<p>I know this may sound like a stupid question, but is the August 20th move-in day mandatory for all students to move into the residential halls, or is it just the first day when students can begin to move in? Do you think it would be ok if I arrived on the 21st?</p>
<p>you can arrive later i believe, because i know you can arrive earlieralso for a fee. i dont see why not, because classes dont start until the 25th.</p>
<p>How is moving day run, anyways? Do you get there and they hand you a key and everything is chaotic or what?</p>
<p>I know some dorms use keys, but in Arts and Humanities, the locks are opened by our USC ID cards, so we just got mail keys. move-in was very chaotic, cars parked everywhere, parents and kids everywhere, people confused, tons of trips back and forth of people lugging clothes, computers, setting up your stuff etc. However, it is pretty exciting to meet your roomie and start making your dorm your room.</p>
<p>If you are a freshman, you will probably prefer to move in on move in day. Your RA will have activities for you to do that day (most likely), and a lot of information will be shared. There will also be sessions that you may need to go to the next day which will help you adjust to USC, so you won't have as much time to move in then.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you are not a freshman, there is no reason to move in early, unless you don't know your roommate and need to claim a good bed. In that case, go for it.</p>
<p>tumblweed32,
Moving day is an exciting, busy, chaotic, emotional experience at any college. Two family members attended college at opposite parts of the country. Moving day was chaotic at both universitities.<br>
Before I moved to suburban Atlanta our family lived in Villa Park, CA. Amazing...</p>
<p>nikara, I am a freshman. thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>if you are a freshman i highly reccomend to arriving on move in day. even though classes don't start for a few days, in this time there is a lot of programming put on by the school specific aimed at getting freshman better acquainted with the school and able to meet each other. plus its a ton of fun, i dont know why you would miss it!</p>
<p>It's move in day when we kiss our kids goodbye? (oh boy this is going to be tough!)
I am trying to decide if we (parents) should get out tickets to fly back home on August 21 or if we should "hang out" there until Aug the 25th when classes start?</p>
<p>i'm trying to decide whether to hang around too. I figure the kids probably don't want us to be hovering around them. what do most parents do?</p>
<p>Tuitionsaver, yes I agree, it's going to be tough. Do we mothers look for secluded spots to compose ourselves, not to embarrass our kids?
Bmom, might be surprising to learn the kids DO secretly want some hovering around, though they'd never admit it.</p>
<p>It's not a bad idea to hang around the area. There are a lot of things to do and visit, ie book a mini vacation if you are from out of state.</p>
<p>Hanging out in the area is alright, but try not to plan on hanging out at school. We encourage parents and students to say goodbye on move in day- there will be receptions for the parents that night after they have said goodbye! But after that, there are no parents programs for the rest of the week. Staying for another day or so to help do any last minute shopping is useful, but staying until the first day of classes may be too much. Other parents can comment on how they felt dropping off their kids!</p>
<p>Sequoia...LOL...The secluded spot is a good idea.... I am going to need a secluded spot every few yards!
Does anyone know if there is a thread about move in day in last year's USC forum? I did not find it.</p>
<p>After my melodramatic argument to go to Orientation with your kids, now I'm going to take the other side about move-in day. There is no program or planned events for parents after move-in. The kids, on the other hand, have LOTS going on. My opinion is that this is the time we have to let them go. They do not have time for us during this time. As Nikara said, the RA probably has events scheduled for that day and there are other informational/fun sessions continually until school starts. If they are not in one of those activities, they are trying to meet floor mates. </p>
<p>It was really tough to drop off my 3rd/last kid last year. I did hover for a few minutes with a group of other parents outside the dorm and cried and laughed a little with them. My son wasn't embarrassed because he was way too preoccupied at that point. The drive home (or flight?) is the worst, but there are already tons of threads about that in the Parents' Forum!</p>
<p>As far as the question, "How long do we hover?" That should really be up to your kid because they may all be a little different about that. After we got everything in the room, mine wanted me to walk over to Radio Shack with me so I could pay for a few things he needed, but he didn't want me to go back in his dorm after that. His roommate who was from out of town let his parents stay and take him out to eat one last time because they were flying out after that. </p>
<p>Even if you do embarrass them a little, I think we parents earned that right. They'll get over it.</p>
<p>(Tuitionsaver- I don't remember a thread about this last year here.)</p>
<p>sequoia and tuitionsaver, save me a spot in those secluded spots! =(</p>
<p>Thanks, cc411. I think your advice is so sensible. Let's figure that USC has got this whole business down to an art by now, and if they include parents in events (like orientation) then it is a time when we are included and welcome. If they don't need us there, like after that first day of move-in, we should probably take the hint.</p>
<p>I got a smile out of the secluded spot idea. Reminded me of exactly how we felt when S was going to his first day of kindergarten. Please tell me we get used to this sentimental oh-my-their-all-grown-up feeling <em>some</em> day!! LOL.</p>
<p>As for secluded spot suggestions, perhaps we parents need to meet up and have dinner after move-in? Moms can mist up (dads too) and no one will point out what wusses we are.</p>
<p>i think SCA has their own orientation on the 22nd, i wonder if parents are welcomed there or not.</p>
<p>when I asked s how long he wanted us to stay, he did indicate that we should maybe stick around and do some tourist activities. And when I suggested that his sister can help with him buying books, he didn't object.</p>
<p>move in day is pretty hectic, make sure you bring some tools incase you need them</p>