<p>Everyone I talk to seems to be attending a parent orientation along with their D/S's orientation, but I just found out that my D's school does not offer one. H and I are surprised, we checked the website a few months ago and were sure a parent program was part of it, but now it just says students only. By the way I called the school and verified this.<br>
This is our first child and things have changed a lot since we were in school, so we are a bit taken aback.
Is this typical?
If you have been to a parent orientation, was it useful? In what way?</p>
<p>We went to the parent orientation when we dropped off D1 at college. Not particularly useful information was disseminated, but it was fun.</p>
<p>Hmmm, now that I think about it …</p>
<p>At D#1’s private university, the Parent’s Orientation was eminently skippable – and we did with exception of the President’s Convocation (which was excellent). The university was small enough that any time an issue came up it was a simple matter to pick up the phone and resolve it.</p>
<p>At D#2’s OOS flagship the Parent’s Orientation was helpful. Perhaps that was because the place was LARGE, and figuring out who to contact was considerably more troublesome. (That uncredited payment for study abroad: Now would that be the International House or Accounts Receivable or Department Office or Mail Room or Faculty Member in charge of the trip?)</p>
<p>It was nice to meet other parents and to see some of the administrators, etc., but I didn’t find it that useful.</p>
<p>We thought the orientation at D1’s school was terrific. But it may have had something to do with the fact that they let us hang around for a couple of days, just helping her to get a bit settled; it would have been hard to drop her off and leave. D2’s school, however, looks to have a more intense and shorter orientation for parents.</p>
<p>*This is our first child and things have changed a lot since we were in school, so we are a bit taken aback. *</p>
<p>Neither I nor H had attended college, so a little overwhelming not to mention our first born.</p>
<p>It had been a reach academically and convocation made D was so nervous she was crying. We were also not any help.
I did attend a couple talks that were helpful, re: financial and release medical forms- but we skipped a lot as H ( we had left other daughter at home- actually she was away at camp), doesn’t like crowds or meeting new people.</p>
<p>I enjoyed the brunch or whatever it was for parents, but it wasn’t necessary & frankly- I felt like some of the parents were a tad snobby as in * how the heck did their kid get in?*. 
But most people were friendly and helpful.</p>
<p>We also had some shopping to do, to pick up all the things D forgot ( like a fan!, we didn’t realize that Portland Oregon is in the 90’s in August)</p>
<p>Portland can be in the 90s in August … but it sure isn’t always!</p>
<p>My recollection was that move in was on Saturday and there were family events on Sunday and the rest of the following week was kids only. There was something where there were tables and I know we talked to the health services there about insurance issues. There was a luncheon. There was a talk by the president of CMU which we skipped and a talk by the Dean of the School of Computer Science which was inspiring, reassuring, and funny.</p>
<p>FallGirl, if you’re referring to NYU, there is a “Family Picnic” and an information fair on Move-In Day. No parent orientation, that I remember. It was a really hectic day…</p>
<p>There will be a Parents Day in October for parents of Freshmen (+Transfers) only.</p>
<p>If you have any questions, feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>I have no recollection that there was any parent’s orientation when I went to college. I drove myself, unpacked my few belongings, parked my car in the student lot at the absolute other end of campus. </p>
<p>Just checked the website at my son’s school and there is definitely some kind of programming for parents as well.</p>
<p>Our older son’s college (Calvin in Grand Rapids,MI) had a parent orientation as part of the mid-summer orientation for the students. It was a two-day program. Parents stayed in one dorm and the kids in others. We enjoyed it and it was reassuring to get familiar with the school since he is 600 miles from home. The opening program both days and registration with an advisor had parents and student together. Other sessions were separate. </p>
<p>On the freshmen move-in day, the faculty and administration held a chapel service just for parents. It was wonderful. We sat with the parents of our son’s roommate whom we had only met a few hours before. Just a really great experience. After that, all the parents and freshmen had a picnic dinner on the lawn before saying good-bye.</p>
<p>The school also sends a weekly parent newsletter to those who are interested. We can only hope our younger son’s future school will involve the parents in a similar way.</p>
<p>In addition to general “orienting,” there are often certain logistical tasks to accomplish at Orientation - advisement, placement testing, registration, dropping and adding - as well as helping students transition into a setting in which they are expected to take charge of their own affairs, make informed decisions, and learn how to do their own troubleshooting. In recent years, it’s become increasingly hard to accomplish these things with the parents accompanying their students. Advisors who have a certain number of students to advise in a given amount of time routinely complain that relatively simple and non-critical questions of whether to take X in the fall or Y, bog down into debates between the mother and father while incoming student looks out the window and the line at the door grows longer. Most schools have taken the approach of separating the parents from the students and having different programs for each so that what needs to be accomplished with the student can be, and the student gets the message that they are now going to be responsible for calling their own shots. FallGirl’s D’s school seems to have gone to the next step of just asking the parents to not be at Orientation,</p>
<p>FallGirl: I don’t think that much will be lost by the lack of a parent orientation. When I went to college, there was no such thing at my state university either. My folks drove me to the dorm, helped me schlep my belongings up to my room, kissed me goodbye, and drove away. Understand that as far as your D’s school is concerned, SHE is the important person. You’re an appendage who’s only occasionally necessary for paying bills and signing forms. </p>
<p>I think your main function during that time will be logistical support: Helping your D get settled in, shopping for last-minute supplies, exploring the immediate off-campus area so she knows where the stores/restaurants are. If there is paperwork you need to do, I’m sure they will let you know and provide a time/place to take care of that. If you have specific questions about housing etc., the school will be happy to answer them by phone or email between now and the start of school.</p>
<p>For me, the toughest part of that weekend is going to be letting go. I know that I’ll have to keep reminding myself that when I leave, she’ll be on her own, and I’ll need to keep stepping back and letting her handle things. My plan is not to attend any orientation events unless parents are specifically asked. It’s her world, not mine!</p>
<p>(Does CC have an annual empty-nester’s thread in the fall? )</p>
<p>I got the impression that Parent Orientation at S’s chosen school is specifically designed to get us, the P’s, out of the kids’ rooms and let them start their college experience.</p>
<p>As I recall, my boyfriend drove me to college (an 8 hour drive) the first day, but maybe since I was the eldest of 6 - my P’s could not even think of going - though I don’t think there was anything specifically “for” parents anyway</p>
<p>LasMa–I’m there with you in the Empty Nesters club–we will show what great parents we are at Orientation when we let our birdies fly off! (and then hope like heck they call us soon!)</p>
<p>The only memorable thing from parent orientation for me was for the first time seeing some of the student a cappella groups perform. They were great.</p>
<p>D in NYU CAS. There was parent program the first day of her 3 day orientation last summer. I found it helpful.</p>
<p>Both S’s attend big publics (a few hours fr. home) who have their Orientations staggered thrughout the summer. Both had friends attending same Orientation days so were fine with going on their own. There were a few parent meeeting offerred but DH and I are very familiar with both schools and the mid-week orientations would have required days off from work so we skipped it.</p>
<p>Milkandsugar, that’s very interesting. LSP did not have orientation until Welcome Week, so no parent orientation for us. On Parents’ Day, there were sample mock classes and a meeting with the Dean.</p>
<p>Grinnell had a wonderful parent orientation. It was great to hear from the dean of students and the president (who said we could call him personally if we had a problem with the school). The students were doing their own activities but they brought them over for a hug-your-parents-goodbye moment. Just before that, a religion professor and dean had spoken so evocatively about the Grinnell experience that I had cried myself out and so I didn’t shed a tear when I hugged my only goodbye. I knew he was in a great place.</p>