@jlhpsu 12:45 is the ‘start time’ after they’ve checked into Pollack. My son’s was the first day of this year’s orientation and they clearly had a smaller group to get out the kinks (of which there were very few – some corrections needed on presentation slides). At Pollack check in the kids get a name tag, a meal card, a room key and have time to bring their overnight bag to their room, make their bed and get dorm room claustrophobia for the first time) If you don’t check into Pollack earlier than 12:45, you will get into long lines for ID (which is next step after checking into Pollack). We got to Pollack a bit before 11:30 and breezed through ID line. But on our Day Two, we saw long lines around 12:30 for the Day One people (there’s an overlap: When one group starts Day 2, a new group starts day 1).
After ID’s you’re directed to the bookstore to pick up as assigned reading book (on fracking), then you’re up another level of the HUB where parents can elect to sign up for a PNC linked account and the students go in a separate part of the room to activate WebAccess, choose a new password and receive a draw-string backpack with NSO schedules and other information. There is a parent guide in there as well – get it from your kid then.
Next is a ‘resource fair’ where about 12 booths are set up with information about groups and support services. (There is a booth there with NSO info and though there’s a sign that says One Parent Guide per student, asked for a guide for my ex-wife, my son’s mom, and they did give it to us).
After that, you DO have time to kill. The next meeting for all is in the HUB at 2:30 which is when NSO formally begins. You have plenty of time for lunch, to shop the bookstore, to go to the White building to check out gym memberships, etc. There’s even time to go get your picture at the Lion statue (I know ‘locals’ like @jlhpsu have been there, done that).
The 2:30 meeting is informational, low-key rah-rah (NO - the costumed Nittany Lion was not visible at NSO!) and setting up the transition to independence for your kid.
At 4:10 we say “good night” to the kids and they break into groups with an assigned NSO student ambassador and they go have their own meetings. Then there are a couple of parent/family meetings in the HUB (safety and security, etc.), followed by an informal reception in the Paterno library. I’d say about half the parents attended those sessions (I did. I left the reception early because, by then, I was exhausted and not feeling particularly social).
I stayed at the Nittany Lion Inn (very nice) and drove around campus and town and had a quiet meal by myself.
My son reported back that he had a GREAT time and loved his ambassador (Christina). Day One groups were small (8 people); I noticed the next day group sizes had doubled. Brendan felt a bigger group would have been more fun (the purpose, he felt, of NSO. The kids had stuff to choose among and had to be back to Pollack by 11:30. He and a group of kids stayed up until 1:00 am talking in a Pollack lounge.
Day 2 started for kids around 7-7:30 where they checked out of Pollack and had breakfast there. We were free to join them (pay our own way) or eat on our when you kid (like mine) says they’re having breakfast with their new friends. Meetings start at the HUB at 8:20 (everything was VERY prompt – starts and finishes) with the fun talk about $$. About an hour later the kids are led away again and a series of three 45/60 minute meetings for parents are held in the HUB. I missed the first one to get some work done (free wifi is everywhere); 2nd was a presentation, Q&A with students (parents asked about fraternities, on vs. off campus, traveling, etc.); 3rd was career support services. I’d say the meetings were informative, but not particularly necessary.
We regrouped with kids for lunch about noon, where again there was time to shop before 1:30 when the scheduling meetings start at various buildings (assigned on name badges received at check in). After a 45 minute presentations, parents are free to do whatever while the kids meet in small groups with an advisor (random, not their assigned advisor) and aid. My son’s group was only two people and he was done about 4:10. My guess is those groups will be bigger when the orientation attendance is larger.
Then we left…tired, for our 3 1/2 hour ride home to northern NJ.
