<p>Personally, as a student, I came wihtout any parent to CPW, and was extremely glad of that fact. I didn't think that I could balance the necessary "having a parent in town" things while I was attempting to understand the college, but some of my friends whose parents came didn't mind too much. I personally would have most likely not have chosen MIT, and thusly not have been happy at a lesser school, had my mother accompagnied me to CPW.</p>
<p>I personally didn't understand the parents part of CPW; the whole idea seemed to me to be a time in which the student can experience what their life at MIT would be like. Although some parents seem to be extremely interested in coming to CPW, the experience was really meant for the students. My mom came for the parents' visiting weekend this year and disliked the school-sponsored activities planned for them (which I assume were along a similar vein to those at CPW, in some respects,) and ended up ditching the rest of the parents' itinerary.</p>
<p>"I personally would have most likely not have chosen MIT, and thusly not have been happy at a lesser school, had my mother accompagnied me to CPW."</p>
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<p>WHY???!!!! Would your mother's mere presence have contaminated the place? </p>
<p>It sounds like the parents and kids really don't have contact with each other at CPW. It's a big enough event and campus that I doubt if most kids even see their parents in between arrival and departure.</p>
<p>It would appear as if the two groups don't intermingle, but a lot of parents insisted on accompagnying their students on dorm tours, and everyone I know who had parents met up with them at least several times during the weekend, taking up an hour or two (or more). Some people who were accompagnied by a parent spent the majority of the time with them, which seemed to me to go completely against the idea of CPW.</p>
<p>But whatever. If both the kid and the parent(s) agree that a conjoined trip to CPW is best, then do it. Both sides will learn something valuable, or more the kid will have a great time and want to come to MIT and the parent's fears about college and their kids will be attempted to be mollified.</p>
<p>As of right now, I'm planning on accompanying my S to CPW; I've given him the final say-so and he says it's fine. I expect that when he checks out of the hotel room Thurs. morning (we're coming from CA so we have to stay overnight Wed.) is the last time I'll see him until Sun. afternoon when we fly home. I will make no effort whatsoever to find him during the weekend and will in fact duck if I spot him on campus (and believe me, he is <em>EASY</em> to spot). I REFUSE to accompany him on dorm tours! (Do the parents get a chance to see any of the dorms? I'd really love to see the inside of Simmons...) I intend to meet other parents, learn a bunch of things about this wonderful-yet-expensive school, hang with some old Boston-area pals, and generally try to get a feel for the area where my S is likely to be spending his next 4 years. I'd like to be able to "picture" him somewhere (in the unlikely event that he'll communicate with me next year, ha). I don't have any fears about college, I just want to learn more and have an excuse for a fun and unique experience. Anyway, that's just my approach, YMMV. (I think we ought to have a Parents' Mini Mystery Hunt that weekend, whadya say? Get that grey matter crankin'...)</p>
<p>when do we get more info about CPW, anyone know?
and is it a problem if we can't stay the whole time? i think i won't be able to go until friday...</p>
<p>I really can't emphasize how important it is to come visit before you attend. And I don't mean stare-at-the-buildings visit. I mean live here for a night or two - visit. I really wish I would have visited each college I got into 5 times at least haha before I decided although I in no way regret MIT. I think MIT's edge is that CPW is so long.</p>
<p>I do not reccomend coming in late, only going to the lectures, etc. I really reccomend getting to know your host and how she or he lives; if not your host than anyone willing to talk to you. However, do not trust opinions. Mit's campus is very diverse and varied. Some people have biased opinions against the parts of campus they do not live in. Listen to what they have to say but then go find out for yourself.</p>
<p>If you find yourself around boring people or hyperactive people, etc... remember that it may just be a matter of the area on campus that you are in. There are some really tight communites and some non-existant ones. I believe you'll find anything and everything here. It's incredible that you have the choice to pick so find out what your living choices are. </p>
<p>Good luck and remember college is a living environment too.. if you forget that; CPW is a great time to find out what living here is like.</p>