<p>We just returned from the first session and our child is officially registered for classes. Some information that might be helpful for other incoming freshman and parents:</p>
<p>-in the dorm, washers and dryers will be FREE ; no quarters or cards needed (you just
provide the soap)
-each dorm room will have a FREE, new microwave/fridge combo in it
-you do NOT need to turn in your immunization form before registering, despite what it<br>
says on the advising webpage
-students: tell them you have an early flight so you can be one of the first to register on
the second day
-the classes our kid wanted were available but a couple of times weren't optimal. In<br>
July,after all of the orientation sessions, registration will open up again for your child so
he/she can jump on and try for another time
-the two day info session for parents is the best, most thorough we've ever attended
-parents, go ahead and plan a dinner on your own after 6:30 on the first night (sit with
your child while he/she eats); the kids go out together later and have a good time</p>
<p>Thank you so much for the info, and great news on laundry and fridge! I am so surprised- I have never heard of that being a “freebie.” I am not attending the info session, son going solo. What would you say was the most valuable take away from the program?</p>
<p>As a wise man once told me “it’s not free, it’s included.” Still, the residential life head said he expects the students to smell better with the addition of free laundry.</p>
<p>I just came back from session 2. Warning to any parent staying in the dorm: It is, how shall we say, rustic. Maybe it’s just that I’m no longer 18, but I didn’t have much patience for having to climb a ladder to get into bed (beds are lofted–about 4 feet off the ground), no reading light, thin blanket, no wastebasket in room, no cups for water, no shower curtain --oh, and did I mention I was freezing? Fortunately there was no one in the room next door, so I “borrowed” another blanket, but still slept in my clothes and with a sweater on. When I went downstairs at 6 AM, several other Moms were also downstairs sitting outside to escape the cold! </p>
<p>I think orientation was helpful in talking about some of the practical issues–safety, registration, financial stuff. A great deal of time was spent warning us not to helicopter. Everyone was nice, and most of the kids seemed to have a good time.</p>
<p>Conlon10–are you from Long Island? If so, I met your son, who is a great kid. (There weren’t too many kids going solo, so I’m just making a guess).</p>
<p>Problem if you get put in the last couple of student groups that don’t do course registration until late Sunday afternoon. If your group registers earlier on Sunday, no big deal.</p>
<p>If you let them know you need to take an earlier flight they’ll make sure your child gets to register earlier. The parents just sat around the last hour waiting for their kids.</p>
<p>A couple of other items: Their class has 1,760 students with an average SAT of 1343. You CAN receive your child’s grades if he/she fills out a FERPA form at the Advisory Center, giving his permission for release. There’s no charge at the Student Health Center if your child needs an office visit for a cold, sinus infection and the like. If he/she needs to see a specialist, the center will give a recommendation but paying the off-campus doc is your (or your insurance’s) responsibility. There is pharmacy at the Health Center but it doesn’t take insurance, either. The closest drugstore is either CVS or Walgreen’s. There is a Rite Aid close to campus but there is no pharmacy there! It does sell booze.</p>
<p>For Tulane, that is a giant class. I was under the impression, based on the blog of Jeff Schiffman (Tulane Admissions) that the class size was closer to last year, around 1650. I guess we will see where it really ends up, since Tulane usually loses about 2-3% of the “confirmed” class due to summer melt. For those not familiar with that term, it refers to students that have confirmed they are enrolling that end up not showing up for the fall semester. I assume most that don’t come got into another school where they were wait listed, although I am sure there are also a few that don’t show up for any number of other reasons.</p>
<p>At orientation, Tulane said it expected the incoming class to summer melt down to 1650. 2011 incoming class was 1630. In 2003 before Katrina, the incoming class was 1680.</p>
<p>They also strongly recommended getting your kid insurance against theft or damage of their personal property. While homeowners insurance may cover this, high deductibles and fears of rate increases often make it not worthwhile to file. I have had great experience with CSI (college student insurance) who reimbursed my older son over $1000 when he spilled his energy drink on an almost new MacBook pro a couple of years ago.</p>
<p>My son is a returning sophomore. We did not have student insurance and while there were times I wished I had followed through on that, I will say that the things that disappeared occasionally alway found their way home and usually sooner than later. There is a lot of “borrowing” that goes on as you might expect. The only thing that was ever lost permanently were a couple of pairs of khakis that literally disappeared from the dryer despite the fact that they were not left unattended for more than a few minutes beyond the end of the drying cycle. Also, Tulane will give your clothes away if they are left in the laundry room unattended for more than 24 hours - some have learned that lesson the hard way, so you should warn your students.</p>