<p>I can’t find much on the Cal Poly website about SOAR, except the dates for my incoming Freshman’s college.</p>
<p>It looks like a one day event where lots of things are explained: registration, student responsibilities, how things work at Cal Poly. I don’t doubt that this would be valuable to attend, but we live out of state so I’m wondering if it’s worth the time and travel expense.</p>
<p>If it’s necessary to go to SOAR to get registered for the classes she needs, she’ll be going. If it’s more of a “how to”, we’ll regretably decline. </p>
<p>I do wish Cal Poly would hold this event again on say September 14th- after move-in day, and before WOW. Not sure what happens that day, except hanging the posters and scoping out the other freshmen I know that’s important stuff, but it would be nice if a mini-SOAR could be squeezed in.</p>
<p>If I’m missing something about the importance of making the effort to attend SOAR in August, please let me know!</p>
<p>Check out the thread called “Fall Launch/Move-in activities” on the Cal Poly page - especially post #6. We’re in the same boat as you. It’s hard to justify airfare for a one day event. The only thing making the trip tempting for us is to give our s the experience of flying from our home to SLO and back before he has to do it on his own. On the other hand, he’s 18 and capable and probably doesn’t need the “dry-run”… but it’s one of those things that would make me feel better. :)</p>
<p>Neither of my sons went to SOAR and neither had any trouble figuring out how to register.
First time freshmen are assigned classes by their department, then have an opportunity to add/drop/swap classes once open enrollment begins (in August, IIRC). The online enrollment program CPReg has an online tutorial that teaches you how to use the program.
It is easy for these kids who have grown up in the age of technology. I would say save your money for WOW.</p>
<p>We plan on going. We are going to use it as an opportunity to stop at the Housing department and meet people as well as for me, the Parent Association. Also, for S to meet his advisors. We may not stay for the entire day.</p>
<p>I can’t speak for others and this is a different school, but Orientation was very important for my older son at Boulder. In fact, he met his best friend there and connected with other kids from San Diego that he ended up hanging out with over the summer. At Boulder, there were sessions for Parents that were separate from the students’ sessions. Most of them were pretty informative.</p>
<p>I remember in one session thay talked about what to do when you “Get the Call”. This is the mini meltdown call. I received mine about 3 weeks after school started. They suggested that you paste stickies all over the house with the answer, “That sounds like a problem. What are you going to do about it?” </p>
<p>They also had parent sessions on housing, financial aid, drugs and alcohol, the health center, sexual activity, etc.</p>
<p>This is my D2 so I’ve been around the block once. At “the other college” they had sessions for parents, but it felt more like they were trying to distract us from bothering our children who were busy settling in and didn’t need our “help”. Was that the feel of the sessions at Cal Poly, or were really useful? I do want to have a clear understanding of the drug and alcohol policies and how to use the health center, in case she forgets by the time she actually gets sick. I don’t want to know about sexual activity. I’m comfortably in denial :)</p>
<p>SOAR may be a little helpful, but definitely not necessary. Being from way out of state, I did not attend, but everyone I know who went said that they didn’t really do or learn much or even really meet any people who they became friends with. WOW is the real orientation. As far as air travel goes. I think that if you’ve done it before with your parents, it’s fairly simple. I traveled to Europe with just my sister who is a year younger than me when I was 15 and I went somewhere else by myself when I was 17. Flying out of SLO is a piece of cake. The airport is tiny and they don’t even let you go through security till an hour before your flight is set to take off. All the people working at the airport are super nice too, not like at some airports where they always seem to be in a bad mood.</p>
<p>I don’t know if you can get it at SOAR cause I didn’t go. But I got mine the day I moved in. It only took about 5-10 minutes (it took me a little longer than most cause I kept blinking in the picture. I think I had to do four takes.)</p>
<p>There are three dates for SOAR in August for my son’s major. We plan on attending and I would like to know who picks the date, us or Cal Poly? Thanks.</p>
<p>SOAR registration opens mid May and you will be able to select the day you desire provided it has not reached that day’s capacity. If it has, the remaining available dates will be what you select from.</p>
I know that’s important stuff, but it would be nice if a mini-SOAR could be squeezed in.</p>