<p>Hi, My son is going to NSO on July 9th. I was curious what parents thought of the parents portion. Any suggestions of things to take care of on the visit? Did anyone open the student's bank accounts? I was also wondering if the students are given the summer reading book or we should buy it.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I was at NSO Friday, books have to be bought, they are not provided. They were $16.00 at the Trabant bookstore which I thought seemed high so came home and ordered the book for 10.00 on Amazon. There were dozens of reps from the PNC Bank around ALL day helping you open accounts if you wanted. Since we are from RI we didnt but they really try to persuade you to bank with them. The presentations for parents were informative, ESPECIALLY the meal plan questions I had. Let me know if you have any other questions. Jayne</p>
<p>What was your meal plan question (if you don’t mind answering)? That is the current object of my obsession.</p>
<p>Jayne</p>
<p>Why did you decide not to use PNC? We bank with Bank of America in Virginia. I was thinking of opening a PNC account for my D since it was so convenient on campus and I don’t want her going off campus. Also the fees are high if you use an ATM from a different bank. Believe me having her account with BofA would be a lot easier for me.</p>
<p>Our accounts are through BoA locally. There aren’t any branches close to UD but there are a few ATMs in gas stations, the closest being near the BJs. We got DD a WSFS account (replaced by PNC). She used it when she had a check to deposit or needed cash. She didn’t have to use it often and had only a small blance as she could use her BoA check card almost anywhere, but it was handy.</p>
<p>Chose not to bank with PNC because we dont have any branches here in RI and if I have to add funds from here I wouldnt be able to. Also there is a Citizens Bank, the bank we use , on Main Street so it isnt too far for them (I have twins going in the fall) and would be much easier for me.
My main meal plan questions had to do with BLOCK vs WEEKLY. My son is playing a sport in the fall so I wanted to make sure he had enough access to food with whichever plan we decided to go with. Prior to NSO I didnt understand the difference between the two and how points factored in but they do a VERY good job of explaining it all!</p>
<p>We just got back from NSO - it was a beautiful day, and we had a terrific time. The sessions for the parents were well done, especially the academic and student life presentations (the presenter for the latter also happens to be a stand-up comic, and he had us all in stitches). </p>
<p>You are greeted, as you drive up to the Trabant garage, by one <em>extremely</em> enthusiastic NSO student leader after another, shown exactly where to park, and are given a swipe card good for both parking and lunch. The day begins with bagels, muffins, fruit and coffee (thankfully!) before the sessions begin at 8:15. You sit with your student during the preliminary presentation (which includes the UD admissions video you’ve no doubt seen on YouTube), and then the kids go off to do orientation while parents attend their own sessions.</p>
<p>You meet up again for lunch, have some more sessions, and can then either go home or take a campus tour to finish off the day. During this time the student meets with an adviser to choose courses for the first semester, gets their student ID card (wear a shirt you want to be photographed in!), and is encouraged to set up parental access to the billing system. It’s a good idea to have already set up your UD email before you go.</p>
<p>All in all it was a very informative and well organized day, and it certainly confirmed to S that he has made the right choice. (I still can’t get over how peppy all those kids were at 7:30 AM! 
)</p>
<p>I’m feeling very optimistic now Booklady and can’t wait for our turn! Of course, I would be MORE optimistic if my daughter would actually complete the pink sheet. Which is sitting on my dining room table rebuking her on a daily basis.</p>
<p>What’s the pink sheet??? God, I hope my D did it already.</p>
<p>It’s the pre-admission worksheet. It might be for her major, though. I have the idea it came from there. But I’m not sure.</p>
<p>LINYMOM, don’t worry. S didn’t have one of those sheets ahead of time, but he did get something like it at orientation. They have a ‘pre-advisement’ meeting first, where they’re given a sheet with some of their courses already filled in (English 110 - which almost everyone takes, certain prereq courses if they already know their major, etc.), as well as a sheet listing all the breadth requirement course possibilities for the fall semester. They have this sheet with them when they have lunch with you, so it’s a great chance to go over their potential course selections with them. Then after lunch they have their actual meeting with the adviser. So you can breathe now. :)</p>
<p>Zoosermom, I am so glad I am not the only one trying to get my son to do stuff. He finally did the online health forms this afternoon. I still have a number of things he keeps putting off. Does anyone have the magical answer to get them to do things??</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who wrote about NSO. I am really looking forward to it. Has anyone made decisions about food plans? I think we are leaning towards a block plan to give him flexibility. I don’t see a downside.</p>
<p>UD here we come!</p>
<p>I think S is going to do the 175 block plan. It’s always adjustable the following semester, and unused points carry over into the spring (but expire after that). The plans all cost about the same, so as you say, there isn’t much downside.</p>
<p>Eeeek, I snail mailed the health forms in but D is dragging her heels for the online medical form. Her NSO is July 7. We recently opened a PNC account here. I have a PNC acct. so transfers should be easy. She opted in for the Virtual Wallet program. Looks to be a good one alerts for acct. balances, reserve so you don’t bounce checks/overdraw, long term savings. Even a UD calendar for bill pays. </p>
<p>Does anyone know if the student’s UD ID card would work if you already have an existing PNC account and already have a card for that? Would both be functional?</p>
<p>Does anyone know when the semester invoices become available?</p>
<p>Just mailed health forms in this week. Online health forms too? Oh God. I thought we were done. HAH. She’s not going to be home before NOS (workign at sleepaway camp). Very complicated with her away this summer.</p>
<p>Can’t find the online health form (I have my D’s log-in - she had to give to me since she hardly has computer access this summer). Where is it??</p>
<p>The Online health form url and instructions came with the letter and paper forms. I think it’s the Family Medial Health History form needed. Confusing, I know! </p>
<p>I had trouble accessing but my D. got in. Likely due to authentication. If you’re using same computer as your D, you might get in with her user name and pw.
[Student</a> Health Service | University of Delaware](<a href=“http://www.udel.edu/shs/]Student”>Student Health Service University of Delaware)
Look on sidebar on left: What’s New | Secure Access for Students</p>
<p>Thanks, polkadotma. Found it, texted with D and got it done.</p>
<p>I’m calling student financial services on Tuesday to get my other questions answered.</p>
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<p>I just looked at the notes I took, and it’s the 3rd week of July. The first semester payment is due August 1, and the second semester is January 4.</p>
<p>We were at orientation on Friday and they said that invoices might be staggered slightly so the due dates may not all be August 1 and January 4.</p>
<p>NSO was very good. The orientation leaders are very spunky. Now my son has started his countdown.</p>