<p>Will anyone share their past experiences regarding the New Student Orientation? I believe that we will begin registering next week and was wondering if anyone would tell us what the day was like and if there were any tips on how to make it go smoothly. Thanks!!</p>
<p>Sample NSO schedules for students and parents are outlined in the NSO site on UD’s website. There are a number of informational sessions for both students and parents (given separately after the Welcome session). For students probably the most important segments are getting some more info on their college, getting their ID badge, and meeting with their advisor to identify their courses for their first semester. You can identify the specific courses but not the specific days and time slots for each course (FYI you can find the times and days for every UD course on UD’s Course Search site). UD subsequently formulates your final schedule with days and time slots and will inform you of this in August (once you get it you can check out your professors as they are rated by UD students on Ratemyprofessors.com). IMHO getting your ID really helps solidify your identity as a UD student. There may be a little wait time involved in getting your ID and waiting to meet with your advisor. Most of the info presented in the other sessions is available on UD’s website so many feel this is not particularly useful (but at least you have a forum to ask questions if you have any). A lot of students spend some time at the bookstore purchasing various UD items. Good luck. Have a great time.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. I know that there is a separate schedule for students and for parents. I am assuming that the students meet with their advisor without the parent? Do you meet up for lunch or are the students and parents separate all day? I didn’t know that they couldn’t pick their course times and professors. We have been to UD several times lately, and I am wondering if it is necessary to attend yet another information session. Did you learn anything new during orientation? Thanks again for the information!!! Yes, very exciting time.</p>
<p>Yes, you meet with your advisor without your parent(s) but you are able to meet up for lunch. Years ago at NSO you were able to choose specific course times/professors but this practice was discontinued because it was deemed unfair to students who were scheduled for later dates in the NSO process. So it really does not matter on what date you are scheduled for the NSO. Students are required to attend in order to get their ID and identify their first semester courses. As far as parents attending is concerned unless they are very interested or have a lot of questions they may find themselves a little bored by the process. I’m not sure you will hear anything new that is not available on UD’s website so it it is up to the parent(s) level of interest in deciding whether to attend or not. If you have a specific major identified the informational session was a little helpful (our D was in Nursing). If you are Univ. Studies (undeclared) I’m not sure of how useful the informational session would be. One thing you can have done is to set up a bank account at UD’s sponsored bank (PNC) and connect this with your UD ID card so you don’t have to carry a separate Bank card for purchases on campus. I know in past years a number of students/parents leave early once they have completed the required activities. It just depends on your interests.</p>
<p>Thank you! This was very helpful.</p>
<p>Wear a sweater and have your parents bring sweaters or jackets. The meeting rooms are so cold you will want to set yourself on fire. Also, have them be prepared to be seriously terrified by the security presentation.</p>
<p>Zoosermom…you can’t leave us hanging, what is conveyed during the security presentation that is so terrifying? Do parents get the same info in their separate session or is this topic for students only?</p>
<p>My S still had the orientation schedule from last summer. Parents and students had totally different schedules, including lunch. Twice during the day we passed each other and only had time to say hi. They are trying to wean them away! We had a half hour intro together in Trabant, then he had an honors small group mtg, student life mtg, Meet Your College, lunch with Honors orientation assistants, ID, academic advisement, Health and Safety mtg. He also found time, maybe during lunch, to walk down to Barnes and Noble.</p>
<p>Parents had 2 hours in Trabant (yes, it gets cold in there) with discussions on Academic Life, Student Life, Dean of Students welcome. Then to warm us up and wake us up a walk to Barnes and Noble. Then back to Trabant for Easing Transitions, Health and Safety and lunch. Then is was Housing and Residence Life, My Finances, Orientation Students to answer questions, and last were special interest sessions including Honors, Greek Life and clubs, dining and recruited athletes. </p>
<p>His orientation date was mid July so he already had his AP scores and was able to schedule around not having to take required courses. His advisor at orientation was in honors, but a week later he received an e-mail from his department academic advisor that recommended some changes to his schedule which greatly improved it. There were classes that he had scheduled that he did not really need and instead added 2 different ones, changes that would help in double majoring. </p>
<p>The security presentation discussed alcohol and drugs, administrative sanction and arrest, students taking impaired/ill friends to Health Center. Apparently they admit stolen bikes is the number one crime on campus. Don’t walk alone at night, kind of hard to do when you have club meetings across campus and no one lives near your dorm. Don’t leave your dorm door unlocked, valuables unattended. Stuff that happens on every college campus. I personally think UD is safer than most, but there is also the reality of things happen everywhere.</p>
<p>The police officer from Newark outlines in graphic detail every possible bad thing that could befall your child. Now the ultimate point of the presentation was to explain all the security measures available and remind parents to make sure their kids are informed and sensible, but they sugarcoat nothing. Which is good and I have been very happy with the security procedures, but in the summer before leaving your precious baby, it is quite jarring.</p>
<p>Thanks for all of the great info! I am thinking that it might be in S’s best interest to schedule orientation for July because all of the AP scores will be in and the scheduling might be more accurate. Does anyone know if we can choose the dates or are they assigned? JBsMOM, did you feel that the parent orientation sessions were worthwhile? I have sat few quite a few information sessions including the department/major sessions last month at Accepted Students Day. Besides the security information (which I am dreading) do you think that I would learn anything new by attending? Did you walk around and eat with the other parents or by yourself? Thanks!</p>
<p>In the past the NSO day was assigned by UD. The reason for this is that they break down the days by various majors, so for a particular major there may only be several days during the whole process when students with a particular major are able to attend. If for some reason you cannot attend the assigned day you can request a change but the days available may be limited for the same reason. Initial schedules can be modified later once AP results are available if they are not available the day you attend.</p>
<p>I found the orientation extremely worthwhile for countless reasons. Also, my D met people in her major, one of whom is going to be her senior year housemate.</p>
<p>Tigerm, the medical information presentation was worth the price of admission.</p>
<p>zoosermom, Please tell!</p>
<p>They just went through what services are covered at the health center, how to access the health center, when a trip to the ER would be warranted, how that would happen, what happens if there is a health emergency in the dorms. Just very informative a dclearly presented. I found it very comforting to know that every eventuality would be covered. My d met her advisor, who is still her advisor today, and got a very good feel for what her four years would be like. We have always found the employees of the university have been very helpful across the board. The students come out of orientation with a tentative schedule.</p>
<p>Zoosermom: Was this the day I met you in person? I still remember that you were cold in the Trabant MPR! And if I recall, two of the take-home messages for the parents were:</p>
<ul>
<li>Do not let your kid bring candles into the dorms.</li>
<li>When it’s time to leave, then LEAVE.</li>
</ul>