<p>Hi. Does anyone know when things start off in the Fall? The woman at the Registrar's office seemed not to know. Do the "pre-orientation programs occur before or after the kids can get their rooms set up (i.e. do we have to do two trips?).</p>
<p>She wants to visit her grandparents who live pretty far away so we want to set things up as soon as we can to get the best fares etc.</p>
<p>Do people know if teams have pre-registration meetings/get togethers for bonding?</p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Here’s a link to the current year’s academic calendar, as well as the tentative calendars for the next two years. It looks like the “first days” begin about a week before classes start. </p>
<p>[Preregistration[/url</a>]</p>
<p>And here’s a link to the 2011 Freshman Orientation schedule. 2012 will probably be similar. </p>
<p><a href=“http://dean.williams.edu/files/2011/01/FIRST-DAYS-11-FINAL.aug12.11.pdf[/url]”>http://dean.williams.edu/files/2011/01/FIRST-DAYS-11-FINAL.aug12.11.pdf](<a href=“Williams College”>Williams College)</a></p>
<p>I think the “EphVentures”, which take place Labor Day weekend, are the bonding experiences you refer to. My daughter (Accepted ED, Class of 2016), has heard of a camping trip, led by sophomores, which she is eagerly looking forward to.</p>
<p>Congrats to your daughter, and maybe we’ll meet at parent orientation!</p>
<p>Thanks for posting the link to last year’s schedule…my daughter was accepted ED, too. Do you know if parents spend a night or two at drop off for any sort of parent orientation which some of the colleges have? Thanks again!</p>
<p>abcd - Drop off is pretty informal and are somewhat optional for the parents. We spent the night before move-in day, the night of move-in day and were ready to go the following AM. There is a lunch and a speech by the president for move-in day but they are really not necessary for parents. All the freshman orientation events happen between move-in day and the start of classes which includes the trip with sophmore leaders. Parent’s weekend in October has more planned activities for parents.</p>
<p>My son was also admitted ED. I looked at the last 2 years and I am assuming that move in day is Wed Aug 29th with first day of class Thur Sept 6th. I made hotel reservations already so I wouldn’t end up staying in Albany.</p>
<p>There are a variety of options for the trips - search for EphVentures or something similar. You will receive much more information in the spring when the rest of the class is admitted. If it is the same as two years ago, move-in day was in the middle of the week and there were a few events for parents, very optional although I thought the one for the parents of athletes was very helpful. We stayed in a hotel the night before and were pretty much thrown out by four pm the next day. It is nice if you have a car to make a run to Target and get various dorm stuff. The kids had a bunch of activities organized by entry right away. The various Eph ventures started a few days later I think. Some athletes are not allowed to go so they have a different one called Team Eph or something like that for those kids who can’t leave the campus.</p>
<p>Thanks for posting this information. I also have gone ahead and booked my hotel.</p>
<p>We drove to the campus, dropped our son off at the dorm and then headed to Wal-Mart, Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond, exploring the area a bit. Once we saw the room, we knew we needed to modify the belongings (the single room was very small). We were in town over night, but left our son alone. It was more a time for us to look around, shop in the college store and we actually met another couple over a table of t-shirts, and they have become dear friends. Our kids were in the same entry and we live near each other - all a happy coincidence. We went to a few of the talks for parents, had dinner together and left the next morning for the long ride home. Your daughter will be fine once she is in her entry; the JAs do a great job. </p>
<p>We also found the store in town that delivers snacks/birthday goodies, so we planned ahead for our son’s birthday and put together a birthday pack for the entry to be delivered in early October. [Student</a> Xpress](<a href=“http://www.student-xpress.com/]Student”>http://www.student-xpress.com/)</p>
<p>My husband and I just needed a little time to look around, explore and gather our thoughts and emotions before heading home. And lucky for us, our son’s orientation group had a JA who loved to take pictures, so we later saw a bunch of photos online of the kids having a great time.</p>
<p>My daughter started at Williams this fall and most Freshmen moved in on August 31, but I think some first-generation college students and international students moved in a few days earlier for additional orientation sessions. The orientation sessions started in the afternoon of Wednesday the 31st. Ephventures started Friday afternoon with most doing ‘WOLF,’ which is the camping trip. Fall athletes do ‘Team Eph’ and there are a couple of other options. </p>
<p>We were coming from the west coast and visited friends in the area, so we stayed Tuesday-Friday in Williamstown. Based on my conversations with other parents and students, some students flew into Albany on their own with a couple suitcases and took the shuttle to campus. Others were more like my daughter and had both parents carrying their stuff to their dorm room while they visited with their entrymates. Whatever you decide to do, you won’t be the only parents doing it. Here are a few things I remember that might be helpful:
<p>Congratulations on your daughter’s acceptance.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for all of this helpful advice! I think the Family weekend is the last weekend in October and have made hotel reservations. Thanks again!</p>
<p>Thanks for all of all of your knowledge and advice! Keep it coming!</p>
<p>I just booked our rooms too!</p>
<p>BTW, I went to the Williams/Amherst swim meet yesterday–the sense of camaraderie and the enthusiasm from the kids–parents and alumni (including alumni parents!) was unlike anything I have ever experienced (and I thought Exeter/Andover meets were passionate!!)-- the kids on the team are so tight and it is so clear how much they love Coach. My D (and we, her parents) are so blessed to be joining such a great “family.” Go Ephs!</p>
<p>According to the Registrar’s calendar on the Williams website, Class of 2016 Family Days are October 26-28, 2012. I just made a hotel reservation too.</p>
<p>Yep I just made my family days reservation as well.</p>