<p>Yea I'm not bringing a guest. We live like 40 minutes away so it seemed pointless for my Dad to pay $125 to walk around with me. ACtually, does anyone know what that money is for? FOOD?!?</p>
<p>I'm going by myself as well. Too $$ to bring parents... maybe I would if I lived in LA though.</p>
<p>Many of the HI kids bring one parent to sign up for a USC Credit Union account & other financial & papershuffling-type things. We opted to bring only me instead of me & hubby because can't justify the additional expense. It seems they want to discourage a huge crowd by charging for each person who attends--makes each person really think about whether to come & why.</p>
<p>My daughter's going without us...we're a half hour away so we'll just drop off/pick up...it sounded like we'd already done a number of the activities scheduled for parents (i.e., tours) on our previous 2 visits. We figured if she went alone she might have more time to get to know other new students. :) The program would be great, though, for parents who haven't been on campus before, are traveling a distance with their student, etc.</p>
<p>Our orientation is in Honolulu, but they're flying in all the personnel from USC that they think we'd want to speak with. The kids are in one group & the parents & others are in the other group (so the kids can ignore us & mingle with their incoming peers). </p>
<p>So far, the only USC event we have attended is the admitted students' reception, so I plan to speak with several of the USC personnel during Orientation & sign up for the credit union & maybe the installment payment plan. Might do some networking with the other frosh parents as well--seems like a good idea.</p>
<p>both of my parents and my little sister are going</p>
<p>great.</p>
<p>I'm a mom going with my daughter and staying in the dorm. I'm sure they'll have linens, we've picked the wrong college for $47,000. a year if they don't. I bet they'll have them in a different dorm since they have a late night party or something. I just wanted to skip the rent a car and hotel costs since I didn't know where a good hotel was close by. I need to learn the area, we're from the midwest. We did take the tour a year ago but drove in and out to the next college visit.</p>
<p>Zelda...you poor thing :( My parents just refused to come. They're sick of going with me to LA every time I go haha</p>
<p>My dad is going, and he's staying overnight even though we live 40 minutes away.</p>
<p>At least I get to meet (hopefully) all you guys going on 27-28. Especially Misoo. :p</p>
<p>I'm flattered :) You really should go the night before. Boo.</p>
<p>Haha don't worry Zelda! I'm in the same eXACT position as you! Both my parents are coming.. and they want to drag my little sister along, but then she'd have to miss 2 days of skl :).</p>
<p>anyone from seattle going the 20-21st?</p>
<p>also did anyone answer the question about the orientation t-shirt? (reg usc shirt or does it have "orientation" on it like the explore shirts did)</p>
<p>^ Can't say for sure. Last year, it was a regular USC shirt that commemorated the 125th anniversary, but if they said specifically "orientation" shirt, then I am led to assume it will say "orientation" on it.</p>
<p>anyone from seattle going the 20-21st?
My daughter is from the Seattle area but we are going June 27-28 (graduation is the June 22) ... and she will be in Texas until graduation day.</p>
<p>June 20-21...why does it seem like there's only one other person in this thread going that day?!</p>
<p>also...its fine to not bring a parent...right? for one, i'm sure my parents will appreciate not having to pay for that extra spot, and on top of that...i figured i'd enhance my social opportunities that way.</p>
<p>The good thing about bringing at least one parent is if there are docs requiring a parent's signature (like opening a joint account at the USC Credit Union), having parent be able to put names to faces in USC faculty & admin, having parents work with FAid (if needed), having parent deal with disabilities services (as needed), having parent work out any billing issues, etc. </p>
<p>Of course, students can work out a lot of these issues, but they'll be busy with placement testing, meeting with advisor, course selection, socializing, getting familiar with campus, & FUN stuff. </p>
<p>I see my role as parent as the secretary/administrator. I know my kid COULD handle everything, but feel I might as well set things up in a manner that is comfortable for me as well. Part of this is because we live a 5-hour plane ride from USC & don't expect to be there often.</p>
<p>There are other students who are also going without parents--it all depends on the student & family.</p>
<p>Now I feel a (little) bad for my son. He's dragging his whole family along: both parents, grandfather and little sister because we are using the trip as an excuse for a family vacation in SoCal before he heads off to college. June 20, which is session 3.</p>
<p>Oh well, he'll be largely on his own during the orientation, and we also planned to get to the USC credit union (good idea, HImom).</p>
<p>"I see my role as parent as the secretary/administrator" ... I feel the same way HIMOM. I am gaining a little piece of mind by knowing all of the financial and administrative stuff is taken care of, and my daughter only has to maintain it rather than set it all up herself. Plus I am excited to be part of the "extended" Trojan family! They have a great parent's network. My daughter is welcome to do her "social" thing while we are there, we won't be staying with her, per se. I am looking forward to meeting some of the other parents too.</p>
<p>i feel so lonely!</p>
<p>anyone going to the second one??? :(</p>
<p>the 13th to the 14th?!! I'm going to that one:)</p>