Freshman Orientation 2010. PARENT Schedule A

Colleges and Universities A-Z Indiana University - Bloomington
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<p>I went to orientation thinking it would be a walk in the park (and, indeed...we DID walk through the forest!). Having returned exhausted...I thought I'd share some insights.</p>

<p>I'm all about details/preparedness. I feel one can never have too much information. That said, INCORRECT information can be harmful. So - take everything I say with a grain of salt. There are a few things I wish I'd known, primarily about class scheduling and logistics. So I'm gonna ramble my way through a recap of orientation...so later parents might have an easier time.</p>

<p>Overall, IU's schedule and personnel were JUST WONDERFUL. I saw only one grumpy person the entire time. My child said they also encountered only one grump. Moving 125 students PLUS their parents/family through the campus ON SCHEDULE and getting as much done as they did, has to be a life skill until itself. We had great weather, making it all easy. I pity those who have/had to do it in the torrential storms the state has been having.</p>

<p>It's two FULL days (for those of you flying and/or planning hotels). We are in-state, so we arrived the night prior, expecting to take an optional exam. I can speak only to calculus, I think the other (bio, chem?) might have been done the same. Check in is 6:30pm. This is one thing I didn't see written anywhere. No advantage to arriving early. Calculators are not required...I think not even allowed. Wander over to Wright and sign in just inside the door. TONS of people there to help. Two orientations were running simultaneously. People arriving on day one were on their own day two....when the NEXT group was starting day one. </p>

<p>We stayed at Biddle Hotel in the Union. Mold in the shower and on curtain. The rest of the room was fine. VERY inexpensive (Hilton Garden Inn for this date was $161, Biddle became available later for $119). Wi-fi is offered in room, and is free. Ask for a code at the desk. Easy check in/out. Good maid service. CANNOT beat the location. Parking is free (important when one forgets their orientation parking sticker!). There is a large bookstore with supplies as well as clothing, dorm items, etc. </p>

<p>If you opt for the following morning tests instead...SIGN IN is at 7:30am (for SCHEDULE A orientation). You can bring your overnight bag to Wright at the same time if you want/need to...and they will store it for you. You can check into your room anytime after...8am? Got different info. But you can also check in at any free time all day long. You can leave your bag in the car and get it later, take the test, etc. I THINK you get a roommate based on check in time. I don't think they're pre-assigned, but I could be wrong. </p>

<p>Kids taking the test SHOULD give a paper to their parents that says "bye, see ya back here at 2:35pm". Uninformed parents might sit and wait and wonder what to do if your kid (mine) doesn't give you the paper). Kids and parents do a "check in" at assigned time (it was early for group A, much later for group B), there in Wright. You get a "kit" with a bag, paperwork, brochures. This is the step where where you leave your donated canned food. (which, sadly, not many people remembered). You go directly from here, as a parent to the first seminar while kids go take their required math/foreign language placement exams. We heard from the new Dean of Students, other adminstrators and faculty all weekend. Overview, partnering for success, about the dorms and meal plans. We did some walking, and took a bus or two. VERY well coordinated, students EVERYWHERE to help out. COMPLETELY and perfectly on time for EVERY event. We walked back to the Union and used our lunch vouchers. Nice buffet in Tudor room. Very few parents went. It was "real food", fast, cheap ($11 or something like that!). Other options, Starbucks, Burger King, and a food court/market of sorts. I'm guessing they were pretty busy. I was at the Biddle so this was a great chance for a quick stop at the room to freshen up.</p>

<p>We went to several more meetings: financial aid, career services, ask-a-panel-of-students, etc. The students during this time were in Student to Student orientation leader meetings, and similar events. We met about 2:30 and broke into groups: General, Kelly, Hutton. We met the Dean of Hutton, and he talked about the program, and advising in general. Students of Hutton were separated from parents but the other programs weren't; not clear why. Then all went together to a couple more "talks" in the auditorium. I lost my child here, didn't think we were headed together. They sat us "disney style" (come in, down front, to the center, no gaps) - so my daughter was texting to find me but I couldn't go sit with her. Keep that in mind if you want to sit with your kids. Then Dinner at Wright food court. Lots of options though I will say I still had trouble choosing/eating. Most people won't. But..it was all so .. "Heavy?" Even salads were iceberg with ham and lettuce, you know? I found some pasta with veggies that was OK. But...lots of fried, and pizza and ice cream. </p>

