Should my daughter go to Orientation after Top Scholars weekend?

<p>I'm sure this question has probably been asked before, but after about 15 minutes of searching for a thread, I gave up. So apologies for any repetition. After much contemplation, my daughter happily enrolled in Tulane this week! I want to thank all the posters on this forum for all the information and advice. It really helped me guide her in the discussion. I refrained from posting until she decided. Now that she has committed, I am free to post! She attended the March Top Scholars weekend and registered for classes at that time. Now that she has committed to Tulane, we are wondering whether she should/needs to go to Orientation as well. Most of the dates for Orientation conflict with school or summer job commitments, but there are probably 1 or 2 that she could make work. Based on the schedule of events, it looks like much of Orientation would be a repeat of Top Scholars, however, she thinks the main reason to go would be to possibly find a roommate. She finds the Facebook group difficult, as a lot of the postings seem the same, and she would prefer to meet a potential roommate in person. She would go to Orientation alone, if she goes. Is her conclusion correct or are there other reasons for her to go to Orientation? Conversely, will she be in good shape if she decides not to go to Orientation (roommate situation aside)? I would appreciate any comments or suggestions. Thanks.</p>

<p>You have completely nailed it. It is rather repetitious, but it is a good time to meet a possible roommate. But she will absolutely be in good shape if she decides not to go. The other positive reasons for going (and she can certainly go alone, I think that is a great idea) are:</p>

<p>**Get to know the campus even better</p>

<p>Get to know New Orleans a little better, especially since she won’t have to do the registration bit</p>

<p>Spend the night in Butler so she can see how she likes that dorm (where did she stay during TSW?)</p>

<p>Make plans to talk to key people if she has any particular interests such as Newcomb Scholars or a professor is she is interested in research from the start, if they are around and if she has time.**</p>

<p>Just some possibilities. Even besides a potential roommate, she will meet people that she will then see at move-in, which is nice. My D did both, mostly just because she could. Well, that and because her Mom wasn’t able to go to Honors Weekend (as it was called then) and so it was a chance for her to go as well.</p>

<p>Fallenchemist, thanks for your quick response. Your reasons are all good ones. She stayed in Soho when she was at TSW but looked at some of the other dorms (unfortunately, the Butler room wasn’t ready during the posted hours when she went to go look at it). I guess I just don’t want her to feel like she will be missing something crucial if she ultimately decides that the timing just won’t work. </p>

<p>Yeah, nothing crucial at all. What did she think of Soho (Weatherhead)? It was built the year my D was in Butler, so the construction was bothersome at times. I have never been in that dorm.</p>

<p>Suzanne - your daughter will be fine if she doesn’t go. My D never stepped foot on campus before the night before move-in. They all manage to find their way, find friends, etc, whether they go to orientation or not. That said, if she wants to go and you can swing it, getting more comfortable with campus and meeting more fellow freshmen is nice too.</p>

<p>FC - My D liked Soho enough to apply and get accepted to it for next year. She thought it was the nicest one and most of her friends wanted it too. </p>

<p>Thanks @cyclonehome. I kind of figured it had to be nice. I think the new dorm on Zimpel is of similar design. Of course Soho is a better location for Bruff, the new dorm for, well, The Boot and The Palms, lol. And crepes of course.</p>

<p>My daughter liked Soho quite a bit. I guess we will play orientation by ear and see if we can squeeze it in or not. The more she has let people know that she is going to Tulane, the more people have told us that they know other incoming freshmen, so she is going to try to connect with them, at least. Thanks for the advice from both of you.</p>