<p>Last year when S was a freshman we attended his school's family weekend. It seemed to be mostly freshman parents. The school is about an hour away so we do see S periodically at other times.</p>
<p>Is it typically just a freshman parent thing?</p>
<p>No, I haven’t gone and don’t plan to. S is a senior, D a freshman. Too much trouble to travel, not really that interested. And I don’t think our kids want us to come, either!</p>
<p>We went to DS1’s when he was a freshman, it was fun. The school had Daughtry in concert…we had a blast. This year, DS2 didn’t want us to come…that was fine.</p>
<p>We avoid the heading to the campus on Parents’ day - it’s too crowded and they don’t really offer anything that’d be useful to us since we’re already familiar with the campus, programs, etc.</p>
<p>Maybe its because my son is almost 8 hours away and I haven’t seen him since we dropped him off at the end of August, but you could’t keep me away from Family Weekend this year - his freshman year. I know it will be crowded, and I don’t really think there are that many school-sponsored events that we actually want to attend. But I DO want to see my son, and I’m hoping to meet some of his new friends and maybe another parent or two. I personally think it’s more of a freshman thing, and that’s the main reason we’ve chosen to go this year. I know he would be very disappointed if we didn’t come out for the weekend. As of next year, however, we’ll plan a fall weekend visit, but will definitely avoid Family Weekend to avoid the crowds.</p>
<p>We did it the first two years with our two kids, third year something else was going on for each of them and we visited in the Spring and fourth year is graduation. We could only do one visit a year. My kids both went to or are attending small schools so it was more fun then crazy.</p>
<p>We attended freshman year for all three boys and even brought grandma and grandpa with us to see the campuses. Subsequent years, we planned our visits to coincide with campus events of interest such as games, concerts and exhibits. We love visiting the kids at school and they always seem happy to have us there. In general, I think Parents Weekend events are mostly geared toward freshmen families but all are always welcome.</p>
<p>I’m surprised how many people don’t. My parents came up all 4 years I was at college and I was thrilled to see them and have them there.</p>
<p>I don’t, but at DS’ school, it is only for freshman parents - only freshmen’s parents are invited.</p>
<p>We’ve gone for S every year and will continue with D. We haven’t attended a single event. We use the time for us to catch up, nice dinner and talk. I truly have no interest in meeting other parents - their kids yes, them, no.
At s’s school, the weekend has always coincided with his b’day. We’ve always taken a friend, roommate- whoever - whose parents couldn’t make it - out to dinner with us.
PS He doesn’t come home for Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>
Although we avoid the Parents weekend we do go visit at other times though. It seems that we typically visit the weekend before or weekend after the Parents weekend and a few other times during the year depending on how busy my D is (the college is only a couple of hours away). It’s just nicer when it’s not as swarming with families IMO.</p>
<p>Have never been to Parent’s weekend for either kid. They have never indicated they wanted us to come. It’s always a home football game weekend and they have plans with their friends that don’t include parents. They are at big instate u’s so we have plenty of opportunities to see them.</p>
<p>We went freshman year and enjoyed it very much, but the hotel rates were astronomical and the restaurants were really crowded. In subsequent years we’ve gone up at other times - in fact D called us this evening and we figured out a weekend that would work for everyone.</p>
<p>My S is a junior 1 1/2 hrs from home- we went 1st year but have not gone since. D is freshman and 5 1/2 hours away- we are going this year (have not seen her since 8/17) and will more than likely go every year since she can’t readily come home until Thanksgiving.</p>
<p>We went ( my 11 yr old D, my mother & I) to my older daughters fall family weekend.
However, they ( freshmen) had a big paper due that weekend, so she wasn’t available much, but I did enjoy the tours and a chance to see her on campus a little settled in. ( year began in August, event was in Nov)</p>
<p>My H and I and older daughter ( long graduated from college), are going to attend the weekend at younger D’s school, although since we are taking the family dog as well, who is quite elderly, I don’t know how much we will participate although I would like to get a chance to see her in her room, I didn’t really get to help move her in.
FUnny coincidence, is that one of the events on campus is an art/science installation by a professor at another school in the Pac Northwest. The one that her sister happened to attend.
Sounds pretty cool though.</p>
<p>Although we visited many other times older D’s school, including when performances were scheduled, we didn’t go on other family weekends besides freshman year.</p>
<p>We have been to a parent weekend at 2 of our kids 3 UG universities. We prefer, though, not to do parent weekend, I would rather visit with my kid when things are more mellow than be part of the crowd and go to what may feel like contrived events. We visit once or twice a year, sometimes more if business travel takes us nearby</p>
<p>If I don’t make it to see my son on family days, it’ll probably mean I’m dead.</p>
<p>We’re going, first time to any parent/family weekend, though I’m used to seeing it from the other side: all of a sudden all these really…OLD…people appear on campus, sometimes with bored children in town. </p>
<p>We haven’t seen D since we slowed down long enough, at the airport, to throw her onto the plane. She’s seven hours away (by plane) and we’ll get a chance to see her room, etc.</p>
<p>I suspect subsequent visits will NOT be during family/parent weekend, but rather, at some other time when it’s easier to get inexpensive housing.</p>
<p>For my D and S, I went to parent’s weekend just freshman year. It was fun, but especially for S, we weren’t able to spend much time together because he had so much school work to do then. So last year, my H and I went over the winter to visit our S, at a time that was better for my S, and had a great time. This year, we won’t be going, because our S will be living home winter quarter while on co-op. Our kids appreciated us visiting during their freshman year, especially since they attended colleges many hours away. By sophomore year, our visits were more important to us than them.</p>
<p>S and D both attend the same school. At $100,000 for the year I’m showing up…just to annoy them!</p>