<p>May sound too early to fret, but I am anyways...
I am a classroom teacher and will begin the new school year the week of August 15-19. Move in day is Aug. 17 and I really want to be there. What exactly happens that first week at USC and how bad will it be if I don't help DS move in? I admit that it is more about me than him. It's a parental milestone to settle your first born and see for yourself where he will be without you. So, what will I miss and should I just get a good substitute for my 3rd graders and enjoy the experience? If so, how many days should I budget for this trip. Its a 6-7 hour drive each way.</p>
<p>I could never imagine move in day without my parents. My parents helped me move freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior years! Both in and out!</p>
<p>I know a lot of kids who did it on their own and it seemed kind of miserable. Everyone is different, though – so if you think your son would like the help of cleaning the room before he places his things, etc, you should try to go. (If work allows.)</p>
<p>You’re right in saying it is good for the parents to see where they are – but I think the kids want their parents there, even if they don’t say it. It’s nice to meet the roommate, too.</p>
<p>My parents live 5-6 hours away, and they were here an average of two days, sometimes longer if they could manage. Moving into the dorm takes a day max – but it’s a very long day. You could swing it, though! I’d say 1.5-2 days is a safe estimate, considering you have a long drive.</p>
<p>the first time my parents stopped by campus was for graduation and they helped me move out then. other than that i managed pretty well by myself. assuming your child is independent and resourceful he should be fine. </p>
<p>having a sub during the first week of school might make your students tougher to manage during the year, since from my experience teaching the first week or so of lessons really sets the tone for the rest of the term. </p>
<p>you could consider taking time off to visit campus during parents’ weekend.</p>
<p>I’d say move-in is pretty tough for most people just because of the massive amount of stuff they have. If your child is fairly emotionally strong I think he’ll be able to handle the emotional rigors of moving out without you there. If there are enough pairs of hands with him to help him actually physically move his stuff in he should be fine! Maybe even make some friends by asking for help :).</p>
<p>I also agree it’s important to be there for your schoolkids the first week of school.</p>
<p>Overall, it’s a good experience to take part in as a parent, for both the parent and the student but your presence is not critical and it’s really subjectively up to you! :/</p>
<p>moving out alone sucked just by virtue of having to do it all myself. Definitely appreciated having my mom there to help sort stuff out for move-in. </p>
<p>I think it depends on your kid for the emotional stuff, though. Welcome week is super hectic and full of opportunities to meet people, so he’ll probably be off socializing quite a bit. </p>
<p>If you do decide to go out, you really only need to be there for the day he moves in, I think, plus I’m guessing a day on either end for traveling/prep/recovery.</p>
<p>I don’t understand the parents that only went to USC at graduation – or just never saw the school at all. Maybe it’s a regional/cultural thing, but my parents’ logic was “We’re paying for it! We want to be involved!” Plus, they love Parent’s Weekend.</p>
<p>I guess it just depends on the relationship you have with your kid(s) and how much you care/don’t care about being a part of their college experience and just your overall parenting style. My parents never smothered me or told me what to do, but they did pay for K-12 of Catholic school, paid for all my music lessons, took me on a lot of vacations, indulged every weird interest I had – so if I left them out of my college life, I would feel guilty! (Maybe it’s a daughter thing??)</p>
<p>at least for my family, it was not a regional or cultural thing, nor is it a daughter thing. it was a money thing.</p>
<p>i come from a very underprivileged background. flying out regularly was not really an option. i worked 20 hours per week during my time at USC for all 4 years to pay for all of my own textbooks, airfare, and spending money. you are very fortunate to have come from a relatively well-off family.</p>
<p>Minnymom, here is my two cents for what it is worth. My son is also an incoming freshman but has been away at school for two years. Move In Day was a must for me each time, but particularly that first time. I needed it perhaps more than him. But it was nice for my son to have the support/help/guidance. We moved him in, made sure he was settled, and then took off. My kids kept waiting for me to lose it emotionally but I didn’t until…we stopped to eat on the way home and the hostess said “Three for Dinner!” Then I lost it. It hit me for the first time that now we were three and not four!</p>
<p>I tell you this story because you don’t know how you will feel that day and I would say better be safe than sorry. Your third graders will be fine! It sounds like you are coming from the Bay Area. Drive down the day before, and plan to head home after moving him in on Wednesday. I don’t think you will regret it!</p>
<p>Even though my son has moved into dorm rooms twice already and he is flying out with minimal stuff, I will be right by his side. Again, probably more for me than him.</p>
<p>I recommend going if you can. There are some physical logistics like parking and finding a cart or trolley that are difficult if you have to stay with your belongings. My DD (2011) and DS (2008) really appreciated the ease of having an extra support person. However, I did notice that many students moved in on their own with the help of friendly RA’s. Most freshman move in on move in day but older students come later in the weekend. The most helpful move in tip I can offer is to purchase sturdy plastic drawers that stack on top of each other. Pack each drawer at home. Include a school supplies drawer, underwear, socks… you get the picture! When you move in, you carry each individual box (or place it on the trolley or cart) Then you simply place the drawers on top of each other in the dorm room and you are ready to go! No boxes to throw away or sort through. Bring clothes on hangers and immediately hang up. You will have a small refrig and microwave.
