<p>What events are for the parents during Orientation? My son would like us to drop him off and leave. Do most parents stick around? For how long?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>There aren’t many parent-focused events during Orientation, since it’s meant for the students. My mom and I arrived the day before move-in to buy things (coming from the West Coast) and she stayed for move-in day and the day after. That seemed to be the norm for parents. I’d do a bit more than drop your son off, since he might have extra things he wants to buy for his dorm room, but don’t stay too long. I know I was ready to have my mom leave so I could feel more independent.</p>
<p>I live closer than most (northeastern MA), but my parents stayed for the majority of the day I arrived (helping me set up, got to know the family of my roommate) and attended one of the speeches by people like Dean Bergeron with me. They left that same evening (because it was feasible for them to do so).</p>
<p>If you can stay to hear President Ruth Simmons speak, I’d encourage you to. And if you don’t know anything about Ruth (all the students call her “Ruth”), then go to Youtube and search for “Ruth Simmons America’s Best Leaders.”</p>
<p>Many parents stay for orientation events. According to Brown (<a href=“Undergraduate Orientation I Brown University):%5B/url%5D”>Undergraduate Orientation I Brown University):</a></p>
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<p>However, I strongly recommend that after you help your son move in, that you make yourself scarce. Go to the events for parents, wander around campus, explore Providence – don’t expect to spend much time with him. Let him have meals with other students, for example. We did some shopping for our daughter that weekend – bought hooks and extension cords, etc. </p>
<p>Trust me, you won’t be the only parents on campus. (My husband and I spent some time just watching other students move in, amazed at what was emerging from cars.) I think if you promise your son that you won’t just hang around his dorm, he’ll be OK with your being around. Especially when he sees how many other parents are around.</p>
<p>Thank you for your replies. I have seen a lot of your responses on other threads and you are all so very helpful!</p>
<p>We are going to arrive the day before to shop and explore. I planned to help him move in early Saturday, say goodbye, and then just browse around Providence until early evening in case he needs me to go pick anything up. I was planning to leave Providence late Saturday. I just wondered what type of parent events there were.</p>
<p>Thank you so much</p>
<p>Four years ago, there was a “fair” of activities and services - the Dean’s office, Chaplain, Hillel, etc., all had tables with info. Ruth talks on Sunday. There may be some talks for parents in lecture halls. I confess that after attending four years of Family Weekends plus the orientation events, I can’t remember specifically which ones happened when.</p>
<p>If you are planning to stay, I would strongly suggest that you make a reservation near by soon (now?!) because the local places fill up. We stayed in the Motel 6 in Warwick each time we went to visit for four years. </p>
<p>I would echo what fire says, above, about not planning to do too much with your son. He might want to just jump right into his new life and do it all on his own. After all, that’s how it will be for him on campus from now on. But, again an echo, do stay to hear Ruth on Sunday if possible. She’s wonderful. At the end of her speech you will no, in no uncertain terms, that it is time to leave. Save the tears for then… Congratulations! You are about to embark on a wonderful adventure. My daughter just graduated from Brown last week. I miss it already!</p>
<p>franglish–Congrats to you and your daughter! I hope you’ll still visit this site as you have been so helpful to us up and coming Brown parents! Perhaps you can do a separate entry with any advice you have for upcoming graduations…(like make reservations now!!)</p>
<p>TNE2011–I remember several events that were just for parents and were worth attending. One was Q&A’s from new parents to a panel of current Brown students–any topic. I remember that when a parent asked what was the worst thing about Brown, a couple of kids said the weather–I figured that was a good sign. And in fact, that might be exactly what my son would say today. The other event was a really cute series of skits put on by the counselors or guidance folks, whatever that department is called. It was a series of potential phone conversations between new students and their parents back home. Sort of spanning the spectrum of Mom and Dad living the life fantastic and almost forgetting they had a kid to the kid deciding to totally change their major/love, etc., and not leaving Mom and Dad in the dark. It was entertaining and thought provoking. </p>
<p>We gave our son plenty of “space” but hung around–what if had needed anything?? But of course he didn’t and we left on Monday morning. Please assure him that lots of parents will be there.</p>
<p>LOL! Yes, make reservations now! One of the best things about the Brown graduation, I must say, is that I met “fireandrain” again. We had met at a parents’ weekend a year or two ago, and true to the College Confidential community, we felt a kinship. Her daughter graduated last weekend, as well, and she marched in her alumni year’s section of the procession. It was great. So congratulations to both of our girls. My best advice is that the four years at Brown will go really quickly. They were wonderful years, and Brown was definitely the right school for my daughter. So savor these years and relish in the fact that your child(ren) are going to learn to be thinking, caring, curious, interested people who will have a great college experience. All the best!</p>