<p>Parents were then free for the evening, with an optional tour of a different facilty each week (Art Museum, Lilly Library, etc.). Kids spent the evening in planned activities: meeting orientation leader, a (musical?) performance, visiting the rec sports center, and had some late night options too. </p>

<p>REMEMBER..this is SCHEDULE A. Schedule B started later, and must have gone into the next day differently because they ended day 2 later. </p>

<p>Next day and parents' only planned activity was a bursar speech. Kids were basically just registering for classes (and getting ID card - look pretty!). There were some important optional things and your scheduling time slot made a big difference in your day. Schedule A said plan on being done at 2pm. My child had THE last time slot for Hutton and we weren't done until
3:00-3:30. Schedule B says you'll be done by 6pm (I think). </p>

<p>There was a "Resources Fair" type thing at Herman Wells Library. Everyone was there, very worthwhile. Parking-housing-meal reps, Gay/Straight alliance, local worship centers, international studies dept., bookstore, athletics, IT dept, and and on and on. It was 11a-1p and you could miss it if your registering is during that time - so send your parents. Same with open dorms. You can visit 1p-3p (and you should know where you're assigned by orientation so it's a good chance to see YOUR dorm). But, same problem, my daughter was in registration/advising that entire time so I went and took photos. Buses are running and kids will help you sort things so you can ride. Most is withing walking distance but by this time...you're a bit exhausted. Don't try to get by with hard flats if you're over age 25! People wore comfy clothes and walking shoes. It's not that you walk that much, but...you need to keep your energy. I was SPENT after 2 days. Mostly back and forth/logistics (let's run up to housing, ooops I forgot my ID back in the car, I parked back at the hotel so I have to get the car and come back to get you, etc.). Anyway, your parking pass allows you into D parking lots, so you can go down to the other dorms if you want, park and tour. BEWARE...I saw a LOT of parking tickets being given in Herman Wells Library. They want us parents to tell our kids not to let this happen! READ your parking sticker! (I left mine at home but they kindly offered a replacement after I had to check out of the hotel so I needed another place to park). Dorm tours were sporadic, sketchy. If you only have one dorm to visit, no worries. But there weren't many people doing it - ODDLY. So they waited until there were several, and/or they only had 1 person doing it, or they were busy. It took some time. VERY worthwhile though. This person knows the whole building and can tell you the variables in the rooms (the other tower has different shelving, the upper floors have smaller windows, etc.). </p>

<p>Your child can check out of their room at Wright any time during the day. Whenever they have time (morning, if their advising appt is in the afternoon or vice versa). No meals are provided/paid for on this day...but Wright is still open and you can eat there by paying cash (or Biddle Hotel of course). Kids meet with an advisor first (different areas and assigned times...it's preassigned and listed on their name tages), then get a sheet on what to register for. Then you're supposed to get your ID card issued, THEN go to Herman Wells library and (get with help) registering for classes. This was reversed for my child; I think just logistics, back ups, whatever. </p>

<p>So we ended up schlepping bags back to the car about 4pm, having had NO food all day (our fault) and completely and totally exhausted. Loaded down with forms and palphlets and flyers and catalogs. The theme for the semester is sustainability...but we took home more paper than I bet my child uses all semester long. But...it was valuable. Lots of good info. </p>

<p>I already know my way around campus quite well, so I'm sure the kids do too. IU was totally organized, UBER patient with the same inane questions day after day after day. I'd hear three of us come up in a row and ask the same person the same thing. Seriously, I'm sure they work at this, but they NEVER looked anything other than glad we were there. And these are mostly STUDENTS! You do NOT really see kids like that very much these days. Their training must be Disney Style. Speaking of - I felt like I was at Disney from the time I arrived. The grounds were SO gorgeous with huge flowering baskets of foliage everywhere, pristine lawns. Then the buses arrived to cart us around and the feeling continued. The food/market/courts, the lines (yes, there was a line at check-in..but it went pretty quickly). </p>

<p>I'm sure there are a thousand tips I will think of later. But an advance timeline would have helped me avoid an extra night hotel, and would have shown me I needed to get an extra night for my dog in a kennel (we got her 11 minutes before they closed...it was a bit panicky). I could have packed less and would have worn more comfy shoes. I would have insisted my child check out early and get that done before we were so exhausted and pressed for time. I would have known (for those of you with high school Juniors or younger at this time) that EARLY orientation dates are NECESSARY to get the classes you want.)</p>

<p>So...I share with you the experience, typos and all because I'm not about to re-read this nightmare to check for errors. Good luck to you all with your IU career/experience. I hope you find it enjoyable.</p>

