<p>It looks like your D is headed to Penn State. Here’s a link to the Orientation Guide. It lists activities for the individual colleges and then activities for all students. Leaving on Saturday should be fine.
[2011</a> Fall Semester Orientation Express](<a href=“http://www.psu.edu/ouic/uport/fa11.html]2011”>http://www.psu.edu/ouic/uport/fa11.html) </p>
<p>If you take the time you’re there to really explore the area, you will feel much more comfortable leaving her. She will also feel more secure. When she calls and says she went somewhere, you’ll be able to picture it. Being familiar with my kids’ new surroundings was a real help to me when leaving them from home. If you all concentrate on the exciting opportunities ahead, the scary stuff won’t seem so scary. Good luck.</p>
<p>The OP is going cross country…that’s a tough “day trip”. Plus because they are traveling cross country, they likely are not schlepping the bulky stuff with them and probably do need time to pick it up local to the college. AND didn’t they say it was orientation (or am I mixing that up with some other thread).</p>
<p>I DO agree that less time spent is better…but ONE day for a cross country trip is not easy…and it’s costly too.</p>
<p>I understand that but if it were my kid there move-in takes priority over my travel experience … and the logistics cost of the trip there and home does not change depending on how long the family stays on campus with the child (hmm … the longer they stay they get more rest before heading back). I’ve only seen schools with family events on move-in day … at such schools at most I’d recommend arrving the day before after a pretty good drive … then move-in day … then leaving the day after. With a ton of shopping I can imagine staying an extra day maybe … even then a lot of stuff that is needed can be bought at home and picked-up or delivered at the school as opposed to requiring a shopping trip while at the school; I would definately not pull my child out of orientation activities to do shopping. My family staying an extra day will cost an extra $150-$250 … saving that money will pay for slightly higher prices if I buy ahead or some shipping charges. My bottom line would be to make our schedule be on the longer end of typical as possible and not longer.</p>
<p>I urge you to leave right after you have done whatever is asked of the parents. Usually there is some sort of goodbye ritual in the form of a Convocation. After that it would be quite odd for parents to stick around. The majority of the students will not know more then a handful of other students and this is the best time for your student to make new friends and put together names and faces of people they have met on FB. She will be busy having fun. This is NOT the time for vacationing as a family on campus. Not that you planned on doing that, but it sounds like your daughter doesn’t have a clear picture of what’s normal.</p>
<p>3togo, Thumper is not talking about them staying on after the move-in (at least I don’t think so), she’s talking about the days before and taking the time to buy the needed items. It’s not like you can fly in at three in the afternoon and go directly to Target, pick up everything and then move in the next day. If the OP has the time and the money, a couple of days before orientation makes a lot of sense IMO. Hopefully the OP has booked her hotels because they book up REALLY fast at PSU.</p>
<p>Well…of course NOT. That is why an additional day might be needed AT THE BEGINNING of the drop off weekend. Those traveling across country (we did this)…by plane…sometimes DO order stuff at BBB, and need to make a Target run for toiletries, and Staples for school/computer supplies. I would suggest that the family do this the day they arrive…go to orientation…and LEAVE the college campus. That would likely be three days…one for the “pick up of items not brought on the plane” and two for orientation.</p>
<p>Every kid has different needs. My very independent D was okay with flying cross-country by herself, checking into her hotel for the night, and handling move-in by herself the next morning. What she could not carry on the plane, we shipped or she bought there. On that first night prior to move-in, she had made plans with her two roommates, one of whom was with parents. We talked (a lot) those first few days and I was at her disposal by phone, but the $1,000+ we saved sure helped. AND I was able to cry in the privacy of my own place rather than embarrass her! PS D had traveled by herself as a HS senior for audition trips on several occasions so she knew how to maneuver airports, cabs, hotels, etc. This might not work for a less seasoned traveler, but it worked for us.</p>
<p>^^^And that’s the key. There really is no right or wrong. Every student and family has a different dynamic and different needs. Do what works for your own family.</p>
<p>Both the colleges our sons went to made it pretty clear when parents were expected to clear out. At Carnegie Mellon there was a slot labeled something like “Good bye dinner with your child” while at Tufts they have a convocation that is the afternoon of move in day. All the other orientation activities after that are strictly student only. </p>
<p>That said if it would make her feel more comfortable stay through Sunday, why not? But make plans to do sightseeing not to be spending time with her. You can say one last quick goodbye and everyone will be happy.</p>
<p>@ my- three-sons& @ thumper1 ~ yes, that is where she is headed. I think the 3 days b4 hand will be ample time to shop for all her dorm needs. When instaters arrive then we will go and give them their space to move in. I couldn’t imagine her going off across country alone. Since she was so involved in sports/activities her world was virtally was home or school period. I know they figure it out fast though. Thank you all VERY MUCH for your input, both hubby and I read every word. Love this site, so helpful!!!</p>
<p>I did not read through all of the posts. IF this is an area that you and your DH would enjoy exploring and you have the $$ without a struggle–then just stay. Just stay so she knows you are there and that you are , in fact, independent and just fine on your own. This will give her a wierd kind of comfort.
When you visit in the future you will be much more acclimated and know where to go and what is entertaining–so a future benefit.
Please know, and accept, that if your student is doing well you may make many a trip where you are on your own most of the time. Your student will greet you with a delightful smile and say “THE RENT’S” and then spent 3 hours of your 45 hour visit with you. And it will be worth every minute as long as you are independent and have a very good time on you own. So this first time could be the time to explore.</p>
<p>I agree with oregon101. For the first trip, we dropped off and left the next day but we did return for parents weekend and we did explore the area. We have enjoyed exploring (on our own and with son) on subsequent visits and agree that we don’t spend that much time together. Visits are a way to meet friends (take them to dinner), become familiar with the area and resources, and it’s been fun for my husband and me. We can relate to locales son discusses when he calls, he can show us highlights in the area that he’s explored, and we serve as a touchpoint for any concerns since we are there now and then for conversations. One trip was I recall as quite nice; our son came to our hotel room and we watched a game together, cheering on the team and eating popcorn in the room. After that, he headed back to the dorms to see friends. Not a big visit, but we just enjoyed each others’ company.</p>
<p>We will be making the 24 hour drive to our son’s school to help him move in. We plan on arriving in town on Weds., shopping and picking up our stuff at BBB. He moves in on Thurs., shop more to get the last odds and ends. Friday he takes placement tests while the rest of the freshman move in and that afternoon orientation activities begin for students and parents. The activities continue all weekend and conclude Sunday mid day. We plan on staying for the entire weekend and leaving after the last activity Sunday. The school has activities that are for parents only and students only.
We plan for some of the time just being at the hotel or around town just for last minute things. It is going to be a long 24 hour drive home .</p>
Love this site, so helpful!!!</p>
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