<p>what is orientation? why are there so many different events planned for admitted students? (destination Tulane, Honor’s Weekend, Orientation…)
my son applied to 12 colleges. 10 of which won’t notified application status until end of March. We have to wait and see where he gets accepted other than Tulane. I am sure there will be other offers since not all of them are reaches for him</p>
<p>Orientation is for matriculating students, not just accepted students. So it doesn’t belong on your list. Honors Weekend is how Tulane tries to convince the highest achievers among the accepted students to attend. Other schools have similar programs, WUSTL calls it Discovery Weekend. The other programs, Destination Tulane and Tulane Comes to You (or whatever it is called), are programs so that undecided students can get more information to help them decide. The former is for people that have the chance to travel to NOLA, the latter for those who cannot. Seems logical to me.</p>
<p>Not sure how the admission timelines of the other schools factor into your question. But I am sure you are right that more acceptances will be coming. Hope he gets the ones he wants most.</p>
<p>We signed up for orientation yesterday. We will be going the 10th and 11th of June. There were a lot of spaces available still. The information stated that some of the offices wouldn’t be open on the weekend dates, so we signed up for a Monday/Tuesday. Do the students get their schedules right then? How much of the orientation is scheduled for parents and how much of the time should I plan? Also, I know that DT isn’t necessary if my dd knows she is going to Tulane-she has sat in on classes, done a tour and is already committed but is there ANY benefit of going? She would still like to go to DT. She feels that it can only help. She is HOPING to do NOLA but who knows if she’ll be picked. We are very far from New Orleans and the trip is not easy! (Double connection and very expensive) But I will give her any advantage I can.I worry (a lot) that she’ll get homesick and not make it at school. Right now she is beyond excited and counting the days until she can go. I think finding a roommate that is a good match will be key and wondering if DT may be another opportunity for that and just to meet other students in general. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Here is the Orientation schedule from the Tulane web site:</p>
<pre><code> Schedules for Students and Parents
</code></pre>
<p>You will be able to check in beginning at 10 a.m. on Day 1. We recommend that you arrange your travel so that you can arrive on campus by at least 1 p.m. The first presentation will begin at 1:30 p.m. Student activities will last until 11:00 p.m. Students stay overnight in a residence hall and start Day 2 with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. </p>
<p>Since you will register for classes on Day 2, it is very important that your return travel arrangements allow you to stay through the late afternoon. All activities will end by 4:00 p.m. on Day 2.</p>
<p>Some New Student Orientation events are for both students and parents together, but most of the time there will be separate events with specialized information and activities for each group. Detailed schedules will be posted by April 1. The following elements will be included in the program:</p>
<p>Presentation topics for students</p>
<pre><code>Core curriculum requirements and academic support resources
Special academic programs for first year students
Academic advising and course registration procedures
University services information and demonstrations
Housing and Dining Services information
Safety and emergency guidance and resources
Health and Wellness programs
Campus involvement and co-curricular activity opportunities
</code></pre>
<p>Activities for students</p>
<pre><code>Course selection assistance with an academic advisor
Registration for fall 2013 semester courses
Guidance from an upper-class student Orientation Team Leader
Meals, socializing and small group discussions with fellow new students
Tours of model residence hall rooms
Off-campus evening entertainment (admission and transportation included)
</code></pre>
<p>Presentation topics for parents</p>
<pre><code>Overview of curriculum requirements, academic advising and registration procedures
Special academic programs for first year students
Academic success resources
Housing and Dining Services information
Safety and emergency resources
University services information
Money Matters (billing, financial aid)
Physical and mental health and wellness resources
Campus life programs and opportunities
</code></pre>
<p>Activities for parents</p>
<pre><code>Tours of model residence hall rooms
Parents only dessert social
On- and off-campus resources expo
Guidance from academic, student affairs and university services staff
Networking with other Tulane parents
</code></pre>
<p>IMO, the only thing DT will do is boost her familiarity and comfort with the environment she will be in a little bit. Well, and have a great time I am sure. But really, in her situation it just is not worth the expense. She won’t get anything new out of it that she won’t get at Orientation and with more focus, since they will be talking to committed students, not trying to “sell” the university. Probably at least half the DT groups will not end up at at Tulane, so meeting a roommate, etc. is not so likely. I know she is excited and would start tomorrow if she could, but a DT trip just really doesn’t make sense.</p>
