<p>We went through this last year. We’re a 3 hr. drive away, so dropped D off for OA with a few things that were stored in room. Kids don’t set up their space until all roommates have arrived. We returned the next week for the day of orientation and to bring the rest of D’s clothes, laptop, etc. </p>
<p>Each college had a reception where master and rest of staff was introduced and we had a chance to meet other parents. There was also a presentation by health center that coincided with the ‘leave time’ for parents. The residential college reception was interesting but not critical information. The day was mostly spent moving kids in. We did get to meet D’s roommates and their parents, so that’s one advantage in being present on the official move-in date. If you return for the Freshman Parents Weekend, you’ll probably have the same opportunity. Many kids at OA seemed to have gotten themselves to campus. </p>
<p>When S went to college 1800 miles away, he flew out to the pre-orientation alone. We came the following weekend to bring more of his things and to attend orientation. </p>
<p>If I had to rank the importance of the trips as far as exposure to campus and number of events, I’d say the Parents weekend has the most activities, orientation day is second (and parents really do leave right at 5:30), drop off for pre-orientation is very low key, fewer people on campus. If I were flying, I’d probably make arrangements to leave the next day. I can’t imagine staying around for a few days just in case. Once kids get on campus, move their stuff in and make their beds, they’re ready to say goodby. They probably should be turning their attention to making friends and finding their way on campus and that’s easier to do if families leave - no conflicts on their time.</p>
<p>I would recommend coming for Freshman family weekend, because P doesn’t have a specific family weekend for other years. They really do turn all out for the freshman weekend and you have a chance to see your child ‘at home’. We also attended the February Alumni and Family day, which is a single Saturday, but even the brochure tells you that “family” was an afterthought. (The print was lower and smaller on brochure.)</p>
<p>One other thing - I haven’t found any problem getting a hotel room near P. The university is just off Route 1, which has all the major chains. I booked directly using AAA until I learned on this forum about hotwire (thank you, katwkittens). We’ve stayed at very nice hotels for under $70 a night. (It’s nonrefundable, so you have to be sure you’re going to make the trip. I’ve made reservations just a few days ahead and haven’t had a problem getting a room. Might be different for graduation or freshman parents weekend.) </p>
<p>If you don’t have a car, you might want to stay at the Nassau Inn - in town, expensive, but within walking distance of U.</p>
<p>And the consensus is… it is a matter of personal preference.<br>
Flying… unless you really like to fly and / or have a zillion points, drop off for CA/QA then back for Parent’s weekend seems best.
3 hr drive… that could be do-able to attend CA/OA, Official Move-In, and Parents Weekend.
6+ hr drive (my situation)… Hmmm, gotta think about this one. Right now the plan is to drop off for CA/OA, stay Sat. night (in case D needs something), and drive back Sun. Return for Parent’s Weekend.</p>
<p>I had no problem booking hotels for CA/OA and Parents Weekends. I used Hilton points, so I do not know about rates.</p>
<p>IMHO, more annoying that CA/OA Move-In is Labor Day weekend when I-95 can be miserable :)</p>
<p>soomoo - with both kids I dropped off only for OA. I was a little sad to miss the official move-in, but really there would have been no reason to go unless you are right near by. I never heard of anything special that I missed. By the time kids get back from OA they are usually engaged in meeting friends etc. and don’t really want/need a parent around.</p>
<p>tigerdad - in their first years my kids came home for Fall Break, Christmas, either Intersession or Spring Break, and summer. They stayed east for Thanksgiving for the most part, with friends or with extended family.</p>
<p>In terms of campus visits, I never went back for any official weekends, preferring to visit my kids around events they participated in when the campus was in its regular state. My daughter danced - I would always attend either her Fall or Spring performance. I almost always stay at the Nassau Inn. It’s more expensive, but I don’t need a car that way. I fly to Newark from SFO (flights can be as low as $298 round-trip), take the train to Princeton, and get my kid to help me wrangle my roller suitcase up to the hotel. Then I can walk whereever I need to go, and have a place to go stash myself should I need a break in the action, or my kids need a break from me:). Not that that ever happens, right?</p>
<p>The key hotel moment comes for graduation. Follow the procedures exactly, reserve right away, and reconfirm. </p>
<p>And there are some nice restaurants in Princeton. Theresa’s is our favorite, right on Palmer Square. No reservations, Italian food, nice atmosphere, can get crowded. We also like the Blue Point Grill, down Nassau a little ways. If you like wine with dinner, buy it from the wine shop a few doors down.</p>
<p>Based on the information the University sent out, last year 57% of the class participated in OA alone. </p>
<p>I am fairly certain that many of these parents did not drive/fly to the University 2x within one week, nor did they hang around while their child was at OA or CA. So I am thinking that kids whose parents chose to drop off everything the first time around and skip orientation drop off will be plentiful. Our children will not be lonely without us. Plus hopefully by the end of the OA/CA experience they will be comfortable and happy. :)</p>
<p>Like GSharpM7, we will go down for Freshman Parents Weekend.</p>
<p>Editing to say that basically Alumother has said the same thing a few posts above me. I hadn’t read hers before posting.</p>
<p>You can find academic year calendars (for the next few years) on the university website. P’s calendar is a bit problematic for kids who travel far. Fall semester finals are in January, preceded by a reading period. There IS a break between semesters, but it comes at an odd time - end of January - when none of their HS friends are likely to be around.</p>
<p>^ Thanks lefthandofdog.
