<p>Would appreciate any tips from students and parents that went through this last year. I saw the schedule, and it is pretty full, but I understand the activities are optional. How much time will we really get to spend with our daughter? We have seen the school, and we are coming to be with her and join her in any activities she wants to share, but we really have no interest in seeing student performances unless she wants to do it with us. Is that terrible? We are coming in Thurs, leaving Sun. Can we plan on 3 dinners with her? Students: would you appreciate parents making dinner reservations for an extra person or two, in case one of your friends does not have parents show that weekend? Is it a typical weekend for the non-freshman, so there are still frat parties, dorm parties, etc? If so, would you appreciate your parents planning a fairly early dinner so you can get back to the dorm for parties, hanging out, etc? I know our daughter will be really good about wanting to hang out with us, but I don't want to cramp her style. Thanks!</p>
<p>I'm a junior transfer student and my parents are planning on coming for parents' weekend. I actually asked them if they would mind if my roommate tagged along with us that weekend since her parents won't be coming, so I think the extra spots for reservations are a good idea. I live off campus, so I'm not sure what the on-campus party situation is like. However, I'm not much of a party person, so I'll be wanting to spend a lot of time with my parents (I miss 'em!)</p>
<p>My S is a junior, and Parents Weekend his freshman year we scheduled to sit in one of his classes. My DH decided to try a new route to St. Louis, ( a shorter route supposedly) and we missed the class because of the longer drive. We did not sign up for any of the other activities. We took him out to dinner, went shopping, went to the football game Saturday (yes, they do have a football team, ) and mass on Sunday. That was the first time we saw him after we dropped him off to Wash U and we were very happy to spend so much time with him.</p>
<p>Last year (his sophomore year) we did not even sign up for anything. Friday my S and H went golfing. Saturday went to the footlball game (S is in the pep band), dinner, shopping. Sunday, mass and lunch and more shopping, LOL.</p>
<p>This year we did not sign up for anything again. We plan on taking S and his suitemates to dinner and whatever he decides to do. I am guessing more shopping.</p>
<p>I, too, am the parent of a junior. We attended Parents Weekend freshman year, but visited a different weekend in October last year. The main attraction of our visit, of course, was spending time with our daughter. We did a lot of hanging out and a little sightseeing with her, and hardly went to any of the scheduled activities Freshman Year. </p>
<p>This year we expect more of the same. I know at least some regularly scheduled activities for students are proceeding as usual, as my daughter has an almost all-day Sunday commitment she must keep.</p>
<p>I am the parent of a senior. We went freshman year and are planning on attending this year - mostly to see our son's a cappella group sing. I recommend it if you want to go to something fun. I think it starts at 7 or 8 on Friday night in Graham Chapel - each group sings 2 or 3 songs each.</p>
<p>We participated in the activities his Freshman year and found it worthwhile - we sat in on several classes and attended some of the information sessions - mainly in an attempt to familiarize him with some of the things we thought he needed to know about, like study abroad. I think they have the "Letting Go" talk if you missed it at Parent's week-end.</p>
<p>Thanks, liz. Acapella at Graham sounds good, we'll definitely check it out.I hope they still have tickets available . I am interested in one of the Academic offerings on Friday, but there are no specific informations about it yet. We also got an invitation to the Habif dedication, might go to that one, too. I just have to make sure it does not conflict with S' plans.</p>
<p>When I was a freshman, my parent's didn't come up to visit for parent's weekend... I'm from St. Louis, so they figured they could see me whenever, and when it was less crowded. Most of my friends had parents visiting, so I actually found myself mostly alone and bored, except for when I was invited out with some of them. So I think yes, your daugher and her friends would appreciate the extra seats at a dinner. When my parents did visit, it also was nice for them to get to meet my friends and classmates that way. In later years, my parents enjoyed going out to dinner with the families of my roommates one night too.<br>
As far as the evenings, most of my friends would spend one or two at an activity with their parents, and another hanging out with friends after dinner. There didn't ever seem to be many parties, etc that I would have missed out on if I had spent time with my parents each night.<br>
I wouldn't worry too much about attending the planned activities. If the performances, etc are something that you and your family typically enjoy, then it's a nice way to spend time together - but you definitely won't be the only group not attending. A lot of them are put on for families who may not have had a chance to really experience WashU yet.</p>