@disney4cam They have a whole “ceremony” type deal in the Firestone Fieldhouse at the end of the week of parent events, where the parents write letters to their students, everyone hugs and cries, the parents leave, and the students continue on with the student NSO activities.
What is Waves Weekend? Is that a parent weekend or student activity?
@disney4cam It is a parents and family weekend! My parents did not come because I am from far away, but a lot of parents do come (there were other kids like me, too, though). They have a fair in the parking lot of the Firestone Fieldhouse with rides, vendors, games, and things like that, they call it Madness Village. Then they have Blue and Orange Madness in the Fieldhouse which is like a pep rally with the step team, basketball team, Willie the Wave, etc. They have a concert with some big name the next day, too, with food trucks out on Alumni Park. Parents do have a pay for Waves Weekend, I don’t remember the cost because my parents did not go. I hope this explains!
Tell me about the meal plans. Which level would you recommend for a male freshman who is a picky eater? Is it best to go with the cheapest plan and then just add in later if needed?
@Biggdan I can’t remember the exact numbers on the meal plans, but I definitely recommend going for the smallest one possible. My freshman year I ended up getting one of the ones in the middle and ended up with so much wasted money. Tons of people are desperate to spend meal points by the end of the year and have to buy all kinds of things they don’t need so that the money doesn’t go to waste. Definitely go small and see how it goes, you can always add more anytime you need to.
What are the options for eating if you get a smaller meal plan? Also - can’t the meal plan money be used at all the locations on campus (Starbucks and the juice/smoothie place, noodle bar etc). I am concerned if I buy a smaller meal plan he will starve haha.
do they have irons at the dorm or do you have to bring your own
@pepporangeblue You can use the meal plan at all those places, and also the HAWC cafe which is open late into the night, but starting with the smallest meal plan is definitely the way to go. People were scrambling to buy meals for upperclassmen who did not have meal plans/substantial ones just to use up their money. If he runs out, add more! That is always an option.
@disney4cam Laundry was interesting, you put in your credit/debit card (they don’t take cash) at the machine in your dorm, and they take out $8. With that $8 you have a certain amount of time (3 hours, maybe?) to do as much laundry as you can, though you reinsert your card each time you switch machines, like from washer to dryer to washer again. If you use all 3 hours that is $8, if you don’t then it somehow knows and reimburses you a few dollars for the time you didn’t use.
@netkdh I don’t believe they have irons in the dorms. If you are from nearby, bring one or go home for it. If you’re not, don’t bring one, buy it when you get to school from a nearby store to save space on your trip. I bought a steamer which worked very quickly and easily, people borrowed it a few times, too. Not a lot of ironing got done by anyone during the year, I suppose people are sympathetic if you have wrinkly clothes because we are all at college without irons!
@disney4cam For whatever reason I remember laundry being less than $8 and I remember just paying per load, but that may be a difference in dorms or something! I lived close enough to home that I would take my laundry home often to avoid having to pay and to see my family, but I found the laundry service to be pretty easy to use!
@netkdh Yeah, like @fayellen said there are no irons in the dorms, but honestly I don’t recommend buying one. Definitely go for a steamer instead!