<p>Hello all:
As a parent of an incoming freshman at Penn, I'm eager to hear from experienced Penn parents who could share any advice or information that might be of help to new Quaker parents. As move-in day approaches, I already have plenty of questions - and perhaps other parents do as well. I'll get the ball rolling-</p>
<ul>
<li>Advice about move-in day? My son is in Hill. I've read about hour limits on the little carts? I expect some level of craziness - but any tips?<br></li>
<li>Meal plan recommendations for freshmen? I read somewhere that because Hill has its own dining room we might want to put more meal swipes on rather than dining dollars?</li>
<li>We've gotten mail from the Penn Information Services about computer purchases with discounts. Anyone have experience with this? Do they offer good deals worth considering?</li>
<li>Favorite hotels/restaurants/shops in the area? </li>
</ul>
<p>Any nuggets of wisdom you would like to share are most welcome! Thank you!</p>
<p>Hi Central, My son will be a freshman at Penn this year and is in Hill as well. We talked about the same thing with respect to the meal plan but then remember how my older son felt relative to the meal plan (at a different school). It doesn’t seem to matter how easy it is, they get sick of the dining halls as the semester wears on. We decided to go with the BEN plan. We felt we could always add meal swipes if he finds he loves eating in the dining hall at hill. Just my two cents… Would love answers to some of your other questions too!</p>
<ul>
<li>One hour limit is real but we went over once but did not get charged for it, maybe we were lucky. We waited so long for the elevator, that was the big time waster for us. Register your car and for a pass on the website before you go, I think you will get a free parking pass and your kid always have to be there to let you through the security with a pictured ID. Park in the designated garage or parking lot as soon as you are done.</li>
<li>Get the meal plan with the most Dining dollars, that seems to be the choice of everyone. Kids get sick real fast of the regular dinning hall food.</li>
<li>For me, you get a better deal on computer purchase somewhere else, no need to buy it from the School. I would check out their deals but also look for a better deal yourself.</li>
<li>Pods was the most interesting restaurant we went, but there are many other ones I’m sure.</li>
</ul>
<p>I think Houston Hall was the place to go to get Penn ID and there were a lot of different information tables for different organizations there. You can upload photo before hand for the Penn ID, I believe.</p>
<p>PNC bank is usually the bank account to get because there are a lot of ATMs on and around campus. You can even open an account online and deposit some money into it before you get on campus. If not, there will be people there from the bank to help you open one on move-in day.</p>
<p>There is no need to buy everything all at once, hold off if you are not sure and Amazon is your friend for getting just about anything to your kids afterwards.</p>
<p>Thanks to both of you for your info!
TTparent: did your student do any of the pre-orientation programs? DS is considering applying to one since my other son enjoyed his at another school. </p>
<p>Any opinions on hotels nearby? I’m thinking of skipping the few in the neighborhood and opting for one more downtown - less convenient but more affordable.</p>
<p>S did Pennacle and it was great for him. He made a lot of friends before orientation even began and made contacts with upperclassmen who were already trying to recruit the participants for on campus groups. </p>
<p>The other advantage is that you get to do early move in.</p>
<p>Hi: My daughter just finished her second year. She did a pre-orientation camping trip which was wonderful. She did one the second year (rafting trip with her house). Both were a great way to meet new people.</p>
<p>We recently stayed at Penn’s View. It was quaint and we were pleasantly surprised. It is right at penn’ landing. Reasonable prices and cheaper parking.</p>
<p>The events on move in day were very nice. They really gave us a feeling of life on campus. I realize that it is not the same activities going on, but the concept of a lively campus full of like minded people. The band is randomly marching around, there was a picnic for families and President Amy Gutman gave a really nice welcome speech. If you can stick around for the day do so, but be ready to get out of there as soon as the festivities are over. Your kiddos will be anxious to get their life started and get to know their floor mates!</p>
<p>Thanks for the posts livn487 and parentofpeople. We finally sat down this weekend with DS and did a few of the online tasks he needed to do - picked the meal plan, confirmed housing, found move-in times and day. Everything from Penn seems quite well organized. I was so pleased to receive the Penn Parents packet in the mail last week - full of useful information and a handy fridge magnet of important dates.<br>
parentofpeople - yes I agree with leaving as soon as suggested by schedule. With older DS, hubby and I were fighting tears at good-bye while he was bursting with excitement… the joys of parenting!</p>
