<p>Has anyone been to orientation. Reports???</p>
<p>Do they serve any breakfast to the kids at check in? (Need to know if we have to go out for breakfast before.)</p>
<p>What time can you easily leave the second day? Hoping we can scoot out early as we will have a LONG drive home.</p>
<p>well I went to the Transfer orientation which was 9-4 one day only and there was breakfast( table with coffee, bagels, mini muffins etc) and then they served lunch (sandwiches). </p>
<p>I enjoyed the experience and made a few friends quite easily!</p>
<p>I commented on Orientation below in the Storage section, we were at I believe the first session. We found it quite informative for the entire 2 days. At least one person disagreed with that assessment online. Have breakfast on your own the first day, everything else is provided. I hope the food for the students throughout the year is as good as what they served us those 2 days. Students and parents are separated and join each other mid afternoon the second day. Yes it was a long drive for us that day, half of which was in drenching downpour. </p>
<p>As I wrote a few weeks ago, this is our third child in third school, and we found UB does things differently, for the most part we very impressed and look forward to an excellent college experience.</p>
<p>Crazed:</p>
<p>There won’t be much opportunity for breakfast after check-in, which does take some time due to lines for the students. You’ll want to get their stuff up into the room as this will be the only time you’ll be at the dorm until check-out the next day. (I strongly recommend bringing a fan and your own pillow/blanket. The sheets and towels looked clean, though D brought her own, but the other things were questionable.) Then you’ll all go to the CFA building for an opening presentation and the kids will be split into their orientation groups from there. They do have lunch fairly early for them. You can choose to re-unite with your son for the mid-afternoon sessions, and for dinner on day 1. Then parents leave and the kids have more activities until midnight if they choose. They eat at the dorm in the morning and check out before the Day 2 Sessions. They can leave their stuff in a locked room at the Wilkeson dorm, but it won’t be accessible until 2:30 pm. So, I saw a number of parents loading their kids stuff in the morning.</p>
<p>I also posted on the storage thread that we weren’t thrilled with orientation and didn’t acutally do the Day 2 sessions at all. It depends on how much you know about UB, and what your expectations are. I know you’ve had some issues, as I have, getting certain questions answered. We used Day 2 to try to get these type of issues resolved and were still on the road by noon. I’d recommend staying for Day 2 if possible, but it’s likely that all the info you really need has been covered if you’ve done Discovery Day or is on the website. The rest is nice to know, but nothing the kids won’t figure out themselves if they need to.</p>
<p>The best thing I discovered at orientation is that UB has a Parents Club that is accessible for parents who have questions/need help. They’ve been very prompt and courteous in identifying the correct dept at UB, resolving things, and getting back to me within a day! You can fill out a quick form on UB’s website to contact them.</p>
<p>Thanks for the answers. We will definitely meet S and pack the car on the second morning. I think our hotel is very close to campus. </p>
<p>This is S2 so I don’t think we need much parent orientation. Our kids are pretty independent in getting the things they need done, etc. </p>
<p>Our experience with “Orientation” over the phone was great. I switched the day as S opted out of Honors and we switched to an Engineering Orientation instead. Engineering dept. has answered all questions and seems quite knowledgeable. Sent out nice letters, etc. Also, the website (my son showed me) with their class schedule, AP credits, etc, was very impressive. I am generally feeling very good about UB!</p>
<p>Ordered S’s items at BBB and all but one item was at the Buffalo store and in stock. One less thing to do. </p>
<p>Not looking forward to the drive, but hopefully it will be the last and we/son will fly in the future.</p>
<p>I also have a question on orientation about staying overnight at the dorm rooms. Since I won’t be dorming at UB, do I still have to stay overnight or can I just leave late on the first day. Also is the second day a must because I wont be able to make it due to summer classes that I take every morning.</p>
<p>No, they don’t really keep track of where you are. There is a check in at the Wilkeson quad where they’ll give you sheets/towels, key, your orientation badge (get it cuz it’s got your group number on it), student ID, etc. - I’m sure you can just tell them there that you’re not staying and don’t need the linens and key and won’t be checking out in the morning either. There is an outdoor party that night right outside the dorm, so you might want to stay for it or not. You can call the Orientation number that came in your Be Ready kit and give them the info too.</p>