<p>She will walk away from Orientation with a complete fall schedule, assuming she can decide what she wants at that time. At the least she will have most classes scheduled, and she can register for any remaining classes online later, or make changes herself later as well.</p>
<p>As far as your schedule, they do have the days planned out pretty well, but you should plan your evenings. April 1 is plenty of time for you to make any event or dinner reservations you need.</p>
<p>Does anybody know how long the session is on the second day, or better at what time they’re finished …trying to see whether we could catch a flight in the eve</p>
<p>If I am remembering correctly, it is a pretty full day on the second day. I definitely remember this though: my son was on information-overload by the end of Day 2, so once we did what was absolutely essential, we checked him out of the dorm room and went back to the hotel. So I think you could probably fly out in the evening is the long answer to your question.</p>
<p>The note jozuko quoted above says 4 PM. So any flight after about 7 PM should be OK. If you had to leave a little early, say 3:30 that would probably be OK, but I wouldn’t plan to leave any earlier than that. If you are taking a taxi that is probably an advantage since you won’t have to worry about returning a rental car, and getting taxis at Tulane is pretty easy. You can call in advance to make sure one is waiting for you right at 4:00. United Cab is pretty reliable. Of course, you can take advantage of being in New Orleans one more evening and have a more relaxing trip home the next day. But then, it’s so easy for me to spend your money.</p>
<p>Is it necessary for parents to go? We are really far away as well. We have relatives in town who could help get her to/ from airport…isn’t most of the parent info on the web?</p>
<p>It is definitely not essential that parents go. You are right, most information can be found independently, and you can always ask here or e-mail the relevant person at Tulane. They just package it up nicely, and you can ask questions more easily, meet other parents, etc. But there are always a fair number of students that attend on their own. More important that you come for move-in, where a lot of that same information is repeated in similar programs.</p>
<p>Jozuko and Fallenchemist thank you for your feedback, I found it very helpful. Somehow I missed the orientations schedule on the website.</p>
<p>We’ve also signed up for orientation (don’t you wish Tulane would consolidate all of the various websites?? It’s quite confusing to go to Gibson for some things, the Admitted Students site for others…).</p>
<p>We’re going to the June 7/8 (Friday/Saturday) session. I know some offices are closed on Saturday but we’ve already met with Financial Aid, etc. so I don’t think it will be a problem.</p>
<p>It IS a tricky time of year with finals and graduation, so we thought it was best to go early in the month. (I have a non-prom-goer… ;)</p>
<p>Will be curious to know when others are going.</p>
<p>Going with my son on June 22 and 23rd. Can’t believe senior year is quickly winding down and this is on the horizon!</p>
<p>I’ve already booked a room at the Park View, right across from the school. :)</p>
<p>It’s amazing how different the fares/flights can be if you add a day. We were going to go from Thurs-Sun, but there were no direct flights from ANY NYC airports. (?) Going on Wednesday, there is ONE direct flight. I’m sure we’ll find things to do. :)</p>
<p>Question…are you all planning on going (mom, dad, kid) or just mom and kid. DH is having a hard time switching vacation weeks and working this out and I am wondering if I should just do this without him…</p>
<p>DH and I are both going. We are doing a weekend session (arriving Friday evening, flying out Sunday night) and pretty much plan to enjoy exploring New Orleans while S3 gets oriented.</p>
<p>I’m an ‘only parent’ (mom) so it will be just my son and me.</p>
<p>I will go to the Parent Orientation while he does the Student one.</p>
<p>Just came back from the Tulane accepted students regional reception in Livingston NJ. Rachel Kohn was there for the presentation along with some parents of current students, alumni and one current student. They showed at video and answered questions. I would say that most of the kids there had not committed yet, but a few had (DS is one of them!). It was informative, but I think that having visited the school and with my CC obsession, I knew most of the info already. It was still worthwhile and I think that it made DS feel that he has definitely made the right decision. Most importantly…we got a Tulane bumper sticker!!</p>
<p>We go to “Tulane Comes to You” tonight in Englewood, NJ. Looking forward…</p>
<p>So, now that it looks like it will be just DS and me for orientation. Where should we stay? I know that he will stay in the dorm overnight between day one and day two, but we will probably fly in the day before. I would like to stay close to the school, since we stayed in the French Q last time and did all the touristy things then. I would like to explore the areas closer to school this time. Hotel or B&B suggestions???</p>