<p>My son will be a freshman at Brown this fall. We’ll be driving him there August 30 to help settle him in and probably stick around a little to participate in a few of the things for parents/families, then leave sometime on Sunday. I see that there’s a Parents Weekend at the end of October but don’t know whether we’ll be able to make it to that. Does anyone know what percentage of parents actually attend that weekend and what they do? Will it matter if we don’t go–will we be missing out on anything important? Will my son be one of just a few that wouldn’t have his parents there?</p>
<p>As far as I know, it is a highly attended event. There are lectures for parents, performances, usually a big football game etc. My son who will be a junior, has always enjoyed us coming up-its usually the next time we have come after dropping him off in August. We bring up stuff-water etc that he is low on and usually take him off campus for a few meals as they are tired of the campus food and local eateries. It won't matter if you can't attend,there is nothing that you HAVE to be there for, but there usually are alot of parents/friends attending and we have always enjoyed seeing some performances around campus as well as just spending the weekend with our son.</p>
<p>I don't know the percentage of parents who go, but it seemed to me last year that a lot of my daughter's friends' parents came. There was a lot of introducing of parents to friends. Some friends and roommates arrange group dinners with their parents.</p>
<p>There's nothing important, in terms of vital information you need to know. It all depends on who your son hangs out with -- if you are the only parents not to go, he might feel a bit alone. If your son ends up friends with kids who live far away, whose parents don't come, then he might not notice as much. There were, however, a fair number of parents who flew in for the weekend.</p>
<p>You might want to make hotel reservations just in case, and then cancel them later if you don't go.</p>
<p>"We bring up stuff-water etc"</p>
<p>Is Brown in the middle of a desert or something? Why does your kid need water?</p>
<p>there are no costco's or bj's around. It can be very heavy carrying water from CVS or the local stores-he has no car. So when we come up, we bring a couple of cases of water that he puts under his bed. This way he always has it and he doesn't have to go get it. I am sure there are individual water bottles to purchase around campus but this just makes it easier for him-I live 4 hours away and when I come up, I bring him some stuff like water or Snapple ice tea cases.It fits easily in my trunk. A 30 bottle case at Costco costs $5.50-if he paid $1 for each bottle on campus (just a guess about the price) that would be $30 so I am saving $25 by doing so. But obviously, Brown is "not in the middle of a desert" so they can get it if they need it.</p>
<p>In my freshman year, basically parents that lived close-ish(a few hours by car or less) by or wealthy parents that lived farther away generally showed up. Those of us without parents there were often from further away and on the less wealthy(and therefore more unwilling to spend that much money on plane tickets + hotel costs just for a weekend) side. My parents didn't go. I didn't care. Some parents were nice enough to offer to take me out to dinner with their family.</p>
<p>audib4, you guys could save even more money if he invests a few dollars in a nalgene (or any other water bottle) and fills it up in the bathroom.</p>
<p>My parents come every year, but not for me. They love all the events and speakers for parents, etc. In fact, they typically drop off some stuff I need and take me to dinner one night, breakfast or lunch another time, and then leave.</p>
<p>I LOVE parents' weekend. This will be our second, and I fully intend on going each year. We didn't go to the speakers or events, contrary to some others' postings, but we love to wander around the campus and Thayer Street, etc. We love to take D out to dinner with her buds, and we just love the whole atmosphere. She wants us to come, so, naturally, we drop everything! :) The best was being introduced to everyone's parents and hearing the happiness in her voice and the spring in her step. But I do agree with making reservations now. You can always cancel them if it comes to that.</p>
<p>thanks for the tip wanna be....</p>
<p>To AudiB4: Why does your son need bottled water when there are (shock!) water fountains and sinks aplenty in the dorms? And, if that's too repulsive, convenient, portable water filters are even available! ...Such a waste.</p>
<p>(Yeah, saw wanna<em>be already got to this. Sorry; bottled water ****es me off. ></em><)</p>
<p>I really can't believe this thread is turning into a bottled water vs sink/filter/water fountain. I have heard your suggestions and thank all for info. I really think it should end now.....thanks!</p>
<p>Considering issues with lead in piping throughout the East Side of Providence and the fact that I live in a home old enough that my land lady, by law, has to notify me of potential lead issues with the water coming from the tap, I'll stick with bottle water while in Providence.</p>
<p>Stop being judgmental and going on your political crusade against what is largely a ridiculous practice of drinking bottled water and leave it for the right forum.</p>
<p>I'm not being judgmental. I just find it wasteful that in a country with, by and large, such great public water -- and I admit I do not know what Providence municipal water is like yet -- people spend more per gallon than they do on gasoline on bottled water.</p>
<p>^^^ It's so easy to spot incoming freshman. So much fire under their asses whenever ANY issue they have an opinion on comes up. You should read the facebook forums...</p>