Hi, I was wondering if it is customary for the parents/families to go with their kids to the summer orientation sessions? (I’m not talking about the orientation that happens during dropoff weekend)
Many universities offer a parallel “orientation” for parents too. I’d never heard of this before and just assumed that son would fly out alone and attend. Any thoughts?
Thank you!
I think the parallel parent orientation is only offered at some campuses. I don’t remember anything like that at our older 2 kids campuses. Our DD2 did not do the summer orientation at her school across country, but I don’t remember a parent session there either. The UC that our youngest is attending does have one, and I happened to be off work so attended…campus on the beach…summer… why not? They even let parents stay in the dorms but fortunately for the kids they were not close to the dorms the kids stayed in. I pretty much did not see our son the whole time. It was fun and I had extra time to do my own thing- hiking, shopping, etc. It was definitely not necessary and I don’t think I would spend airfare to do it.
I would guess that it might depend on the school. I attended my daughter’s orientation (there was a parallel parent orientation), and while there were students there without parents, the parent orientation was well attended. It wasn’t absolutely necessary - I didn’t learn anything that I couldn’t have found on the school website or communicating with other parents here on CC or on parent FB groups for the school - but my daughter was more comfortable having me along, and logistically it was easier as the school was a 12 hour drive from our home and an hour from the nearest airport.
Attended both son’s summer orientation which had a parallel orientation for parents (UCD and SDSU). I did learn a few things at the orientations, but for me it was more of making connections with the Freshman parents.
My W and I went along to drop D off and spent the time sightseeing and doing touristy stuff. There was parallel stuff for parents but we skipped it. Collected D after a couple days (kids stayed in a dorm) and drove back home.
If your kid is comfortable travelling alone then by all means ship them off on their own.
I went to the parent orientation for all 3 kids. I learned a lot and enjoyed meeting other parents.
My kids both went to small schools that had orientation in the fall right before classes started, and they had a parent orientation part of that for the first day or so. I thought they were great – and it gave me a much better idea of my kid’s school, I felt more comfortable leaving them. 
I also learned stuff, like how to get a copy of my kid’s bills sent to me as well as to them (minor details…). And at one school heard a prof mention a pre-second semester physics seminar (3 days) that they would probably be offering – my kid would NEVER have spotted it in her emails and signed up if I hadn’t known to ask her (to be fair, she was way underwater that first semester, so it is understandable that it didn’t get on her radar). But she went and had a great experience, AND good grades in the next semester of physics. Without parent orientation, wouldn’t have happened.
If your kid’s college has one in the fall and there is a parent portion, you are more likely to be going anyway to drop them off, and I’d attend that. If there isn’t one then, and this summer one is it, go if you can afford it. But a lot of kids will be there without their parents. If you can’t go, ask your kid to bring ALL the materials they get home, and pick up anything they see that is specifically for the parents if possible.
I did because she needed a ride there and back (2.5 hours away) so it made sense to stay over. They had a few activities for the parents but not that many. It was good to hear the dorm rules, the cost for losing your ID card, parking and other rules. She was off with her group almost immediately.
One problem came up that I don’t she would have been able handle without me. They had no copy of her vaccination record and wouldn’t let her register without it. After some calling around, we located a copy at a state department of health, but it turns out there was also one attached to her high school transcript. They kept telling me to call her school but they didn’t understand that it was summer and the school office was closed. My daughter would have just given up and not registered but I kept calling and asking and they lifted the hold. It wouldn’t have been a disaster if she couldn’t have registered either since most of her classes were pre-registered by her major.
DD1 preferred that we attend with her (different sessions). We toured the campus, ate the food, sat in the campus safety, scholarships, and so on sessions. With my vast expertise as an amateur college adviser and counselor, I actually got to Q&A her adviser during a parent Q&A session and had some say on her schedule :).
DD2… completely different. We’ll drop her off and lose ourselves on campus while she pretends she has never seen us before. She’s a lot more independent and trying to figure out course sequences for her school is a lost cause. So I’ll defer to the pros.
In other words - it depends on the student
We did at two different colleges (one local, one 2000 miles but near the relatives we visit every summer). We attended parent sessions.
UW-Madison has a good, separate session for parents with some mixing. Glad I went even though I’m an alumnus (do NOT go with proper gender forms!) and from a suburb. Public schools typically have the orientation, advising and registration in various summer 1-2 day sessions since most students are instate and can make the additional trip. Our year a family from Boston made it a family vacation with their minivan. It was good to get answers to all sorts of things you know your child won’t bother to tell you. They offered dorm housing keeping the students separate and we were not in their way (interesting trip- remembered why college and dorm life is for the young- those hills…the ladies bathroom was way down the hall because our wing was a guys one and UW has excellent dorm food- a treat o not have to cook or clean). Good chance to see the campus as dorm move in day is so hectic and parking/traffic insane then.
Good idea to get as much official info even if you knew the campus since your kid won’t bother with the things important to you. Billing office et al spoke.
NYU did not have a parent orientation. D, S and I went up the night before and the next morning D took the subway from our hotel to the school. S and I played tourist all day, then went home. D took the bus home a day or two later. I figured she needed to know how to get around by herself. And she did.
I think they have things for parents because:
So if your son is cool travelling by himself and you have no need to see the campus again/don’t need to ask questions, then you are fine.
For both my kids, the summer orientation was also registration (skipping wasn’t a good option). I would have to say that the vast majority of students were in the company of a parent. And while the students were off doing student-y things, the parents were hustled off to do parent-y things, mostly learning about stuff that cost extra, how to pay for things, and what kinds of “things” not to send with them to college.
We went to the orientations of all three of our kids - 2 during the summer and 1 at fall drop off (parallel sessions for parents). Even though some of the sessions were boring, we got to meet other parents and really got a chance to “bond” with the school. We felt like part of the community by the time we left.
Thank you, everybody! I think I will take him because it sounds as though the fall dropoff will be insane, and there doesn’t appear to be anything for families to do. You arrive at 9am for one of three move-in days, go buy them some stuff if needs be, then say good-bye. On the form, they literally have a bar on the chart that says “Say good-byes”. My husband says, “no way we are staying then, this is his experience, he’s going to own it, and he’s not a little baby for us to be hanging around town waiting to offer help.” We’ll also be travelling with two other daughters and the dog, so I know that move-in day will go by in a flash, plus I’ll have the additional “noise” of the girls to filter… Thank you for the advice!
I was glad we went along for the 2 day orientation. There was a full set of parent activities separate from the student stuff and it really helped me to get a feel for the school that eased my anxious heart.
We too went along for the 2-day summer orientation/registration (partly because it was in-state) and really enjoyed having an opportunity to explore more of the campus and nearby town, meet other parents and faculty, and attend sessions that helped explain some of the services offered, course requirements, and advising structures. But best of all was getting to meet our son’s assigned roommate and his parents and to spend some time with them. It was a huge relief for everyone, and the kids ended up hanging out together and bonding for much of the orientation.