Bring some drinks for the refrig. It gets hot carrying all of the stuff! Then students can enjoy Welcome Week.</p>
<p>I moved in by myself, with help from some of the student organizations there helping out. Be aware that USC does not encourage parents staying past move-in day. There’s really nothing set up for parents at that time, it’s all focused on the new freshmen. Staying overnight and spending an extra morning or so should be OK, but definitely don’t stay over two nights.</p>
<p>Definitely come to campus for parent’s weekend though.</p>
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<p>Thanks for making assumptions about my financial background! I was anything but well off; my parents drove in their old, crappy car and never flew. I was on almost full financial aid (need based) all four years at USC. I also worked 20 hours a week while at school and F/T 7 days a week during summers to pay my rent, buy groceries, pay for gas, etc.</p>
<p>Just because my parents liked to visit USC doesn’t mean I am rich. I’m sorry your family wasn’t able to visit often, but I guess it makes more sense for people who have to fly vs. people in driving distance. If I lived on the East Coast, I don’t think both of my parents could have come, let alone come twice a year.</p>
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<p>This. It made things so much easier, plus all your things are nicely put away for the rest of the year!</p>
<p>Also, save the hassle and buy “extra” things – cleaning supplies, decorations, lamps, food, toiletries – when you get into Los Angeles. There is a CVS across from campus now and several Targets nearby.</p>
<p>sorry i guess i just read too much into this statement
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<p>Without trying to sound melodramatic, your third graders aren’t going to remember two or three days out of a school year while in some ways freshman move-in day is your last official act as a full-time parent. How long to stay really depends on you and your son (HINT: It’s longer than he’ll say he needs but far less than you want). </p>
<p>My suggestion is, if possible, drive most of the way the night before and stay in a hotel. Drive to campus the morning of move-in, spend 3-4 hours getting him set up, meet his roommate, take them both to lunch and then leave. Move-In day at any college is little more than a vaguely organized riot. And like all good riots, I’m a firm believer in leaving a little bit too early rather than a bit too late.</p>
<p>I have to get on a 5 hour plane ride…rent a car and stay in a hotel… so anyone that gets to drive is LUCKY! How many times do i have to do this?
- orientation (June)
- move in (Aug)
- parents weekend…(when is this) ??
I stopped counting after that.</p>
<p>I am with you stalkermama, but have already done it twice in the last 10 months. We visited in August 2010, went for the Presidential Scholarship Explore USC in March 2011, and have the orientation in July and MI in August. I am fortunate to work in Oakland 1 week a month so I try to combine my trips to work with USC visits, but it still involves a rental car, hotel rooms, etc… Not sure I will make it for Parent’s Weekend!</p>
<p>NC Mom, Congrats on the Pres scholarship! We would have liked one of those!
Yep…been there twice too! Virgin America is nice and Thank God there are direct non stop flights.I know some ppl don’t get so lucky with non stop flights. Why MI is August? Do you have another in college there?</p>
<p>Sorry! Not MI the state, MI as in Move In. Funny, I work in the housing industry and was just looking at some MIs! Wasn’t thinking when I used that abbreviation here! Where do you live? No direct flights for us! I actually live two hours from an airport too!</p>
<p>Parents Weekend is in October. Personally that feels too soon. After S1’s first one we learned to skip the organized parents weekend and to create our own PW in February. </p>
<p>Please Note: The fact that S1 was going to school in Miami and by February we were snow-bound in no way affected our thinking.</p>
<p>NC MOM , lol it took me a bit to figure out what 10 char was and then D1 or S2. I thought I was missing something. We leave from Fort Lauderdale so the virgin flight is a dream!! Where do you leave from? Charlotte? I may not go “PW”. I’ll have to see how it goes until then and see if D1 wants me. :(</p>
<p>stalkermama, going to PM you. Perhaps even start a thread for parents of East Coast USC Freshman!</p>