I read P’s 10-11 calender and I notice that fall sem. ends 1/23 but Spring sem. starts at 1/31. I don’t know what most kids do during the break. Do most of them go home or there are some activities at school?</p>
<p>That break is called Intersession. There are few activities at school, but kids can stay on campus and some dining is available. This year I believe they had a retreat kids could attend if they wanted.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your information! We plan to drive in for OA, and then possibly I will fly in for the Orientation on 9/11-9/12 (not decided yet). </p>
<p>My questions are:</p>
<p>Should we haul all the stuff in for OA Move-in? Do they let us leave the stuff in the dorm room (not a storage or common room) if the other roommate is not there for OA?</p>
<p>Or should S just pack for OA and fly in, and we will drive his stuff in for the Orientation Move-in a week later?</p>
<p>In addition to his beddings, clothing, some books, laptop and other electronic gagets, I am thinking his bike, and maybe a small fridge and a microwave, are those needed?</p>
<p>Thanks for any tips and tricks… S is my first one going to college, so am getting a little nervous, we have about 10 hours drive to P…</p>
<p>If you are coming twice, I would send your S alone for OA, and then show up with all of the stuff for move=in. But you really don’t need to go twice. You can leave stuff in the room, you are just not supposed to “unpack” it. </p>
<p>I would make sure to bring lots of surge-protectors + extension cords. Most of the P dorms were built a long time ago, before students needed lots and lots of electronics. A fan or two can also come in extremely useful. Lights are also good-- my common room freshman year had one lightbulb, which wasn’t too helpful.</p>
<p>Your S will have dorm assignment in the summer, so you can post here and find out if he’s in a new or old building. </p>
<p>Once he finds out roommates, they’ll probably e-mail each other and can coordinate who is bringing what - you don’t need 4 microfridges. He might want his own fan if dorm doesn’t have A/C. You’ll get more detailed info from the U as the time gets closer (but still have plenty of time to prepare. The U has a list of approved electric appliances.) College beds are Twin LONG - if you’re shopping for sheets. There are threads on the parent forum about this kind of stuff.</p>
<p>Does Princeton have a linen program? Since we’re flying in, we’re probably going to have to buy a lot of stuff when we get there. When my D did summer school at UPenn, they had a linen program…you pre-ordered your bedding and towels, and they had everything there when you arrived. Then at the end of the year, you turned it back in to them. It was highly convenient.</p>
<p>And yeah, we expect to be purchasing many things at Target. What we learned after summer school is that there isn’t much you can fit into a dorm room anyway, and everything can be purchased when you get there.</p>
<p>Hello Tiger Parents! Congratulations on joining the Orange and Black pack!</p>
<p>Re Intersession: The winter athletes and many internationals stay on campus. Others travel, some visit roommates and friends whose families live closer to Princeton, some go home. I don’t believe there any scheduled activities on campus besides sports practices.</p>
<p>The linens sold through the Student Agencies are not very high quality- sort of Wal-Mart grade for a high price. You can do much better around Princeton at the stores on Route 1.</p>
<p>Thanks fauve for the info.
In general, are there always some dining places on campus open during those short breaks? S does not like long travels that much.</p>