<p>Just wanted to mention that I was very pleased with the welcome the parents and kids got from being lost on campus, to waiting in line for unloading, to every item being placed in my son's dorm room. It ran like a well oiled machine. I enjoyed the sessions on Friday (although I did not attend the full day). </p>
<p>Thanks to all of you who may have contributed time and/or service.</p>
<p>Agree. We did attend all the sessions Friday, and while we did learn some new info the biggest advantage by far to attending was just being able to listen to the speakers and see what good people are leading the school. Very impressed with the presenters.</p>
<p>Thanks for the compliments! I’ll pass your kind words along to our Orientation Staff when I see them on campus. Feedback is always helpful.</p>
<p>Eleanor Oi should be commended on what seems like a near military exercise. I thought the convocation was really great. My son walked out of there wanting to take a class with Dean Feldman. Congratulations to the staff for not killing some of the helicopter parents with their questions. 
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<p>If I could add my .02 - it seems like a week is several days too long for orientation for these kids. S actually said he was eager to get classes started to get into a routine.</p>
<p>Feldman is a genuinely nice and interesting person.</p>
<p>Eyemamom, I can see that point but I have to say my son has really enjoyed having the time to get to know his hallmates, go to the various activities, and just take his time getting settled. It is nice to have the time to get used to being on his own-even though he is fairly independent and has travelled quite a bit with high school activities it just is not the same as living in a dorm room with a total stranger, getting used to eating in a dining hall setting, and learning about all the great stuff Rochester offers such as even something as simple as playing pick up basketball game at the Rec Center with your new friends. And they need to buy books, etc. I think the extra time is nice, especially with all the planned activities. But I know it is not the same for every kid, it just happened to work well for my son! Oh, and my husband and I were also impressed with how the staff handled certain parents/questions-I fear I would not have been nearly as nice! We couldn’t believe some of the questions/comments, and wished our son could have heard them to help him realize we are not nearly as bad as he thinks!</p>
<p>My guy has enjoyed his week. I wouldn’t shorten orientation.</p>
<p>With regards to move in, the 1 hour and 20 minutes (more since we didn’t keep time from the start) wasn’t exactly our favorite. It would be nice to allow people to choose when they want to come. We would have preferred morning (didn’t get it) and were there from the beginning. Fortunately, we had a tip (from here) to do the Expo early instead of after move in. If we had to do it afterward, there wouldn’t have been time and we would have felt more rushed. There were folks in line with us who had morning move in times. We’d have loved to have switched. Perhaps a 2 hour window (instead of 4 hours) could be considered too. This would spread folks out more. Offer 4 choices of times and have people list their preferences. It seems most could get their 1st or 2nd preference.</p>
<p>Friday worked out ok - though the shuttles from the parking lot started AFTER the walk along the Genesee. Since we’re hikers anyway, we didn’t mind the hike from the parking lot to get to the walk on time, but others just parked in other lots. I don’t know if they got tickets or not. It did seem odd to us to start shuttles after organized events started. </p>
<p>Otherwise, I’m sure it was noted (it was supposedly going to be noted) but the Undergrad Research session was held in a room way too small for the amount of interest. We’re glad we got there early. Others told us they got there too late (for both) and couldn’t get in.</p>
<p>Overall, my guy is there and very happy he chose UR. Convocation was great. Since he was supposed to be the roommate of the student who died, he was VERY pleased they did the memorial service for him later that evening. </p>
<p>The glitches? Those happen anywhere… Just things to learn from for the next time.</p>
<p>I have to second the kudos for a job well done. This is our second UR freshman move in, and I’ve been amazed both times at how smoothly it all runs! Love the convocation, and would have loved to hear the a Capella groups perform before it started (as well as after) to get the vibe going!</p>
<p>Also - definitely put the undergrad research info session in a bigger room. Professor Manly was a great speaker, and the students who shared their experiences were very interesting to listen to. </p>
<p>We moved our freshman son in Wed night because he already had his room from being on the UR FOOT trip. We woke up the next morning in our hotel room and remembered we’d left our older son’s huge white board and rolled up carpet leaning against a lamp post while dealing with freshman son’s stuff. Thank you to UR security and everyone else for leaving it alone all night - it was right there when we went to look for it the next morning!</p>
<p>I don’t know how I missed that advice on here re:attending the Expo, makes perfect sense! We also had the afternoon move in and it would have helped quite a bit to do the Expo first-we barely had time to make our trip to Target (our 2nd trip of the day, which we held off doing til after we saw the room). And I know a lot of colleges are going to more specific move in time slots, I think 2 hour slots would work well.</p>
<p>I agree all the orientation planning, the move in, the convocation ceremony were excellent, thrilling and ran smoothly. The barbecue for parents was really nice. I also think that a week is a tad long. None of my son’s friends have an entire week for orientation. </p>
<p>However, the challenge they faced was planning around the first weekend and this upcoming holiday weekend plus UR starting school 2 days before Labor Day. </p>
<p>Advisors are not going to want to come in on the weekend to do advising and registration needs to take place during the week incase of problem with computers (I read they had a problem with safari access during registration). </p>
<p>I also agree the research presentation was in far too small a room. </p>
<p>In terms of time, we were given an afternoon time slot but I understand you could have called and swapped to morning if you needed it.</p>