<p>My S is going to be going to his first overnight in a college dorm this weekend. He is pretty psyched about it, I am a little leary as I have heard some horror stories from parents in the past. He is very outgoing, independent, been away for a semester at a boarding school last year, and gets along with almost anyone, especially people older than he is. I'm pretty sure he will be fine... and it is a Sunday night. Anyone have any stories of their kids experiences in the past, and/or words of advice.</p>
<p>If it is an official visit with a team…
everything done with team, in dorms etc will be discussed with coaches.</p>
<p>It’s not with a team…but thanks for the reply!</p>
<p>My D did an official overnight last year at her school. It was organized by the Women’s group to encourage females to apply. The girls were matched with a current freshman and there were organized activities for the HS students and their hosts. She slept on the floor in a freshman girl’s room and ate in the dining hall.</p>
<p>The freshman was a volunteer who wanted to host a student. The next day was an official Open House at the school, since it is Columbus Day and the high schools are off, but the college still has classes.</p>
<p>She loved the overnight so much, that she is hosting a student on Sunday night with the same program.</p>
<p>Sunday night should make it less of a bacchanal than some of the visits I’ve heard of…I’m sure he will have a good time. Quite possibly a better time than you envisioned. :)</p>
<p>gsmomma… that sounds somewhat what my S’s overnight will be like. He will be with a host and the host is going to call him this week to touch base. I will meet him the next morning for the Open House at the school. I’m pretty sure he will love it. The school is a perfect fit for my outdoorsy kid. I’m sure he will find someone that will chat rock climbing with him.</p>
<p>At this prestige LAC, the women (including her host) started drinking before dinner (beer), and brought flasks (hard liquor) to a concert that evening - and it was a Thursday night. My d. ended up helping one of the students with her class music assignment.</p>
<p>D did two overnights, both on weeknights (Mon & Thurs, IIRC). One set up by college, other informal (friend of brother). For both, ate in the freshman dining halls, spent the night on the floor of the host’s room (one single, one double). Went to evening study session & dorm get-together (pumpkin carving contest) for one; attended classes & just hung out in the dorm for the other. Both pretty low-key; no alcohol or other wildness AFAIK.</p>
<p>S did 3 overnights, two which were scheduled events with many students staying over, and one which was just arranged for him. At one place they referred to the over-nighters as “host-babies”. He had a good time, but perhaps got the wrong impression of college life! (Or perhaps not!)</p>
<p>I’m sure you’ve raised him to act responsibly and he’s going to have a great time! My DS got to fly to Boston (from Calif) and spend 3 days in a host room. I was so worried but he had a great time! He went on a 2 day hiking program before college started and although he’s told me very little about it, I’ve seen some pictures and he looks like he had an awesome time. </p>
<p>These are the stories they will tell their kids someday…maybe LOL.</p>
<p>Our daughter did overnights at three different colleges. It really did help her make the best decision. She came out of one overnight saying “those are my kind of people”. And she is now in her 3rd year at that college and loving every minute of it.</p>
<p>Our daughter went on two - they were both absolutely fine, although completely different in character. One student simply did her regular “thing” which was tv watching, visiting with a friend, a little studying, etc. It was fine - she was comfortable. The other made it a special night - went to ice cream, took a walk around Fenway Park, and treated her really nicely. Guess which ones felt like “her people.” These students are chosen by the admissions dept - I don’t know that much drinking would be allowed at the vast majority, and you are sending them away in a very short time…</p>
<p>I think it’s a great idea that your son is doing an overnight, and I really won’t worry about it, esp since it’s a Sunday night. When my son was a HS senior, he was 99.9% sure he was going to attend the school that had given him a great scholarship… He just had to press the “accept” button. Then, 4 days before the 4/30 deadline, he decided to spend two nights on campus and check out classes on his own, just to confirm that this was the right choice for him. Turns out the overnight made him realize it was the wrong choice, and he ended up choosing a different school just a day before the deadline. I was told “make SURE your child spends 1-2 nights on campus of whatever school he decides to attend” and that’s great advice. He’s really happy at the school he ultimately chose (which he also visited overnight as soon as he got back from the “wrong” school!)</p>
<p>My oldest son did an overnight at a small LAC. It WAS with a sports team, and it was a great experience. He learned that, while he had liked the school on previous visits, he understood just how “small” it felt when he spent the night. Great school, just too small for him. He is happily attending our very large state flagship, which “felt exactly right” from the moment he set foot on the campus.</p>
<p>My older son (computer guy) did an overnight at Carnegie Mellon where he stayed in a suite with three drama guys and one computer guy. They played video games and ate pizza into the wee hours of the morning, but the computer guy had to bail early to work on problem sets. It gave a good picture of what life would be like at CMU. 
He went there and was very happy. His other overnight the guy basically just gave him the floor and otherwise ignored him. It was part of a very busy accepted students weekend, and I don’t believe the hosts were instructed to be particularly host-y.</p>
<p>Younger son did overnights at American, Chicago and Tufts. The Tufts student took them bowling, the American student took them out for ice cream, the Chicago student had dinner with them in the dining hall. I suspect this contributed to the feeling that Chicago students were just a bit more serious and less apt to take an evening off. Ironically he has become one of those serious students at Tufts. (Most of the time anyway - I noticed he has found time this year to watch several things on Netflix streaming!)</p>