<p>I read about the "Family Orientation Day" on the first day, but do the parents leave after that? My older son went to another college and we were there when he registered for classes during his freshman orientation. Are we not a part of that process at UT?</p>
<p>you can be, its just that most parents leave after that because there is nothing for them to do</p>
<p>Parents are not with the students during orientation, other than BBQ at the Alumni Center. The advisors help student with registration decisions. Parents are strongly encouraged not to “helicopter”. :-)</p>
<p>The kids don’t register til the morning of the last day. You definitely don’t want to stick around that long. The first day parent sessions and first night barbeque are nice, though.</p>
<p>They should be able to register on their own. They have people to help and it can always be changed later.</p>
<p>When I was at orientation last summer my parents came for the first day and then left, but there are many parents who stay in hotels near campus (either with their student or while their student stays in the dorms) since it is only a few days. </p>
<p>The first day parents go through their own sort of orientation while the students are going to theirs, and then there is a family barbeque. After that there is nothing for the parents, but some like to hang out around Austin and get to know the city their child will be living in while the students are herded around to different places. </p>
<p>Students don’t register for class until the morning of the last day.</p>