<p>I will be heading to Brown for my first family weekend next week – DS just started as a freshman. I’ve had look at the weekend schedule on the website, and am excited at the possibilities. I’m just wondering if all you seasoned Brown folks have any advice on:
what events not to miss or what has been a flop in the past;
whether I need to bring dressy clothes, mainly jeans, or something in between;
how many families usually attend (i.e. how big an event is this?)
<p>Welcome to Family Weekend! This will be our third one. Here are answers based on my experience:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>The only event that I like to attend is Ruth Simmons’s hour with families, which, this year, will happen on Saturday at 4:00. Because it’s that late next week, I don’t actually know if I will be there for that one. Oh well…</p></li>
<li><p>No dressy clothes! I wear jeans and that’s that. Unless you want to go to some of the concerts or performances, in which case you might want to dress up, but I am sure that is totally up to you. It’s a pretty laid back school as far as that goes.</p></li>
<li><p>It’s a big event, and the kids seem to love having us there. My D is so looking forward to our coming. She lives in a house and I think the housemates are all going to make all the families dinner. So cute.</p></li>
<li><p>The best thing I can recommend is that I never register for any of the events. I don’t pay $40 and I don’t bother to go to anything (except the speech) because my main objective is to be with my daughter. I really miss her and I want to see her work, walk around with her, have a couple of meals with her, and just bask in her presence (so corny, I know). When she is sleeping in the mornings, we wander around the campus and Thayer Street, hang out, read the paper, and bask in the atmosphere of this wonderful place. For me, it’s all about her. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I am also the parent of a junior, and planning to go next weekend (franglish, we really need to meet up!)</p>
<p>We also enjoy going to Ruth’s talks. Last year we discovered that the sound is piped into the lecture hall where a continental breakfast was being served, so we hung out there. This year it is at a different time, as franglish said.</p>
<p>I always dress casual - but there are parents who look nice (tailored pants, boots, leather coats) because that is how they are and what they feel comfortable in. There are dads in sports coats, but others in jeans. If you are planning on going to a fancy restaurant, then bring some nice clothing. If you are going to the football game, bring warm clothes.</p>
<p>Last year I went to an event at career development and another one for sophomore parents on things like studying abroad, and both were excellent. We’ve gone to lectures by professors – some have been excellent and others boring. Since our daughter tends to sleep late, we’ve appreciated those events scheduled in the morning (and we register, partly so we can go to those).</p>
<p>There are a lot of families that show up, many of first-year students. I’ve never felt that it is really crowded. I have some friends who have decided against coming up parents weekend because it is too crowded, and they come a different weekend. I prefer coming parents weekend, because I like the scheduled events and because this lets us both spend time with our daughter and have things to do without her. And I like meeting other parents.</p>
<p>I am the parent of a Senior and have attended every year (so even if people say its only for freshman families, that isn’t true). What franglish and fireandrain have said is true. I also attend Ruth’s meet and greet-she is really great to hear and have attended things in the past based on interests/things going on in son’s life (like the sophmore talk on studying abroad because he contemplated that). We have never attended a sporting event. My goal is spending time with my son. He is the musical director of one of the acapella groups and we always attend that show. If that interests you, there are lots of acapella groups performing as well as the band, orchestra and dance groups. Some charge admission, some do not. In general, there is no rule of thumb-there is nothing you MUST attend, there are things there purely for your interest and if you choose not to go to any events, that is ok too. Enjoy your visit with your daughter.</p>
<p>Thank you both – that really does help! I have a couple more questions, though. I am coming from southern California, and have virtually no experience of New England. I take it the weather will be fairly chilly and wet, at least by So Cal standards? Our son is very little help as far as the weather is concerned – when we ask, he may mention that it has rained a bit, but other than that, he seems to be having such a good time that he doesn’t even notice the weather! </p>
<p>I am hoping to take him shopping to buy a winter coat while I’m there. He refused to buy anything before leaving for Brown – he said he wanted to see what people wear there, before deciding what he wanted. Although I would have liked to have taken advantage of off-season sales, I can see his point. I don’t know if he will be ready to make this decision yet, but if so, does anyone have any recommendations on where to buy a good winter coat? I won’t have a car while I’m there, so it would have to be accessible by public transport. Again, thanks in advance for your input.</p>
<p>October in Providence is very unpredictable – check the weather forecast before heading out. You could be lucky and the weather could be sunny, dry and glorious, reaching into the 60s, or rainy, damp and chilly, in the 40s. Even if it does get warm during the day, it will get cold at night and in the morning, so bring gloves and a scarf and a heavy coat. To you, it will feel really cold at night. </p>
<p>There is a mall downtown, that can be walked to or you can take a bus. You probably won’t find any great bargains there. You might want to consider buying something at Lands End or LL Bean, and having it shipped. Students won’t have taken out their winter coats yet, so he may not be ready. </p>
<p>Glad to hear that your son is having a good time!</p>
<p>City Sports on Thayer and Meeting has tons of (expensive) winter coats. I don’t think they stock the heavy stuff until later though. They usually run over $100 but are good quality and Brown students get 10% off. They sell North Face, Marmot, Mountain Hardwear, and Patagonia type stuff.</p>
<p>If that’s not good you could take the bus to East Providence from Thayer and Tunnel and go to Burlington Coat Factory on Newport Ave. I think it’s 35 bus maybe?</p>
<p>Also, the Providence Place Mall is within walking distance of campus, and there are lots of stores there. You can probably order online from places like Lands End or LL Bean, depending on the style your son likes. There is Urban Outfitters on Thayer Street too. Have a good time!</p>
<p>“There is a mall downtown, that can be walked to or you can take a bus. You probably won’t find any great bargains there. You might want to consider buying something at Lands End or LL Bean, and having it shipped.”</p>
<p>vs.</p>
<p>“the Providence Place Mall is within walking distance of campus, and there are lots of stores there. You can probably order online from places like Lands End or LL Bean”</p>
<p>Ha! That’s funny-- especially now that it’s clear that I didn’t read Fire’s entire post just before mine! Leave it to a very observant Brown student to point out the painfully obvious!! LOL.</p>