<p>How many of you (new students) are coming to orientation with your parents? For upper classmen, did all of the people you know have their parents with them on their first days of school? Would it be a bad idea if I came to school for the first time without my parents? I am coming from across the country and we feel that it will be cheaper that I fly solo. What are the pros and cons? Is having your parent at orientation for the one day a big deal?</p>
<p>I'm coming with my dad but I don't think he's staying that long (th paret handbook tells them that they have to leave us to our orientation cuz we'll be very busy)</p>
<p>I am also coming from across the country (somewhat) and my dad is coming with me, but he has family/work in the area, so while he will take me to my first day of school, he won't be staying long either.</p>
<p>Having the parents there for a day is no big deal at all. In fact, when I was a freshman, there was special programming for the parents; are they still doing that? When I came, both my parents actually helped me move in and then left that evening. It's not weird or embarassing; there's tons of parents there. And if cost is an issue, I can understand wanting to come by yourself. That's your choice - your parents don't HAVE to be there by any means, but some people like to have help moving in, or they like to have some time with their parents in an unfamiliar setting before they are left by themselves.</p>
<p>It's kinda nice to have help carrying heavy boxes. If your parents do come they would help you move in, maybe have lunch with you, and then you'd go off on your own until your dorm has some specical student/parent programming and then they leave. It wouldn't make a big difference if they can't come really. </p>
<p>Although I'll be a sophomore this year, my dad is actually driving up with me and then I'll drop him off at the airport. The only reason he's coming is that my mom is worried that the car will break down or something on the way to Stanford.</p>
<p>my mom is coming with me and she'll go to the parent thing or whatnot. we're driving up with my stuf, but I'm sure it's not necessary, just nice to have help moving in and say goodbye a million times haha</p>
<p>i like how we treat our parents as if they're only good for helping move boxes. haha.</p>
<p>Your parents should not plan on spending time with you after the first day. You will have much more to do, and should probably spend your free time meeting your dormmates anyway.</p>
<p>I came without my parents the first day and had no trouble. I had packed two duffel-bags-on-wheels, plus my computer and a backpack, so I was able to carry everything through the Caltrain station and all. I traveled with a friend from high school, partly to share a hotel room as we flew in the night before, and partly in case anything went wrong. There will be orientation volunteers there whose job it is to help you carry your stuff.</p>
<p>I will say that it was a pretty weird feeling that morning after I finished unpacking all my stuff. Kind of like, everything we planned so carefully for is now done--now what? But that passed quickly. I wouldn't worry about coming on your own.</p>