<p>it’s maybe a stupid question but what are orientation days? and when and how can we register for it? and can parents come and join? what is the arrangement for housing on those days? do parents have to arrange hotel accomodation? thank you for your help! we are so confused!! we paid the deposit of $ 600 already ( 3 days ago) do we have to expect a package by mail with informations or everything has to be done online via “my American.edu”? i appreciate your help.</p>
<p>My son did not attend a summer orientation session and just reported to school when all of the freshman were told to do so. (That saved $ for us and we realized not all students would make it to a summer orientation.) The freshman start date might be a little in advance of returning students. He received whatever orientation he needed at that point. We just helped him unload his belongings at the dorm and did not stay. It was good. He did not feel like he missed anything by not going to any orientation activities earlier in the summer. I do not know what is offered for new students these days.</p>
<p>You should be receiving folders in the mail shortly. This will give you the information you need for orientation information. Be advised, it’s not inexpensive for students and their parents to attend. It would be nice to get some feedback from parents and students who have attended to determine how worthwhile it is.</p>
<p>LaVieEnChocolat, you should receive the information folders soon. AU sends out one brochure for the student and one for the parents; I received mine a few days back.</p>
<p>Orientation does seem pretty costly… for students alone it is $150 (activities and residence hall accommodations), and for each additional family member it is $80 (excluding any accommodations).</p>
<p>I’m thinking of attending just to not stress myself out during Welcome Week in August and at least get the placement exams out of the way. Also, I have not visited the campus yet and wish to do so prior to the semester’s start, but I live in Chicago and my parents might not be able to afford all the fees, accommodations, and air travel.</p>
<p>So, I have a question:
Is it fairly common for students to attend orientation by themselves? Or, would I seem like an orphan arriving all the way from Chicago without my parents? :-)</p>
<p>Some orientation input from a parent -
My son & I went 2 years ago. Regarding going with or without a parent, I do not think it would be at all unusual to attend without a parent. For the most part the parents & students go their separate ways and it is not apparent who is there with or without. From a parent’s perspective I thought some of the presentations were helpful, some were not, and some I skipped altogether. My son thought it was helpful to - get placement tests out of the way, work on his schedule, and, I think mostly, feel more comfortable on campus and meet people. Not the end of the world at all if you are not able to attend, but if you are, at a minimum, it is an opportunity to feel somewhat acclimated and make friends.</p>
<p>We just attended a Presidential Honors event and Freshman day at AU this past Thursday and Friday. From what I recall, parents attending orientation are welcome to stay in the dorms. If only one parent is attending then you can expect to be assigned a roommate. (We are opting for a hotel.) We are mainly going back so our S can take his placement tests. More details will arrive from AU I am sure. :-)</p>
<p>La Vie - our D’s info came 2 days ago and she paid the deposit 2 weeks ago, so yours will arrive soon. You can attend but if you stay in the dorm you are told you’ll be staying with another parent. Personally, I already have a D in college and don’t feel I need to attend the sessions nor does my D think I need to…she’ll stay in the dorm and do the stuff which she does need to, and I plan to stay in a hotel and spend 2 days in DC doing things I want to do!!! She is not quite ready to fly in/out of DC herself so I’m going…and she wants me to…but I am not doing the orientation stuff. I am thrilled to think of 2 days in DC ALONE. :-)</p>
<p>We received the student/parent version of the orientation information a couple of days ago as well. (We had “deposited” a several weeks ago.) Since you just paid your deposit, I’m sure that’s why you haven’t received it yet. It explains about the fees, etc. To answer one of your questions, parents can register to stay in the dorms, but most get a hotel, if they choose to participate (which is optional). Everything does have an additional cost, so between $ and time/travel issues, I’d guess that not everyone participates. Also, if making the extra trip is an issue, there is a “make-up” orientation in August right before school starts. </p>
<p>While you’re waiting for your mailing, I found the following on the AU website:</p>
<p>New Student Orientation (NSO) is designed to welcome new students and their families to American University. During New Student Orientation, you will learn about academics and campus life at American University, while meeting other new students as well as current AU students who will help you acclimate to the university. In addition to meeting with your advisor and finalizing your course schedule you will learn your way around campus, spend a night in a residence hall, take necessary placement exams, receive your AU ID Card and much, much more. </p>
<p>New Student Orientation (NSO) & Parent and Family Orientation</p>
<p>Session I - June 18-19
Session II - June 22-23
Session III - June 25-26
Session IV - June 29-30
Session V - July 6-7
Session VI - July 9-10</p>
<p>Welcome Weeks, August 15-September 2</p>
<p>First Year Fundamentals (make-up orientation) - August 17-18
Freshman Service Experience - August 17-20
Discover DC - August 18-20
Opening Convocation - August 21</p>
<p>For the above, and more:</p>
<p>[New</a> Student Orientation](<a href=“http://www.american.edu/ocl/orientation/New-Student-Orientation.cfm]New”>http://www.american.edu/ocl/orientation/New-Student-Orientation.cfm)</p>
<p>Hi. I’m an international student who will be attending the New Student Orientation session for international students (which is in August, because the other sessions are too early for me to arrive on a student visa…annoying).</p>
<p>I wanted to do the Freshman Service Experience, but I could only find an option to do Discover DC on my.american.edu. Does that mean the former is not available to internationals? Or has it already been booked full? :/</p>
<p>It’s totally fine for students to come sans parents. For students traveling alone (and live on the east coast/in parts of the midwest), consider taking Amtrak because it’s much easier to get to AU from Union Station than from one of the air ports. </p>
<p>Orientation is a good time to learn about what life will be like at AU, AU’s rules and expectations, and to meet your classmates. (You might also learn that 3M hooks are your friend, because they are removable at the end of the year). It’s also nice to be able to ask an upperclassmen questions, as well as learn how to navigate campus. </p>
<p>Bring a sweater because DC is miserably hot in the summer, and AU’s A/C can be miserably cold. If you submit a photo to AU (through my.american) you can pick up your ID at orientation. Save the lanyard you get for you keys, because you won’t get another one from AU (excluding the campus store). </p>
<p>If you can’t make it to orientation over the summer, I wouldn’t worry about it. I think there is a fast orientation before school starts in August.</p>
<p>Our D is a freshman this year and did her orientation during welcome week. We are in Washington State and could not really afford for her to fly to DC 2 times over the summer. Actually she flew to school by herself because we were coming a couple of weeks later for other family stuff. I grew up in DC so she was meet by some family friends who helped her get settled in. She also knew DC pretty well and has had grandma in town to take her shopping etc. I think she would say that she did not really miss anything by not doing an earlier orientation.</p>
<p>^Thanks, mini :).</p>
<p>I think my largest worry is not being able to sign up for classes I want at a time that I want.</p>
<p>CD, as long as you don’t turn in your paper work late, your schedule will already be in the system before orientation starts. As a first semester freshmen, unless you are a fan of 8:30 am or classes at other awkward times, you probably won’t be getting the classes that you want when you want them. Don’t worry, it gets easier each semester as your priority for registration increases.</p>
<p>I’m going by myself for session 2</p>