<p>It looks like there is programming for parents during the Thursday - Saturday part of orientation in August. It seems really strange to take your kid to college and then stay for a few days. Did anyone do this in a past year? Is it worth taking the time to stay and do the sessions? Did your kid feel like you were hovering? Thanks!</p>
<p>I’m not sure about past years, but I know my parents will probably be with me for the first part of orientation. I don’t really think it’s hovering considering I’m about to leave after 18 years to finally go to college and this is our last opportunity, in a sense, to be together!</p>
<p>What do parents do in past years with other kids in the family? Do both parents usually attend? Don’t we have Parents Weekend that we are invited to in the fall also?</p>
<p>We parked our other children with friends, and went to the orientation, Thursday - Saturday. We did not go to parents weekend.</p>
<p>During the orientation, we were with our D about half of each day. After moving in & unpacking, we attended campus tours because H had never been there, information sessions, etc. There was also time to do some last minute shopping - Target, Bed Bath & Beyond. I don’t think she felt we were hovering. The dorm had activities for the students for most evenings, so we would go back to the hotel. </p>
<p>Convocation was rainy, but still very touching.</p>
<p>Definitely go - it’s really nice. Most of the departments hold info sessions and receptions, so we met a lot of the profs. My D’s schedule was incorrect, so we helped her understand how to straighten it out. We visted the bookstore, of course. </p>
<p>By Saturday, she was ready to see us go, but it was good to spend a few days there, after driving so far.</p>
<p>D is a soph so we didn’t attend last year, but did her freshman year. There are seperate schedules for the freshmen student and for the parents. You find a little overlapping of programs/presentations, but for the most part we didn’t see her that much as we did our thing and she went to the programs designed for students. There are presentations by your student’s college (artsci, etc.), study abroad, specific majors, etc. It is a good time to ask any lingering questions you might have. It seems that the schedule is a little different than when our D was a freshman. I don’t remember convocation being on Thursday night, but maybe it was?!?! Convocation and the walk to Brookings Quad afterward is something you absolutely do not want to miss - you will never forget it and neither will your child. VERY emotional!!</p>
<p>Here is the orientation page - parent schedule should be posted soon.
[Orientation</a> at Washington University in St. Louis](<a href=“http://orientation.wustl.edu/]Orientation”>http://orientation.wustl.edu/)</p>
<p>This has a link to last year’s freshman orientation schedule. The parent schedule will be similar.
[Schedule</a> | Orientation at Washington University in St. Louis](<a href=“Washington University in St. Louis | Get Your Bearings”>Washington University in St. Louis | Get Your Bearings)</p>
<p>This is last year’s schedule for parents/family weekend in October - there is some overlap with orientation in the programs, etc. -
[Washington</a> University in St. Louis :: Parents](<a href=“WashU Family Programs”>WashU Family Programs)</p>
<p>We did not come back for parent/family weekend. D had a concert the week previous and we came for that. </p>
<p>Regarding who comes - you see everything. Students with one parent, students with both parents, and some with the whole family. At orientation, you really don’t see too many younger siblings in the sessions, although there are a few. I did notice that they offer sibling programs aimed at the 5-12 year old age group - [Sibling</a> Activities | Orientation at Washington University in St. Louis](<a href=“Washington University in St. Louis | Get Your Bearings”>Washington University in St. Louis | Get Your Bearings)
With our older D, my husband attended the orientation at her college with her while I stayed home with younger D. Since it was our last child, both H and I were able to attend orientation at WashU.</p>
<p>Krug, Parents orientation is very much an extension of the move-in process. You’ll be running around picking up items from Bed N Bath, Target, etc. In between, if there is a parents session that interests you, you’ll attend. The Convocation ceremony is wonderful and something worth attending. After the ceremony, the parents and families line the brookings quad area holding light sticks while the new freshman parade by. After they serve ice cream from the famous local dairy. We brought our younger daughter along with us and many families do the same. Also, we did take advantage of the time in St. Louis to do some sightseeing which made it a little vacation for our younger daughter.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the reply. We have 2 younger kids (16 & 14) with no family nearby so we are leaning on bringing them with us, if nothing else, their turns are right around the corner. We were just afraid that they will be sticking out like odd ducks. If I am hearing correctly, no need to attend parents weekend because it’s somewhat repetitive, is that right?</p>
<p>Parent’s weekend in October has very different activities from Parent’s orientation in August. There are a ton of activities planned for October - field trips to Annheuser-Busch, walking tour of the central west end, bus tour of st. louis, football/soccer games, attending classes, hypnotist show, a capella concert, etc. We found it a great opportunity to get to know the city and campus better. Here’s a link to the October events last year: <a href=“WashU Family Programs”>http://parents.wustl.edu/weekend/2008schedule.html</a> (which someone also posted above). It gives a flavor for the diff’t types of activities offered.</p>
<p>After seeing the plethora of activities, it looks like we will be seeing a lot of St. Louis in the coming year. Thanks everyone for your advices.</p>
<p>Do not miss parents orientation, if at all possible. Convocation on Thursday night is a very moving experience. If possible try to make it to parents weekend. There are some similarities, but also different activities. Freshman year, a large majority of parents attend. I know of quite a few parents that have attended all four years, although attendance drops off each year. Between move in and parents orientation you will get to know Target and Bed/Bath very well. By Sunday you will be ready to leave, and your student will also be ready, but you will do so knowing that she is in good hands.</p>
<p>I echo what has been posted above.</p>
<p>Parents’ Orientation and Parents’ Weekend are two special times and if you can swing it financially, it’s great to attend both as they provide you with wonderful insight into your child’s life at Wash U. </p>
<p>Orientation - there’s lots of runs to stores for what you’ve forgotten to bring, meeting the roommate and parents, sessions to attend, and Convocation - I get goose bumps thinking about it from 3 years ago. I will admit that by Friday night/Saturday, it’s time to go home and allow your child to be on their own (as hard as it was).</p>
<p>Parents’ Weekend in the fall is nice because it gives you a chance to meet new friends, see how your child is living, attend a class, get them a good dinner, etc. Really enjoyed it!</p>
<p>Get them a good dinner! Based on my experience (3 trips for visits) on campus, the food served there is better than anything served at home! :-)</p>