<p>I’m looking for any tips you may have about how to have an easy freshman orientation/move in weekend. Is it just crazy with parking and getting the room keys? Will we see our daughter or are the students kept busy right away?</p>
<p>She will be in West Andrews (Pembroke Campus) if it makes a difference.</p>
<p>Also, any restaurant suggestions for us would be appreciated. We are staying at the Hampton Inn - is that walking distance to campus?</p>
<p>Thanks so much for any suggestions! We are getting excited for the big move date.</p>
<p>I moved my daughter into West Andrews last Fall. We arrived about an hour and a half after move in started, and there was no line to get keys, but we heard that right at opening, the line was very, very long. You can park on Bowen St. for moving in. There is an elevator or stairs. Hampton Inn is downtown, but about 10 minutes walk from campus, 15 minutes to West Andrews, but College Hill is pretty steep, but only about thee blocks bottom to top. Restaurants close to you downtown are Capitol Grill, Bar louis, Union Station Brewery, Rira, McCormick & Schmicks, Flemings, The Melting Pot, Cheesecake Factory, dave & Busters, a bunch of places at Providence Place Mall food court, italian food on Federal Hill. There are lots of restaurants on Thayer Street right near campus, all o.k.</p>
<p>Thank you for all the restaurant suggestions. And I just changed our hotel reservations to check out Sunday. No point in staying an extra night. She’s more than ready to say goodbye :)</p>
<p>Moving in suggestions: For Andrews, Definitely to unload from the Bowen street entrance. For all parents, don’t park just outside the dorm once you have unloaded, Please move your car, even if you are not in the zones where they will have you move away as many people will be surrounding dorms unloading. Park a few blocks away after unloading.
A good protocol is: drive up to campus. Plan on getting there before Official time, by 20 minutes or more or 30 minute later. Student gets out and goes to key pick up if “ready to unload” etc. Parent(s) go try to get car in front of dorm (or in case of Andrews, in back of dorm) Park and start unloading. Student high tails it over to dorm as soon as getting key. (alternatively, parent don’t get near dorm until student has key and tells you they’re there. (It’s a zoo). Unpack as fast as possible onto sidewalk. One person stays with stuff. Parent moves car away as soon as unloaded. (if 3 one can start hauling up.) Haul up to dorm.
Agreed that once student is moved in, the only time you might see them after would be for a trip to “get the missing stuff”, maybe with roommate if they don’t have car access. Also nice to have student offer this shopping opportunity to any “solo/foreign” students who have arrived without parent etc. on their unit. Usually day after move in, or that afternoon. Even if they get there before frosh meal plan starts, your student is likely to want to hang with dorm mates, and will turn down the restaurant invites.
Dress for very hot weather. Some nice things to have: clean shirt to change into after sweating lugging stuff. If you have room, a strong fan which likely you will take back home with you after (in addition to the smaller, less adequate one your student will probably want for the first week or 2 of school) . Water or other cold drinks. Some snacks. Paper towels, clorox wipes etc. Basic tools if you are handy. (My husband was very popular with our student and friends to help put together various things, tighten bed frames, etc. While you cannot nail into walls etc, there are usually a few things that you can makes life a bit nicer with a trip to hardware store and some skills).</p>
<p>Great tips, thanks. I thought she might be ditching us for dinner that saturday night. There is no dinner/dining hall on the schedule, so I didnt know if students went with their parents, or if we are just on our own.</p>
<p>Students will likely fend with their new “group” on Thayer street (which is a zoo then). You can offer to take them out. (advise away from Thayer if you have convenient car.) Sometimes roommates and the parents will dine out to get to know each other. Ask, and don’t get sad if turned down. (we’ve done 50% of above over the years.)
PS Unless you really like chain restaurants, I would highly recommend you take the opportunity to visit one of Providence’s “local” restaurants, since there are so many great ones. (most not downtown). Most of these are a bit on the higher $ side, but worth it: CAV, Veggie Fun (Vegan and Kosher), Mill’s Tavern are all in the downtown area. Others: Chez Pasqual, The Duck and Bunny (for brunch or tea, and excellent cupcakes), Seinna (a bit overrated) , Nick’s on Broadway (for brunch but expect lines).</p>