<p>Is it worth going to the Colonial Inauguration for freshmen? We live in California and it would be a bit expensive for my D to take a trip. What benefits would she get? What % of the freshman class typically attend CI? Is it worthwhile for a parent to go as well? Isn't there a freshman orientation before classes start anyway?</p>
<p>WestCoast: CI gives freshmen a taste of what GW will be like, and gives them a chance to meet their fellow classmates, speak with an academic adviser, and learn more about GW during different information sessions. Almost every freshman that lives in the US goes to CI. There is one right before classes start, but it is geared towards international and transfer students and doesn’t have the same energy as the ones earlier in the summer. </p>
<p>I think if there is any way you can get the money to pay for your daughter to attend, it would be beneficial. It’s less important that parents go; there are activities for parents, but it’s mostly just info sessions about common-sense stuff and various entertainment events.</p>
<p>Just to reinforce what gwsenior said - CI is their freshman orientation. I thought it was required to go to one session - either in the summer or the one right before classes start, which is more for those who could not get to one of the earlier ones. I went also, but found it not at all necessary for a parent to attend.</p>
<p>I hope I’m not wrong when I tell you this, but I think it is also when you set up any language placement tests, talk to your advisor about what courses to register for and get your AP scores approved for credit or not. Then when you go to register for classes in July you know what you are doing. My parents are going even though I don’t think they need to bc they want to meet other parents and you know, my Mom wants to talk to other Moms, that kind of thing. They are not staying in the hotels that GW recommended bc we have friends in the ara and they are just going to stay with them, so you can cut down on expenses in some ways. Lastly, it’s a great way for your D to meet people, maybe feel a little more comfortable with the campus and see if she would like to live in Thurston or not. And you might want to see where your D is going to be spending her time when she’s not with you and when she mentions certain school related things, you’ll know what she is talking about.</p>
<p>it is mandatory to attend. but parents are not required to go to it.</p>
<p>Definately worth going! It helped me to meet other incoming freshman and mostly feel a lot less anxious about attending in the fall. There is no other orientation. I also really liked that it was held several weeks before the start of school as I was able to connect further over the summer with kids I had met at CI. My parents also found it helpful (I barely saw them) because they were able have a lot of questions answered, (ie. GWorld dollars, tuition payment plans, dorm info) face to face vs trying to talk with people over the phone. But, I agree with mamabear. If it’s too expensive for both student and parent to attend, it’s not a big deal.</p>
<p>…for the parent to go.</p>
<p>What are the fees to attend CI?</p>
<p>I think it was 150</p>
<p>$150 for freshmen, includes meals? How about for parents?</p>
<p>Last year it was $250 for the student, which was included in the $800 deposit. Parents were extra. The other $550 of the deposit was credited toward tuition. When you register for CI, you will pick a date to register for classes online. The dates are all available online - this site should be your guide - [Welcome</a> Class of 2013 - gwired.gwu.edu/freshmen](<a href=“http://gwired.gwu.edu/freshmen/?url=freshmen]Welcome”>http://gwired.gwu.edu/freshmen/?url=freshmen) Read the GW First Class information - you can take placement tests online before registering for classes.</p>
<p>Yes, student meals were included. The first parent was $150, a second parent if attending would be another $100. here is the CI website - <a href=“http://gwired.gwu.edu/ci/AllAboutCI[/url]”>http://gwired.gwu.edu/ci/AllAboutCI</a></p>
<p>well, does CI=freshmen orientation? aren’t they the same?</p>
<p>dailytree: yes, basically is the same.
West Coast Parent: sorry, 150 was for the parents, same for each sibling</p>
<p>Multitasker–do we need to attend both CI and freshmen orientation? or i could only attend the later?? </p>
<p>btw, i like your user name :D</p>
<p>Thank you, dailytree!
My name pretty much describes me, I can do many tasks at the same time!
but back to the subject, CI and Orientation are the same thing, and you have 4 or 5 choices to attend. It used to be 3 days and 5 choices, but I believe that changed this year, correct me if I’m wrong.
Once you start school on 9/7, the first few days are kind of orientation as well, that is, besides the scheduled classes, in the evening you have a Freshman Welcome activity on each day, which allows you to meet people and adjust slowly to the change ahead. I hope it helps. CI is great, I have met a lot of people who turned to be friends later. One thing, my word of advise is: If you like the people you were assigned to room with during CI, don’t arrange to request them as roomates, because 1 or 2 days you meet them, doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll like each other later.
So, I would wait for the assignment given by the school, and see what happens.
Good luck and enjoy!</p>
<p>I think it is a great introduction for the parents and students. Gives you a good feel for the school and what to expect</p>
<p>In 2006 my S did not attend CI in the summer. We also live on the west coast and the additional cost of sending him across the nation for CI and having him miss work was just not worth it. He attended a smaller/brief/less enthusiastic CI in the fall as he was able to go when foreign students went. This also gave him early move in privileges! He used the arguement that being on the west coast put you just as far away as being a foreign student. It was not a problem and he never felt he missed a thing by not attending in the summer. Have your D check out the fall possibility.</p>
<p>I LOVED CI!! There’s an international/transfer CI right before school, but like everyone else said…go during the summer! Virgin and Southwest have reasonable flights cross country (virgin in $200 round trip from LA)</p>
<p>Colonial Inauguration IS freshman orientation. Except waaaaaaay more awesome than your typical “orientation”…! Can you tell I had a great time??</p>
<p>As far as parents: I went alone (I flew down on my own from Boston). I know people whose parents came, and there’s a parents CI, but honestly, they didn’t see their parents that much. Also, I think it’s better for kids to go on their own, just so they can get a feel for what being on their own will be like (it’s only 3 days). I don’t think I would have made as many friends during CI had I had to hang out with my parents at night instead of being forced to hang out with my classmates (“forced” but it was a great experience).</p>
<p>Is it worth going to if you are a transfer (Junior)?
The last orientation I went to in my former school was more of a really long and pointless sales pitch about how the school was amazing and offered everything (which it clearly didn’t :P)…</p>
<p>what time do the orientations end usually?
because i live like 20 minutes away by metro and might go home at the end of the day…</p>