<p>What is it like? Do you stay pretty busy or is it a joke.</p>
<p>meh, they kinda hold your hand so to speak, but at least you get to start meeting people</p>
<p>My son just came home from his orientation and overall he seemed to have enjoyed the experience. They pretty much kept the honor’s kids in groups of about 20 throughout day one and his roommate for the night was in his same group. They opted to just mess around on campus instead of going bowling or doing the texting scavenger hunt. He was able to get all his classes and said the honor’s advisors are great. </p>
<p>He said the worst part was the whole “U Card” (ID card) process. The line moved really slow and once you got to the front they wasted too much time trying to “sell” you on the TCF bank option for your U card.</p>
<p>Kajon…Glad to hear the Honors advisors are helpful. Hopefully the classes won’t fill up too quickly (D1 doesn’t have orientation until Tues/Weds next week). Did your son send in a picture, etc. early for his U-card or did he do everything there? D1 sent a picture in with her application and is already up and running with a TCF account, so “supposedly” they’ll have an “express” line where she can pick up her already completed U-card. We’ll see. Glad to hear he had fun though. Looking forward to ours.</p>
<p>D1 had orientation Tues/Weds last week. Her experience sounds similar to Kajon’s. She also mentioned that they kept the honors kids in small groups.</p>
<p>For the U-card, she did as Wolverine mentions and sent in her picture, etc. early and got set up with a TCF account ahead of time. It saved a ton of time when she picked up her card. It took just a few minutes to pick up her card while the kids in the “regular” line hadn’t moved at all. I do agree with Kajon that they push the TCF option too hard though.</p>
<p>DW and I also went to the first day of orientation and it was worthwhile. It was a very long day, with a lot of information packed in, but they were pretty well organized … especially for being the first session of the year.</p>
<p>We attended with our son last week. He enjoyed it and we all found it to be well run and helpful. Day 1 for the parents is long, but packed with useful information. My son did send his picture in early for the U Card and didn’t have to wait in the line. Would highly recommend it. He also just hung out with some kids rather than do the bowling. I know he had a good time.</p>
<p>We were all impressed - I think they do a great job of transitioning the kids while keeping the parents in the loop.</p>
<p>My son said he hit it off with his orientation roommate and that they have facebook friended each other. I suggested he ask the kid if he wants to be roommates during the school year (instead of taking a risk on a random selection). Son looked at me as if I was crazy - like this is something a stalker would do. :p</p>
<p>I am going into my junior year and know a quite a few people who are orientation leaders. I for one had a good time at mine when I was going into my freshman year and met several people that are some of my closer friends to this day and it really got me excited for the coming Fall. Welcome Week…now that’s another story.</p>
<p>And going back to those friends who are OL’s, they all love their jobs. They have such a fun time doing it and love meeting all these new kids. They legitimately love the thought of helping transition future Gophers into their first year.</p>
<p>Funny Kajon! My son reacted the same way to my suggestion. Must be a guy thing!</p>
<p>tinalouise - if you are from Texas then we might be talking about the same kids! Oh well, it will all work itself out and for now I will just be happy that son enjoyed his orientation.</p>
<p>No Kajon, we’re from Illinois. Must be a guy thing. I’m glad they enjoyed it too. We’re all feeling very positive.</p>
<p>D1 finished orientation yesterday and we were both EXTREMELY impressed with the whole process. Everything was very well organized, started on time, was very thorough, and pretty much all of our questions were either answered during the presentations or by the briefers themselves afterwards.</p>
<p>I’ll echo the other folks’ comments on the Orientation leaders…they were awesome!! The U really does a great job of choosing the people to represent the university during these sessions. Their passion for the school and their desire to welcome the new students and parents was obvious and genuine.</p>
<p>Every experience we’ve had with the folks at U of Minn from the application and admissions process up til now has been the best of any school D1 was interested in, and the orientation process just confirms it. She definitely made the right choice!!</p>
<p>Are parents supposed to go to the two day orientation with you?</p>
<p>Wasian…Parents are welcome to attend the orientation with their student, but it isn’t required. If parents will be attending, they should register for the parent orientation (1 day event) as that is a seperate series of briefings, tours, etc. from the student sessions. I don’t think that parents can or should accompany the student during their orientation session.</p>
<p>Personally, I found the parent orientation to be very informative and extremely well-run, and I’m very glad I attended. I did not attend the evening session for parents (a trolley ride through downtown Minneapolis and dinner at the Campus Club) so I can’t tell you how that would be. </p>
<p>I would guess that the majority of students had at least one parent attending the orientation, but there were plenty of unaccompanied students as well.</p>
<p>Wasian, There are sessions for the parents on such topics as One Stop (paying the bill, having access to the students records), the healthcare center, safety (from the campus police dept) and other matters. There was also a breakout session for my student’s college and information on housing, computer resources and many other matters that I didn’t know the details of. I learned alot and was glad I attended. We also attended the evening program which included dinner and a trolley ride (pay separately for that) which was also very nice.</p>
<p>We returned the next morning for an optional session on fraternities and sororities that was also informative. </p>
<p>I definitely feel much more “in the know” about the U than before and was very impressed with how they ran things. </p>
<p>You sign up for parent orientation (and the optional evening program) online.</p>
<p>It is actually exciting. When I went to my freshman orientation, I felt excited to see new faces and new surroundings I even benefited from the tour since I know what building I will be going.</p>
<p>Don’t worry Wasian, once the parents leave the real fun begins</p>