<p>For parents who've already gone to CTOPS.. how much helpful information did you get and would you recommend other parents going? Or was it mostly a waste of time?</p>
<p>I haven’t talked to a CTOPS parent, but I talked to another parent who attended a two-day orientation - and thought it was definitely worth it. First child in college for him. Said he dreaded it, and was glad he went.</p>
<p>I went last week. I think it was worth it, especially if it’s your first child going off to college. They talked a lot about the honor code, responsibility (including drinking/drugs at school), and transitions (for the students and parents). It was mostly done by lecture, so we sat for a large part of the time. My brain was pretty fuzzy by the end of the first day. Meals were in the dining hall. The food was pretty good but it was really crowded because all the parents went at the same time. We ended up going to dinner on Franklin Street, just to avoid the crowd in the dining hall and eat where it was a little quieter. I did not stay in the dorm, so I don’t know how that experience went. </p>
<p>There were definitely sessions that were more helpful and interesting than others. The best session by far was a lecture on day 2 by a geology professor who presented “The Professor’s Perspective”. He was great; don’t skip it. On day 2 there are also many specific subject interest sessions you can choose to attend. I found the student billing session helpful. Overall, I think it was well organized and ran smoothly. I’m very glad I went.</p>
<p>I would say CTOPS is worth going to and this will be my second CTOPS. I went with my daughter three years ago and now I will go with my son. You will get a lot of good information and I also slept in the dorms three years ago and I will this time too. It really isn’t that bad…go you will enjoy it. I just love being on the UNC campus.</p>
<p>I went a year ago with my daughter, and definitely thought it was worth it. (The only downside is, it all sounds so interesting and fun, and then your kid gets to go to college, and you have to go back to your boring life.)</p>
<p>Thanks for all the helpful insight…I live in the area and don’t need to worry about eating dinner at Lenoir, nor sleeping in the dorm. If my husband wants to come, but only for one of the days, would day 2 be more interesting for him or does it really matter?</p>
<p>NCKay, I think Day 1 provided the most information. Day 2 is set up with the interest sessions to allow the students to register all day. My son was in the last group to register, so I had down time on Day 2, because some of the interest sessions didn’t appeal to me. It did give me time to talk with parents and visit the school store. They give you a 25% off coupon (for 1 item) to the school store at the end of day 1. If there is a big item you’re looking at, wait until you get the coupon. Day 2 was great mostly because of the professor I mentioned on my earlier post. If your husband is mostly interested in Campus policy, safety, honor code…then day 1 would be better, but then he would miss the professor on day 2, of course that’s if they do the same exact thing each time.</p>
<p>My mom went the first day and didn’t feel the need to come the second day. We live within 45 minutes to the school.</p>
<p>If it’s your first child, go. I’m a child and not a parent but that’s my advice. My mom had me and my older brother at Carolina and went to both CTOPS just because she gets excited by that kind of thing and I think left during part of mine or at least zoned out.</p>
<p>And honestly, as a student CTOPS made me want to transfer. Everyone in my group was an idiot and the information they were giving us was so stupid. “Don’t rape people.” Then I came to Carolina and never met people as dumb as those in my CTOPS group and have thus far had the most wonderful time.</p>
<p>WHAT THEY DON’T TELL YOU IN CTOPS => Your “advisers” are just there to know your graduation requirements and sometimes they get information wrong. Get the undergraduate bulletin out and make a tentative four-year plan. If you’re undecided, that’s fine, just take gen ed requirements that fulfill a lot of perspectives and you’ll be set. Real advising takes place in research labs and through hanging out with professors and grad students, which can be easily done… it’s just something that was never said to me and I had to figure it out.</p>
<p>Have fun!</p>
<p>cloying, I read your post and laughed - everyone in my CTOPS group was an idiot too, ha ha. Luckily I never had to see those people again! LOL.</p>