unusually heavy load, taking those same science classes Nathan would have to take to apply to med school. And back in my day (1990), people were able to take time off to take care of other things that happen in life and return. Probably not 4 years off before they return--I don't know anyone who tried to take that much time off. but it's not like Yale will give you 8 semesters max, and if you can't accumulate enough credits in that time, out you go.
it's easy enough to look up the current rules, but i'm lazy. didn't check if 'the whale' had moved to east haven or been renamed the bank of ____ rink, after all
that's why I think if it's over his head he will just transfer, but I'm thinking more like, classes, esp. pre-med classes, are probably graded on a curve, and it's harder to get an A- in organic chemistry at Yale than at a more typical college, and if he cannot study _and train_ and get good enough grades for med school admission, then it's better to take those classes when he can totally focus on them without sparing any brain space or time for skating.
I do know that many of my classmates felt their time there was valuable for other things beside actual college credits and that's the experience I hope he'll have as well, though who knows, we're all different.
Besides, he could major in something easier, like film study, and then after he graduates take science classes somewhere else, at another school, another program -- I know plenty of people who did that as well. You can be an English major and still apply to med school--it just means you have to take those science classes somewhere at some point and do well enough in those classes...
He could decide after 2 terms that he'd rather be an investment banker, after his college roommates show him how the other half lives...
when he went to Yale, someone set a bomb in the rink during 60s protests; hopefully that won’t happen again 
