<p>Interesting article. Thanks for the info. I look forward to checking this board for you posts!</p>
<p>Because of a very busy June, my son opted to wait until the August orientation. Fortunately, since he is a BFA Theatre major 15 of 18 required credit hours are already set for him, so registration shouldn't be too bad (I hope...). My concern is the short 1-week transition directly from orientation to college life. There's also a bit of empty-nest anxiety on my part. Any advice to smooth the way - for both of us?</p>
<p>Well, we're in the same boat. Our #2 daughter is about to leave the nest as well...leaving it empty.</p>
<p>What we've done, and are planning to do, apart from the typical things, are:</p>
<ol>
<li>Join the YMCA and go at least 3 x per week.</li>
<li>At least one date night per week.</li>
<li>Take dance lessons (took years for me on this one to get the nerve)</li>
<li>Attend FSU football games.</li>
<li>Travel to see the leaves change...could never before, always had kids in school.</li>
<li>Romantic weekends...away from home.</li>
<li>My wife has started quilting again...she makes quilts for the girls.</li>
<li>I'm thinking I need a motorcycle (wonder if this'll fly), already have the blonde (yes, it's my wife). Maybe she needs a tattoo and leather vest? Hmmm. She'd look good...ok, focus here.</li>
<li>Go back to school...</li>
<li>Visit areas we've never been.</li>
<li>Send money to the girls...somethings never change.</li>
<li>Think a bit less like a parent and more like it's time for fun. After 20+ years raising kids, I think we're due for a break.</li>
<li>Realize you'll be happier that the kids are out of the nest, at the proper age, rather than in the nest as adult kids.</li>
</ol>
<p>Just a bit of fun here...</p>
<p>As far as your student's one week transition -- I think your son will be very anxious to get back to campus after orientation. It was pretty difficult for the other freshmen to have to wait until late August after getting all excited about attending college at orientation way back in June. Also, some of their friends started school in the Summer making the Fall students even more full of anticipation. Although they can move into their dorm rooms starting on 8/19, classes don't actually start until 8/28 too.</p>
<p>You can check the available courses for the last 3 credits by going to <a href="http://apps3.oti.fsu.edu/RegistrarCourseLookup/SearchForm%5B/url%5D">http://apps3.oti.fsu.edu/RegistrarCourseLookup/SearchForm</a>
Look for open sections for Fall 2006 at the FSU Main Campus for the course he is interested in taking. I must say I was pleasantly surprised that it was very easy to get the courses scheduled at convenient times and make changes throughout the summer to get the "perfect schedule" for Fall.</p>
<p>I see where maybe I missed the point. Good thing cybermom's on task.</p>
<p>This website may help, too: <a href="http://studentsfirst.fsu.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://studentsfirst.fsu.edu/</a></p>
<p>The one week transition is short, but maybe that's a good thing - just less time to get it together, but perhaps that increases focus.</p>
<p>One thing we did was to keep an eye on grades and finances through FSU's Blackboard ( <a href="http://campus.fsu.edu%5B/url%5D">http://campus.fsu.edu</a> ). This means your student must give their password and allow you to access this information. As parents, we pretty much established a quid pro quo for this - financial support in return for evidence of performance. Our daughters balked, of course, but soon they saw things our way and it works for us.</p>
<p>You both addressed my double-sided question :) </p>
<p>Parent2noles - your "empty-nest list" made me smile, especially #13...and #8, although it was a bit off point (lol). Also the Students First link is chock full of great information. You are a wealth of FSU knowledge.</p>
<p>Cybermom - thanks for your point of view about it being difficult to "wait until late August after getting all excited about attending college at orientation way back in June". Hadn't thought about it in such a positive light! It is my sincere hope that the excitement created from orientation will offset my son's potential freshman anxiety.</p>