<p>Do all kids leave the campus during the October break? Do the dorms close? Do most families visit on family weekend? During October break, do people leave Friday and come back Tuesday afternoon?</p>
<p>The dorms don't close during the October break. Family weekend is mostly freshmen families.</p>
<p>for freshmen, i'd say 1/2 to 2/3 leave for fall break. fri-tues is what most people do if they leave. if your family doesn't come on family weekend, you won't stand out.</p>
<p>I think it depends on your child as to whether family weekend is important. All the girls in my D's suite (sophomore - senior) had parents in town for it last Sept. The importance was that someone was there to attend the sorority brunch and, more importantly, to provide nice dinners and some shopping. S never really cared as much about having someone there, but during his years there were two events - freshman family weekend in the fall and parents' weekend in late Feb. I think they may have consolidated because the timing was bad for parents' weekend - just prior to mid-terms and spring break.</p>
<p>For Oct break, I'd echo the aforementioned sentiments but I'd add that in my experience, most of the freshman I knew went home for fall break since it's really the first opportunity to do so. Some people will leave Thurs night, but most left sometime Friday and returned on Tuesday afternoon/night. The dorms are open, however, as they are over all breaks (except summer). Some breaks, like Thanksgiving and winter, you must register online to stay, but students can always stay.</p>
<p>Family weekend is horrendous in my opinion :) Not that I don't love my family, but campus is simply too overcrowded during that time. My parents came my freshman year as did most people I knew, but since then, it really depends on the family. I'd say the best thing to do would be to go freshman year, but after that, pick your own family weekend to come down because its not so hectic.</p>