Since classes start on 8/22 I’m guessing that move in day for the dorms is Thursday August 18th. We plan to drive up on the 17th and have hotel reservations for the 17th and 18th. Current plan is to head home Friday afternoon. Or does anyone recommend we stay Friday night too? (if anyone is interested, Fair Field Inn and Suites isn’t too far from OU and current rates for that time frame are $99 a night which includes breakfast and internet.)
D has done all the online training
paid her commitment deposit
notified the Scholars Office that she has formally accepted
has an appointment to register for classes by phone
paid her housing deposit
opened a bank account at OU Federal Credit Union (her current bank does not have a branch in OK)
Current to do list:
Dr. appointment this Friday to update immunizations and get records to send to OU
Dentist appointment after finals to remove wisdom teeth
register bike with campus police
get parking permit for car
finalize arrangements for instrument storage
finish up outside scholarship application
finish summer camp councilor application
register for camp crimson (can’t do this until things are finalized with the summer camp job)
I don’t think you need to stay Friday night. I’ve said this before, but I wouldn’t plan to spend too much time with your kids on move-in weekend. I know you want to see them as much as you can, but they’re going to be busy trying to make friends and see as many new things as possible. It’s not that they’re sick of you, they’re just being exposed to so much.
Other than that, everything on your list looks great and I think you’ll be really well prepared!
In terms of registering for classes, advise her to steer away from night classes her first semester and definitely go a little light on the class load. I know NMF that take 18 their first semester and are fine, but I wouldn’t recommend any more than that. I think 15 is a good amount. Keeps them on schedule while allowing them free time to explore the ECs of their choice.
Thanks @WoolScarves D had a chance to meet with her adviser while she was at s2s and she plans to take 16 credits
her first semester. From what I can tell most of her classes will be in the morning. She has two classes that time/date is TBA. It turns out that for her ensemble class and applied lessons class the instructor waits until all her students have registered for classes and looks through their schedules to pick a time the works best for everyone so it’s possible that those could end up being nights.
I was really impressed with her honors adviser, not only did she seem very knowledgeable about all the ins and outs of required classes and sequencing but she also volunteered that she plans to run D’s schedule through the meteorology department just make sure everything lines up with them too.
We moved S in on a Th morning, then went with him to hear Pres. Boren speak that afternoon. Afterwards, we had burgers and chips on the lawn outside the Towers. He went his way after that, and we didn’t see him again until the Natl Scholars dinner Friday evening. Had it not been for the Natl Scholars event, we would have left Friday morning.
@2009Refuge Is the National Scholars an annual event? I’m good with with not seeing D while she gets settled but I do want to be available to her and do any ‘parent stuff’ that’s expected. Thanks for clueing me in on the National Scholars dinner!
I’m assuming it’s an annual event, but can’t say for certain. It was held in the Student Union, and I would describe it as an indoor picnic. They introduced all the staff from Nat’l Scholars Office, and some Professors spoke briefly. Very informal. One nice thing they did - a roll call of the states. When your state was called, you stood up. It was pretty impressive how many were represented.
By the end of Thursday, our parenting stuff was done. Woolscarves nailed it - we knew when he met up with us Friday evening that he already had a different outlook.
@3scoutsmom - just wanted to say how i spent a weekend 1500+ miles away from OU with the director of housing at OU. (friends of relatives). The Director was absolutely delightful, dedicated and knowledgeable. I asked all kinds of questions – and left with a lot of respect. I thought i’d share that i think your kid is in good hands.
We skipped the lunch. Only one parent along for the move and this old man was tired after trekking up and down 10 flights of stairs. They have a good system in place for moving in…too late we decided to accept help from some volunteers. In hindsight, I think I would have waited for the elevators. It is not bad if you are in better shape than I was then.
The picnic thing is around 2-3 if I remember right. Annual event. As a parent, I think you’ll be fine going or not. It’s not that exciting, honestly. Like 2009Refugee said, it’s nothing earth-shattering. If it’ll cost you a whole extra night and everything, I think you’re fine skipping it. It’s seriously just a buffet style lunch, staff introduces themselves, and not much more than that. It’s probably fun getting to meet other students that your D will be hanging out with, but it’s on the lower end of the “importance spectrum” of the weekend.
Also, my freshman year they had a shuttle to Target over that first weekend. That way if you kid doesn’t have a car and you forgot to bring something to move-in, they can grab it easily. Not sure if they still do it, but I’d imagine they would, it was a big hit my year.
I wrote to Tyler in the scholars office and asked, his response was,
“For move-in, if I were you all I would plan to be on campus for the 18th and the 19th as well. On the evening of the 19th we’ll have the National Merit BBQ dinner – we’d love to have you all attend.”
I don’t mind staying another night in Norman, this way we can avoid Friday evening traffic in Dallas.
A little late to the party, but as an OOS freshman NMS who’s parents did not attend the lunch/dinner on Friday, I figured I could offer some input. It was too expensive to fly home Saturday and my parents ended up leaving OK Friday morning, so I attended the dinner alone. At first it was quite overwhelming as it seemed that everyone else had their parents there, but once I walked around I found many groups of kids whose parents had left. I sat with one such group of only kids, and ended up making some really good friends because all of us were alone and were forced to branch out. If I had been with my parents I don’t know that I would’ve made any lasting connections, and wouldn’t have the 7 good friends that I have now. Then again, there are plenty of events to meet other Nat’l Merits at OU, so either way would’ve turned out fine I think. I was just grateful that I was forced to leave my comfort zone and learn how to make some friends right off the bat, because I think it has really helped me out in the long run.
In @3scoutsmom’s post above she quoted Tyler in the scholars office,
“For move-in, if I were you all I would plan to be on campus for the 18th and the 19th as well. On the evening of the 19th we’ll have the National Merit BBQ dinner – we’d love to have you all attend.”
Coming from Southern California, we are already planning to stay in Norman August 17 (in order to be there on time for our DD’s August 18, 10:00 A.M. Walker NMF floor move-in). We will also stay there August 18 and 19. Is there any reason for parents to stay any longer than that?
Nope - I think most parent will leave on the 19th we decided to stay the night of the 19th because we didn’t want to hit Friday evening traffic through the Dallas area. We got a “scholar’s update” saying the the BBQ is at 6PM on Friday so I’m glad we decided to stay Friday night. @RayznHELL my DD is on the NMF Floor in Walker too:-) Perhaps all the CC OU parents should try to get together while we are in Norman? We’ll arrive the 17th as well.
My D got allocated to Counch East and have move in time 8/16 12 noon to 1 pm. We also plan to stay much longer ti and leave early morning on Sunday. We are planning to smother her and she will all her events and make friends. But I thought it is best for me to take care of all small (rather big items) and do most of the shopping in Norman and they all take some time since we are not planning to lug too much from CA.
Only last week I was helping my international friend and his D to move in UC Davis y’day. Realized the number of trips and the time. Also realized I am no longer younger and was getting tired with all these shopping trips!
@GoldenRock When I was a freshman, there was a fairly large event where Target and Walmart bussed students out to their stores to buy stuff they needed during move-in weekend. They had give-aways and other stuff like that too. It was pretty fun and I picked up some stuff that I needed (like a desk lamp and one or two other things my family and I hadn’t thought of).
@3scoutsmom there are some great places to get together in Norman, but keep in mind places will be exceptionally busy during move-in weekend.