<p>We will be going to NSO in a few weeks with our son. I am aware of what our son will be doing but am curious as to what they have planned for the parents. This is our third child so we know the obvious. They say the program is from 8 to 5 is that true or will we be finished earlier? Did anyone stay over and have advice on an inexpensive close hotel? Thanks in advance for your help.</p>
<p>You will sit in a freezing cold conference room and have everything under the sun presented to you, from finances to food to safety. You will be told that on move-in day “You must leave” You will notably be told about crime, alcohol poisoning, partying, etc.</p>
<p>Your head will be swimming and you will be exhausted, but most of the information is extremely helpful. However, bear in mind that the police/safety officers really are trying to scare you. You will not be finished much earlier than 5.</p>
<p>We actually got done earlier than 5 because we didn’t need to go on yet another campus tour (was our third time there).</p>
<p>I live about 3.5 hours away (or more, depending on traffic on the Turnpike and the Belt Parkway!) and, since I drive DD back and forth by myself, I prefer to stay over. There’s a new Sheraton about 15-20 minutes away that seems to have good rates. I booked there for move-in. There are several other reasonably priced Marriotts/Hiltons close to I95 in Newark.</p>
<p>And, agree with zoosermom: they keep the MPR (multi-purpose room) in Trabant super-air-conditioned!</p>
<p>I found the Parent info session to be longwinded, pedantic, and I learned little. So many ridiculous questions by helicopter parents, who like hearing themselves speak. They even take you to the bookstore to stand around for an hour, listen to why you should pay extra to buy the books from Barnes and Noble, and reward you with a cookie. The student part seems to have made my D happy. The parent part is worse than a day in the dentist chair. We were done around 4. They started promptly at 8:00. We stayed at the marriott on campus the night before. They even had four NSO students greet you from 7-9 in a conference room. They were great. Gave my d some registration for class tips.</p>
<p>Based on socaldad’s post, it seems that NSO has gotten worse for parents. We didn’t go to the bookstore or have cookies, did we Linymom? </p>
<p>My favorite part of the day was when the director of student affairs was talking about how parents have to leave, bla bla bla, and then at the answer session for that part, a parent asked if she could buy a ticket for the student-only dinner.</p>
<p>We did do a little more of a tour that day because the day of our initial tour was overwhelming since my daughter was expecting to hate the school (it was the one parents’ choice application of her bunch) and I embarrassed her, so she couldn’t have been expected to pay attention.</p>
<p>Agree with zoosermom, it wasn’t so painful (cold, but not painful). The bookstore wasn’t there in summer 2010 and I don’t remember cookies.</p>
<p>My neighbor just went to NSO last week, and it was her third kid going to college. She said it was a great day.</p>
<p>We enjoyed it too. Very informative. This is our only child so we haven’t been thru this before. Good luck everyone.</p>
<p>The bookstore is new. Probably want to show it off, and drive sales…</p>