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<p>Great report! Hope your D was able to get the classes she wanted.</p>

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<p>Great report. My D (and i) did orientation this week too.
I skipped the bursar presentation on day 2 due to a conference call I had for work. Did I miss anything?</p>

<p>My D didn’t get EVERYTHING she wanted, but wound up very happy with her schedule. Hope yours did too?</p>

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<p>Wow, great report. Quick question though, my sons orientation is July 8th-9th. We are arriving on the 7th and leaving on the 10th. We are from out of state and didn’t want to be crunched for time. Anyway, will IU let us stay in the housing even though our orientation is over? Also, do we have to reserve a room or do you just show up? Is it crowded? I am talking about parents housing.</p>

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<p>Great post…THANK YOU!
My husband and son are going next week…we are from out of state. Arriving on Monday, for a Tuesday/Wed orientation. I appreciate the details and hope he gets his classes. He is very excited about going to IU, and I hope this makes him even more happy he picked IU! Thanks again.</p>

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<p>Question…do the advisors tell the kids the results of their tests (foreign language and math, my son is also taking a calc test) at the time of the test? or do the results get sent to the advisors? He is trying to pick classes, but is not sure what spanish class or math class he will be tested into. Also, he is a direct admit to journalism, I assume he will be meeting with an advisor in the journalism school, would that be correct?</p>

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<p>fran, a few hours after your son takes the placement tests, go into his Onestart account, then the Student Center. Then “My Academics and Grades”. Then “View Test Credit.” The scores should be there then or soon after, including the semester of Spanish that your son tests into. Then you can start working on a more specific select a schedule and even enter courses into the “enrollment shopping cart”.</p>

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<p>paperplane,</p>

<p>I went with my parents to the bursar presentation (since I had advising at 830 and was done with everything by 1030) and we learned hardly anything. They basically took 45+ min to tell you that just about everything financial is done through them, and that the quickest way to pay is online. Just have your D make you an authorize payer. (if it hasn’t been done already) I think the link for that is on the main onestart page</p>

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<p>thanks toffa–glad to know Bursar presentation wasn’t crucial. Most of the day 1 info was very good to know–so I was hoping the Bursar thing was pretty cut-and-dried.</p>

<p>bthomp1–that’s a great tip about going in Onestart after the placement tests! And my daughter would have loved to have filled her ‘shopping cart’ online before her advising appt, didn’t know that was possible. </p>

<p>Future students/parents–I recommend making a big list, online or on paper, of classes your student is interested in/wants/needs to take, so there are lots of options to work with. D was surprised that many kids waiting for advising hadn’t done that. And that some didn’t even seem to have ideas about what they wanted to take at all. I think that is why she had to wait a long time past her appointed time for advising.</p>

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<p>@ indycarkid: Yes. When I checked in, they asked “…and how many nights will you be staying?” I’m a student though, and my mom didn’t stay in the IU housing so I can’t speak of that.</p>

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<p>I’m not 100% sure they will let you stay after it is over or not, everything I read said you can check in the night before (which is what I did) and said nothing about staying after, but doesn’t mean you can’t. I’d call or email just to make sure, but I bet they’d be happy to take your money.
As for the parents’ dorm, I’m going to bet it won’t be full since I bet most parents aren’t thrilled to stay in a college dorm unless they have to, but it is cheaper than a hotel (and air conditioned I think, as opposed to Wright, which is constantly on fire)</p>

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<p>ILMOM: No, my child didn’t get most of the classes she wanted. Here’s one example why. I was dumbfounded. There is ONE section of an honors psych course. Limited to 22 (ish?) kids. I don’t know what the class was. It’s concentrated and you take 1 semester instead of 2. So, even 3 weeks into 7 weeks of orientation, of COURSE that was full. But she also ended up with her last Topics choice (required class). There were several other instances of “special” courses she couldn’t get. And, one VERY special course that conflicted in time with all her topics choices. But that part is just “life”. A little frustrating, but…live and learn. Pretty common. I’d be much more concerned if she didn’t get the basic required classes (as many do), or was sleeping in a lounge (as some already are). She’s accepting of her fate!</p>

