<p>My S will be attending the summer orientation program for his college in June. My husband and I both visited the school with him this past April and now I am planning to send him on his own to the orientation, after (hopefully) reviewing some of his class options with him before he leaves. I felt that he would be fine planning his first semester schedule with the help of an advisor once there. I also thought it would help him master the travel aspect (to and from the airport in the new city) and help him on his way to independence. Now I'm hearing that most of the other parents I know are going with their kids to their respective schools. Some feel their child will need their input to make the right class choices etc. I was wondering what some of the CC parents think. Did you go? Did your child need your help? Did most kids have a parent there? Should I be there for moral support or otherwise?</p>
<p>If the orientation program includes a session or sessions officially for parents (and many do), then I'd say definitely go; if there are no events planned for parents, then you probably would not be as comfortable and certainly not needed in that context. We did not go to orientation with our older child--I don't think there were parents' programs; we did attend with our younger child--orientation included a day's worth of events specifically for parents; then we all left and the kids continued for another three days of student orientation. The parent events were very well attended. Orientation coincided with move-in, so even if there had no been parent events, parents would have been there helping kids move in; that was certainly the case with older child--parents all over the place, just not staying after move-in. It sounds like you might be talking about orientation that is in the middle of the summer and not when students are actually moving in with all their stuff--that might be a different situation--no real need for parental assistance if they are just there for a few days and not moving in yet. </p>
<p>Regarding academics, we found for both kids that although we did talk about course selection that the best advice came from the advisors at school (both good LACs).</p>
<p>yes, i'm talking about a brief day and a half orientation during June. We all plan to take him down for move-in day and I know there are another few days of orientation for him after that. I see a couple of events on the June schedule for parents but they seem to be casual things. Most things are marked "students only", though it seems like the parents can go into the individual advising meeting with the student if they want.</p>
<p>I just received an email from the school, indicating that the program is optional for parents and that he should be fine on his own. Thanks though!</p>
<p>We had debated this, too, with our son. We also decided he would do just fine on his own for the two-day orientation, but that we would go with him when he moves in to help him get settled and buy all those things he doesn't want to have to ship or haul down.</p>
<p>Birdie: Our son's school also made it clear that it is optional. We're going along because I haven't see the school since our first quick tour (husband went along on subsequent closer look). I'm sure I won't be involved in course selection or anything like that though. The B&B we're staying at has a pool (!) so maybe we'll mostly hang out there.</p>
<p>Hi, Bridie - My d will also attend the orientation program solo next month (I think at the same school - is it Vanderbilt?). In our case, I won't have enough vacation time left to cover other family obligations this year if I go with her. She's fine with going on her own, though the travel aspect makes her a bit nervous (she has made several long trips without parents before, but always with a group). I wish I could accompany her - I love the campus, and I'd welcome the opportunity to learn more about what she'll be doing there. But some of her two days there will be taken up with placement testing, and most of the activities are students-only, so I don't think I'll be needed (or missed). </p>
<p>I'm okay with leaving all scheduling to the kids. I can barely understand the NY State Regent requirements. As for a college core curriculum - my opinions would probably hinder more than help.</p>