<p>My parents want to know if they should stay through Thursday for all the orientation seminars. What is everyone doing?</p>
<p>I’ll bump this. I need to know this too. I think what mine are doing is getting there the day before and leaving once I move in.</p>
<p>We were planning on staying until Fri am but I am not sure. I would love to know what everyone else is doning also.</p>
<p>When our daughter was a freshmen she lived in Forbes and that group moved in a few days early. We are out of state so we did not go back/return or stay on for the parent activities. As I recall many of the descriptions matched things that occurred during PITT Start. I don’t feel as though we missed anything. I do think though that staying at least one day helps as the kids typically need a TARGET run after moving in and seeing what they really need.</p>
<p>We are not staying. We are arriving the evening before and staying in hotel. Will move in the next morning and then we hope to be on the road by mid afternoon. D can take bus to Target to get needed things. Would like to stay, but work will not allow it. At some point, I have to walk away and let her fend for herself. Don’t think it will be easy on any day, at any point. sigh…</p>
<p>Since it was our first child exiting the nest, we stayed for the activities. Once we moved him in, we didn’t see him again until the night before we left. We participated in some of the activities but used the extra days as a “mini-vacation”. Thinking back, we could have left the next day. I’m sure we will be staying extra days again when the next child heads off to college :)</p>
<p>My D will be a sophmore. Last year I mistakenly made nonrefundable hotel reservations so we ended up staying. I attended the convocation and an entertaining speaker but did not attend any other activities. The second day we helped with some loose ends in my D’s dorm room (nothing that she could not have handled on her own or after we had unpacked the previous day). And yes, a lot of what they did offer was similiar to PittStart. Many parents left after the first day. On the other hand, my husband and I too had a “mini-vacation” went to the Carnegie Museum, took a riverboat cruise, had dinner atop of the incline plane (very romantic - what a view!). It was our first college “drop off” experience and I was happy to enjoy some time with my husband and not head directly back home to an empty house and have him return to work. We also got to see some of the things Pittsburgh has to offer that we probably wouldn’t get to when we come for visits.</p>
<p>jsmom: Did you stay at the Holiday Inn on campus? Our reservations were non-refundable too! We attended the convocation (go early or else you will be shuffled upstairs to watch it on TV).</p>
<p>This go around we will definitely miss all the freshmen students/parents since we get to move him in early due to Arrival Survival commitments :)</p>
<p>We (the parental units) stayed for a few days and attended some of the events, which I thought were worthwhile. At the Convocation, however, I was one of the few parents there. The kids sit with their new dorm mates, so you probably won’t be with your son or daughter. There was a seminar about finances that I thought was worthwhile, and also a motivational speaker who did a presentation about “letting go.” He was good.</p>
<p>In our case, our daughter is an only child, and I felt this was the only time to do something like this. We also drove her to Target and helped her get set up, and went to Got Used together and bought books. If you already have nonrefundable hotel reservations, stay for the programs and enjoy them! Treat yourself to a breakfast at Pamela’s on Forbes! As jsmom says above, there is a lot do see and do in Pittsburgh, and you can have a nice mini vacay!</p>
<p>A friend of mine told us that the Freshman Convocation is a lovely service. My husband and I have never been to a college one and feel the desire to get to know Pitt on this level. We are going to leave (from the Philadelphia area) very early on the 25th and move in our son, stay one night and go to the convocation. We’ll leave for home later that afternoon. 5 hour drive home.</p>
<p>Pamela’s for breakfast is a treat. Actually, deciding where to eat along Forbes Ave can be another difficult decision. Too many choices. If you are staying, we went to the Phipps (sp?)Conservatory and would recommend it.</p>
<p>MTNest - yes, we did stay at the Holiday Inn. I made the reservation at the same time as I made the Parents Weekend reservation and they told me Parents weekend was non-refundable but did not mention anything that Orientation week was non-refundable/cancellable. I called them when I got my confirmation and they wouldn’t budge - so I figured just go it with and enjoy the time. </p>
<p>LizWiz - There is A LOT to do in Pittsburgh and a lot within walking distance of Pitt - I haven’t been to Pamela’s yet - but that is on my agenda. Along with all the great eating choices along Forbes there are some great places to eat on Craig - up towards Carnegie Mellon - Lulu’s Noodles is our current favorite. Within walking distance from Pitt you have Schenley Park, Phipps Conservatory and the Carnegie Museum. </p>
<p>I was grateful we stayed. Our D was in assigned a single and when we left after move in, she hadn’t met anyone yet - so I would have been a bit distraught leaving her not knowing if she would make friends etc. Of course, no worries by that evening she had made many friends and when we said good bye a day and a half later we got to see how happy she was and met some of her new friends. Two girls we met that day she is going to live with this year. So I am happy that we stayed - so if you stay - attend some of the things Pitt has that interest you and spend some time at some of the attractions in Pittsburgh and let your freshman get settled in. We are from the Philadelphia area and we are looking forward to going to the Pittsburgh Pirates game after we move our daughter in this year. It’s a great ballpark!</p>