<p>I just looked into registering for University of Rochester's parents' weekend this fall. I was surprised to discover that a) there was a registration fee and b) for many events one must buy tickets. I am feeling nickeled and dimed. Is this typical? When we attended parents' weekend at Smith, everything was free except meals in the dining halls. What have you all experienced at other schools?</p>
<p>Every parent weekend event I knew of was free at Oberlin when I attended. Granted, there were a few events that were limited on a first-come/first served registration basis, but that was only applicable to a minute number of events. </p>
<p>At BU, there were some events that had no charge and others that had a charge.</p>
<p>We went to the freshman parents weekend, just because. But after that trip, we went on a weekend when there were a lot less people. You know…there are always events happening on most college campuses!</p>
<p>Just signed up for parent’s weekend at UCONN. Registering for the weekend is free and most events are free. However there is a charge for attending meals (BBQ, brunch, dinner, etc.)</p>
<p>I never paid anything to attend parents weekends at The University of Chicago or RISD. It was expensive enough with travel and hotels. Maybe things are changing? Apparently so at RISD but I don’t think the general fee is large by any means. See <a href=“http://rbd.risd.edu/”>Families Weekend | RISD Families; Same at UChicago, a per person fee: <a href=“http://www.uchicagoparents.org/article.html?aid=199”>http://www.uchicagoparents.org/article.html?aid=199</a></p>
<p>USoCal had fees for registering for Parent’s Weekend as well as an additional fee for the football game and meals. Many of the other events were free–tours, attending courses, etc. We went twice–once for each of our kids and enjoyed the only 2 USC football games we ever watched in person. The price of the games for parents/attendees was lower than you could get them elsewhere.</p>
<p>U of SC charges fee that includes some parties and receptions and charges extra for football tickets and tailgate. W&L didn’t charge anything but vastly more expensive school to begin with and of course fewer people involved.</p>
<p>There were registration fees and ticketed event during Parent Weekend. </p>
<p>My family and I just broke away and did our own thing. </p>
<p>Brown charged a fee and also charged for individual events, which involved tickets.</p>
<p>We learned to avoid parents weekends.</p>
<p>At Tufts the only charge was meals. We went freshman year because we wanted to hear one of our son’s professors who was talking, but that was the only year we went. S2 had very little time - barely wanted to be taken out to dinner! </p>
<p>At Bama most events are free. However, they do sell a pkg that includes things like the Beach Party (catered dinner) around their lovely outdoor pool, and the Saturday Tailgate (catered BBQ)…and there is an opportunity to purchase football tix. There is also an opportunity for the River Cruise, which also requires tickets.</p>
<p>There are events from Friday afternoon thru Sunday afternoon…and nearly all are free.</p>
<p>My son’s small college charges for a BBQ and arts/athletic events, but the costs are nominal.</p>
<p>I too have stopped going–I was one of the only sophomore parents last year (according to my son) and he is just fine not having me there. However, this next winter he will be studying abroad and what he doesn’t know yet is that he will most likely be hosting me for Parents’ WEEK!</p>
<p>, I miss going to all the UG stuff. Sally, I will go with you…whatever, you know they love being taken out to eat…with their frends…as well as the shopping trips after. I have 3 more years of med school trips up north… btmell? </p>
<p>At both of my kids’ schools there is no registration fee, but all meals and some special events have a fee.</p>
<p>The thing to keep in mind about the University of Rochester weekend is that it is more than just a parents’ weekend. It is also their reunion and homecoming weekends, all wrapped up into one big “Meliora Weekend”. We love it as we are local alumni and the U of R always has great speakers and events that we enjoy attending each year. However, if I were a parent who is just there to see my child - maybe that’s not such a great time to do it.</p>
<p>I think most schools at least charge for meals. Some students will have no parents visiting and some students may have four, so it makes sense to pay by the person for the catering.</p>
<p>I’m used to meals having a fee, but other events being free. Tickets may also be required so that they make sure that the capacities of rooms are not exceeded, and so they know how much food to order. </p>
<p>I would think that they charge a registration fee because if there was no fee, some percentage of people would sign up but then not come. By having a nominal registration fee, people feel there is some “value” to it and are less likely to not showup. The college wants to plan for who is coming. For other events, they may need to limit how many people can go or there is already a fee associated (e.g., Football game).</p>
<p>Caltech=0 $</p>
<p>Never went to any for Wisconsin but they did charge for some events. I would expect public U’s to charge for events. After all- why should those who do not attend subsidize those who do? Especially for football games.</p>
<p>^ You mean like student activity fees (which include admission to football games)?</p>