<p>Paperplane: There were a few bursar items I found interesting. The one that stands out is that I was worried, if my child is lucky enough to get one more outside scholarship we’re waiting on, that she’ll go OVER the cost of attendance. I felt IU would reduce their schollies and zero the account. I haven’t spoken to the scholarship office, and all schollies aren’t treated equally. But the bursar said they issue refund checks. And that the government requires it, and that it be timely. They ask the kids to set up a direct deposit account if they feel they’ll need that. Also, one can pay in 4 installments per semester (there is a fee…$30 for first payment and $15 thereafter, I THINK). Campus access is basically a debit card that is “within” your ID card. Things charged to that (laundry, even some food off campus, etc- cannot be billed to the bursar…it’s like a prepaid debit card). I saw someone said the bursar didn’t tell them anything. I think kids look at it differently that adults, and everyone has their OWN types of questions. If I learned any one thing - I’d call it a successful session. The sessions didn’t seem to really be geared to the parent who hasn’t bothered to read any paperwork. Because I read EVERYTHING and still got a few little helpful tidbits in every session. Wish I’d taken one clean notebook because there were many things I wanted to remember to tell my child. But I was scribbling indecipherable notes everywhere, and then lost most of them. Doh!</p>

<p>Indycarkid…I don’t know about staying over, I see you got another answer on that. I’m guessing it might depend on your timing. Since 2 groups were running consecutively when I was there (more checking in as others checked out). BUT…if you do need to stay, you can always move to a local hotel of course. I stayed i Biddle, so I don’t know anything about the parents’ housing at all. Sorry.</p>

<p>Fran. Good luck to your son! Yes, they tell them their test scores. Mine was AMAZED that she tested out of all but the final semester for language because she took only 3 years and hasn’t taken it for 2 years! But she bombed calculus (but tested out by her AP score anyway). It was hard to not know AP scores before orientation. Congrats on direct admit. My child was a DA to CAS, but she is also in Hutton. She did NOT meet with a CAS advisor, so that’s all I know about that. I know the Hutton kids did have separate advising with a Hutton advisor. But I don’t know about Ernie Pyle, Kelly, etc. We went to a different session so I didn’t hear about how any other advising was done. I definitely heard kids say there were direct admit to journalism. And my child met someone with the same major, in HHC, in her dorm too. So, even with only 125 kids per orientation (that’s what an orientation leader told us)…they might still meet some kindred spirits. My child also liked her roomie for the night. Even if they did only check in at about 10pm and didn’t really get to know each other much.</p>

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<p>Correction to Fran - (and bthomp answered you anyway), but for other: I don’t know if they kids are given their score at the exact time of test. My assumption is no, because my daughter didn’t mention her scores to me that day. She seemed not to know them until the next day. We did not know about checking online, as bthomp was smart enough to suggest. Luck.</p>

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<p>All,</p>

<p>How would a student be able to get an early orientation date? Would it depends upon how early the student send in the enrollment deposit?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>^^ As a student I’ll chime in… we took the plaement tests on scantron sheets in a big lecture hall. We got our scores when we met with the advisor the next day.</p>

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<p>Ace: If I remember correctly, it’s all about accepting your offer early. Then you should be earlier to get your invite to sign up for orientation. I could be remembering this wrong. Anyway, once you’re invited/allowed to set up orientation - DO IT!</p>

<p>My daughter said she didn’t realize that (I discussed it, but she tuned it out). When she set up her orientation she said there WERE earlier slots…she just picked on that worked with her schedule. Which, of course is another factor for LOTS of kids. You might be traveling, or your child has a job, weddings to attend, lots of graduation open houses (that’s a full time job in our neck of the woods). So don’t stress over it, just try, if possible.</p>

<p>I think this year that they started June 10 (I’ve thrown away my orientation schedule)…and go pretty much all through July.</p>

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<p>Is it possible to sign up for classes before orientation? OneStart says add to enrollment cart but it prompts a message about confirming something. Is it ok to click “Confirm” and select my classes. My orientation is on Thursday but theres only a few spots left in the classes I want.</p>

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<p>No you can’t, once you go through advising and create your Course Enrollment Plan (CEP), your advisor sets it so you can then register. Then just hustle to the library…</p>

<p>Or since it seems you know how to use the registration system, just bring a laptop and register as soon as you get out of advising if you don’t think you need help from the people in the library. Now that you have classes in your cart you can just check all of the ones you want to take and hit enroll.</p>

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<p>You can register anywhere after you see your adviser. Like Toffa says, you don’t have to actually go to the library and wait in another line to register after you talk to your adviser. You can grab a free computer in Teter or where ever you are after seeing your adviser and register.</p>

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<p>Then why did they make us sign in when we got to the library to register?</p>