Freshman Move In and Convocation

<p>My wife and I are conflicted on Freshman move-in at FSU, so I figured I'd pose the question to see what other opinions are.</p>

<p>We are flying in from out of the area (Connecticut) to move our son in as a freshman this year. The dorms open on Wednesday the 22nd. My wifes though is that if he'd not in on the opening day of move in, his room-mate will get to stake claim on dorm arrangement rather than my son getting to figure things out with him. Makes sense I guess.</p>

<p>When we were at orientation, they mentioned freshman Convocation but that's not until Sunday? Now if my son is anything like my older two kids, he's going to want us to move him in, help unpack a little, buy him one last meal and hit the road! Neither could wait for their new-found independence to start. </p>

<p>Hence the question... do I hang out in the area for 5days? Or do I skip convocation and head home? Is convocation something that parents would regret missing?</p>

<p>I honestly don’t know anyone that actually went to Convocation as a student, aside from a few RAs that were required to go. </p>

<p>Honestly, I don’t recommend spending 5 days just for convocation. It’s really not worth it.</p>

<p>Not true Pasbal, everyone I know went to Convocation, but most parents did not stick around. </p>

<p>Avoid first day move-in. It’s a mess. Maybe your son and his roommate can agree to move in on Thursday or Friday.</p>

<p>Your son should contact his roommate prior to move-in day. They have roommate contact info on the housing page when he logs in to check his assignment. They can figure out what day to move in and all that. I can only imagine how crazy it’s going to be on the 22nd.</p>

<p>About Convocation…I personally think parents would be bored, but then again some parents may want to go. I think it’s more geared towards the new students.</p>

<p>We moved in the first day last year and left the next morning. We didn’t stick around for Convocation.</p>

<p>I kind of have the feeling that convocation would be good for those parents who’s first child is going off to college and need some re-assurance. This is our third to go. He’ll be further away than our other two were, but all in all we know the drill.</p>

<p>My son seems to have a bit of a mess with the whole room-mate thing. When he got the letter for housing he immediately contacted his would be room-mate who told him that he was already trying to get his housing re-assigned because he wanted to be able to room with his friend who was also accepted into the came LLC. I think he finally was sent the new room-mates name but he hasn’t received an email address or anything yet. Frustrating but I’m sure it will all get straightened out.</p>

<p>As for the extended say… while talking to my wife last night, we think we came up with a decent solution. We’d have to fly down on Tuesday if he wanted to move in Wednesday. If we flew back Thursday we’d get back for one day of work. Instead we though about heading down to Panama City on Thursday and staying on the beach a couple nights. Driving back up for Convocation on Sunday and then flying out that afternoon! This also isn’t our first freshman move-in and we know how ugly it gets… Treating ourselves to a couple days after that can’t be a bad thing right! :-)</p>

<p>Mr. Fritz, you seem to have a good plan–going to beach (Dixie Riviera) sounds like a smart idea. I wouldn’t worry too much about getting to dorm room before the other guy. There’s really not much to stake claim to first in a 12’ X 15’ dorm room before the other roommate arrives. Too, if you can make convocation…great…if you can’t, everyone will be fine too.</p>

<p>Is there any “better” time on the 22 for attempting the move in? Is the morning less hectic?</p>

<p>I did not attend convocation when my oldest started school last year and I won’t attend this year when the next one starts. Dropping him off on the 22nd and heading back home.</p>

<p>As a student I did not attend convocation. For the few of my friends that did go, none of their parents did. I wouldn’t recommend staying unless you reallllly want to!</p>