<p>My son is a rising senior. Don’t worry about the carts being used longer than an hour as long as you return it when you’re done. The real problem with move-in is the wait for the elevators. He moved in one day early and paid a nominal addition which made it less crazy. We didn’t do any organized activities together - if you went to Penn Preview Day that was probably enough. The students have their own events which I hear are great. We usually stay downtown when we visit, but the Sheraton is a fine hotel if you feel the need to stay on campus. We spent two days running around to big box stores while he had access to a car. There is an Ikea and Lowes in South Philly. On the Main Line and in Cherry Hill, NJ there is every store you could think of.</p>
<p>Right now move-in is at the top of the mind of parents of freshmen. Don’t sweat it - honestly, the kids just take care of it pretty well. Soon enough you’ll have to deal with Greek life or not Greek life, winter and spring breaks, and 2nd year housing decisions.</p>
<p>Every student I’ve met has had unused meals at the end of the term. I would strongly recommend a smaller meal plan and more dining dollars.</p>
<p>I would not get the computer thru the school. I would have it ready before move-in so that’s one less thing to do in a crunch time. By the way, the student volunteers are very helpful getting computers, phones and game consoles onto the Penn wifi network.</p>
<p>Speaking of NSO, you might want to throw in some large safety pins for securing a toga. The Toga party at the art museum is one of the highlights of the week!</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing your experiences and tips. I’m currently looking at the plane flights (and prices) for my d to come home for Thanksgiving. We are wondering if profs will hold classes on Wed PM, in the case that she has classes then (she’s not chosen or been assigned her classes yet since it’s too early for that). I’d assume the campus clears out pretty quickly for breaks.</p>
<p>Also, it’s hard to anticipate if she will want to return to campus before classes start. Any perspective on this?</p>
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<li>the 2nd paragraph in my last post…will kids want to return to campus before classes start? is in reference to going back in January. I looked on Penn’s website to see if there are seminars or programs etc. that occur during the break and did not find anything.</li>
</ul>
<p>A lot of profs cancel Wednesday afternoon classes, and most would not care if you can’t be there on the afternoon before Thanksgiving. There could be labs if your kid has science class that could still go on but sometimes that is cancelled or can be skipped also. If JetBlue goes to your airport, that should be prime target to book your flight. My kid goes back the day before classes start.</p>
<p>I don’t really have any advice just wanted to say hi.</p>
<p>I remember move-in was crazy but for our d but it took about 10 minutes. We pulled up in a cab in front of the quad and kids rushed around us and started helping right away. We got her stuff into her room likedy split - but she was on the first floor so no elevators.</p>
<p>She also goes back at least a day before classes begin. I don’t think the dorms really close over the breaks so they can go back whenever. (Don’t quote me on that though.) I always use the academic calendar on the website to schedule flights. </p>
<p>We stayed at Embassy Suites in Center City - LOVED IT. The rooms are enormous and there is a taxi stand on the back of the hotel. It was something like $7 to get to the quad. And we didn’t have to deal with traffic and parking.</p>
<p>If you bring siblings they MUST HAVE I.D. MUST. My younger D left her’s in our hotel room and they wouldn’t let her in the dorm. Now that was a pain!</p>
<p>Good luck - I can’t believe graudation is already in May, seems like we just moved her in… it goes so, so fast.</p>
<p>Oh - and one more thing our d doesn’t come home for Thanksgiving and I know for a fact she has had class on Wednesday - late. She said none of her classes were cancelled.</p>
<p>None of S classes were cancelled before Thanksgiving either. I also think a good number if kids stay on campus or do traveling in the area or at least in the states. Many come from very far and not worth it to go home.</p>
<p>Thanks to everyone for the helpful posts!
livn487 - I’m in the same boat about travel plans, even for the summer. We don’t hear about Pennacle or PennQuest until after July 8th - so can’t really plan the move-in details until then. And in terms of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I think we will wait to see his schedule and take our chances on prices.
I’m not sure if we are doing Parents Weekend since we will have been out there just six weeks earlier. Our older son didn’t want us there freshman year, but we attended other years - go figure!</p>
<p>Hello again:
So DS got into PennQuest and we can move him in five days early, which I hear is something we should take advantage of. However, since we live in the midwest we can’t return again for the official welcome activities for new families. Will we be missing some very informative/memorable/unique events by moving in early? I’m not so concerned with logistical or practical matters (DS is more than ready to be on his own) but wondering if the general atmosphere, the picnic and especially the greeting (the “Hurrah”?) from Pres. Gutman make for a meaningful, can’t-miss weekend for new Penn families. Or is it just so busy and crowded that I am overestimating its importance?
Thanks so much for your thoughts!</p>