<p>Does anyone know when freshman are expected to move onto campus? Do parents generally drop their kids off or do kids just fly out and figure it all out themselves? </p>
<p>Thanks for any btdt experiences.</p>
<p>It depends on if you go to a pre-orientation thing like OA (Outdoor Action) or CA (Community Action, which is what I went on and lovedd)–most people choose to, and they start the first week of September, like Sept 3ish. Regular freshman orientation seems to start approximately on the second Saturday in September, like Sept 11ish (that’s what it was in 2010). My parents dropped me off, but plentyy of people move in without their parents, so don’t feel like they have to come with you, especially if it’s a financial issue–you’ll be fine without them! (There’s only like maybe half a day’s worth of activities planned for them by the res colleges)</p>
<p>The actual dates are on the admitted students website. Outdoor Action participants arrive Sat afternoon Sept 1. First day of freshman orientation is Sat the 8th.</p>
<p>I believe the University is moving the bulk of its parent orientation to the earlier date, as the majority of students do OA or CA.</p>
<p>I plan to go with my son on the 1st and do my best to get him moved in then. And then he’s on his own!</p>
<p>Are they letting the OA and CA kids move into their dorms before OA/CA this year? That would be convenient. In the past, no one was allowed to move in until after OA/CA which was around 9/10 or 9/11.</p>
<p>This past year (2011) students going to OA/CA checked in on campus and received their dorm keys. Students were allowed to drop off all their belongings and if all roommates were there, they could decide who got which beds. If all roommates weren’t present they were told to wait until all were on campus to determine bed assignments, etc. My DS had all roommates present so they made their beds and put away stuff before heading to OA (one roommate didn’t do OA, but was on campus early because he was an athlete). </p>
<p>So you can drop all your stuff in your dorm room and wait until you return from OA to arrange rooms when all roommates are present. OA/CA students will sleep at leader’s dorms or other common area before leaving for their trips. There were several parent meetings scheduled on OA dropoff day. We chose not to return for regular dropoff date since DS got settled before he left for OA. Only thing that would have been nice to see on the regular student arrival date was the parade when all the freshmen entered campus. There were some videos on the website, but it would have been nice to see in person.</p>
<p>The university doesn’t really give you any information on the schedule for the regular freshman dropoff date–to my thinking they want the parents to say goodbybe and let the students begin their college experience on their own.</p>
<p>So, it seems that parents should come for the OA/CA if the kid is going to do that (and do most freshmen do this?) rather than at the regular date, but if the kid doesn’t do OA/CA, then parent can come at the regular date.</p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback–very helpful in planning days off for the year which needs to be done tomorrow in our family.</p>
<p>Also, does Princeton ever help with finances for the trip out there to set up for school or only for accepted students weekend?</p>
<p>You are right in concluding that most parents come for one move-in weekend or the other - and most kids do OA. OA is great — my older son loved it and my younger son can’t wait.</p>
<p>I don’t know the answer about financial aid, but I do believe that financial aid packages take into account travel expenses in the overall expenses. I’m quite certain that financial aid does also cover OA expenses.</p>
<p>I called Princeton admissions today to ask if they knew the schedule for the fall move in yet but they didn’t. My dh has to bid on vacations tomorrow for the whole year, so I was hoping to get some solid dates. Oh well.</p>
<p>If we go to the April event for admitted students, do you think a parent really needs to go in Aug/Sept? My son and I have been to Princeton once and I want my dh to visit but he has no interest, so it will probably be me again.</p>
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<p>I think it’s best if the student goes to admitted students weekend alone. I found it nice to move in with one parent (my dad was working, so it was just my mom), and then for both to return for Freshman Parents’ Weekend. Of course, the logistics will be different depending on how far you are from campus/how you’re getting there. I drove rather than flew to campus to bring my dorm stuff with me, which required a parent. Flying may be different.</p>
<p>Yeah, we’re all the way across the country, so logistics are a lot different. My son’s used to flying but I’m not big on it and definitely want to save money, so we’re just trying to figure out how many times and when we’d want to go since there’s admitted students weekend, move in day, and parent’s weekend.</p>
<p>I’d prioritize them in order of parents weekend, move-in day, and as a very distant last admitted students weekend. There weren’t a whole lot of parents around for admitted students weekend, and the activities are really intended for the students; by contrast, move-in day and parents weekend will have activities for the parents. Besides, the college decision is much more easily made without parents looking over the student’s shoulder (no offense! We love our parents.). And if money’s an issue, you’ll get the most bang for your buck seeing your student several weeks into the semester, happily settled in.</p>