<p>What week(s) are available to choose from for summer freshmen orientation? Or do they assign you?</p>
<p>Here is the info:</p>
<p>As I remember you have a first and second choice of sessions.</p>
<p>thanks for the info!</p>
<p>So this is totally optional. It looks as though it is primarily for incoming freshman who need to take the placement tests. Do kids who have already taken SAT II subject tests still attend? Looking over the sample schedule, it looks like it is mostly for test taking and I don't quite see the reason to go.</p>
<p>nearly everyone who attends already has taken SAT II tests. Its a great way to meet new friends. I'd highly recommend it.</p>
<p>That's good to know. Thanks.</p>
<p>everyone who is going to take calc has to take the vanderbilt math placement test, regardless of whether you took math iic. but you can take placement tests during orientation if you don't want to go to saop.</p>
<p>If your parents are going and they want to stay in a hotel, they should make reservations NOW! The closest hotel is the Loew's which is right across the street from Vanderbilt. They also might want to make reservations for August for move-in days.</p>
<p>Move-in can be a nightmare and it is really hot!! When I moved in we stayed at the Loew's and did not have to get in the car line for two or three hours to move my stuff into the dorm. We just brought everything across the street and a porter with a big baggage trolley helped us.</p>
<p>Here are last year's instructions for August move-in.</p>
<p>Of course, if you decide to go to one of the Doreways Orientation Programs, you can move in early!!</p>
<p>For those more budget oriented--the holiday inn on west end and 26th/27th is in very good shape and about 1/2 cost of the Loews. Two Hampton Inns are close by--one on West End, the other a block/two north of campus. Again about 1/2 of the cost of Loews. The Marriott is on 25/26th and West End and is better than the Holiday Inn but is more expensive. There is also and Executive Suites --haven't stayed there yet so can't say. Parking is free at Holiday and Hampton and extra at Marriott and Loews.</p>
<p>When the price is right, stay at the Marriott. Starbucks is around the corner, P.F. Changs if you want Chinese food, Tin Angel for American food, a bit up West End. The Thai food on West End near campus is very reasonable but not spicy enough for me. Try Le Peep if you get a chance.
And for breakfast follow your nose to the pancake tradition if you can stand the lines outside of the place.</p>
<p>But get your reservation now. There are no rooms left close by once it gets near the time to roll in. Plenty of hotels in downtown Nashville but parking is generally extra.</p>
<p>My son applied RD so obviously won't know if he is going to Vandy til April. We are in process (actually holding flights) of booking a trip that will have us gone during the SOAP. How important is attending? If he doesn't go what would you descrbe as the most important things he will miss out on? He has taken SAT II's already.</p>
<p>What are the dates for move - in days this coming FAll?</p>
<p>boxcar, my S is a freshman now and we didn't book a hotel room for move-in until at least May and were able to find rooms easily (we stayed at the Marriott which is very convenient--especially if your child lives in Branscomb--there were also rooms available at the other hotels). My S did attend SAOP-(we didn't go with him and, while most kids did seem to have their parents with them, he was fine)--and probably the most valuable thing that happened is that he and another student he met there decided to be roommates. They were able to make that request on the housing form and were therefore guaranteed the double they both wanted (and it has worked out very well, definitely taking some of the guess work out of the freshmen year roommate situation.)</p>
<p>Boxcar,</p>
<p>Saturday, August 19th is freshmen dorm move-in day.</p>
<p>Classes begin Wednesday, August 23rd.</p>
<p>Don't the band kids move in early? For band camp?</p>
<p>Anyone not go to orientation? It makes sense what Bridie said - that they would meet someone to be their roommate. Is this the major way kids decide on roommates? If my son is not there, is he going to be at a real disadvantage? </p>
<p>Since I have to confirm these flights, I am just trying to determine how essential attending SAOP is and how much my son will miss by not being there. My older son actually missed his entire freshman orientation week (week before school started) due to a work conflict and he was just fine - didn't really matter at all to him. These flights are FF free tickets and nearly impossible to reschedule. There is a possibility son could get back and attend for 1 day but son't know if that would even be worth it.</p>
<p>Love to hear from people that didn't go and how that was for them. Thanks</p>
<p>although i did go to saop, if you don't go you're not missing out on a whole lot unless you plan on going on a roommate hunt. you meet people, of course, but you'll meet WAY more people during the first month or so of fall semester than during saop. also, the people you meet during that first month will most likely be the people you will hang out with most of the time (since they probably live on your floor/in your hall, or have the same classes, etc.). I definitely don't think it'd be worth it to go to it for one day.</p>
<p>I don't know if its usual for students to meet up and decide to room together--it just happened to work for my S, who hadn't even had that in mind when he went down. It did pretty much guarantee him a double though (and he ended up in Branscomb, where he wanted to be) so it turned out well. I felt it was good for him to go as he figured out how to do the trip on his own (we're from NY) and get the lay of the land. When he moved into the dorm in August, he was already comfortable with the campus. I'm sure many kids don't go at all and it is true that most of their friends come from their dorm once they start, so I wouldn't worry about that.</p>
<p>Thanks. What you had to say put things in perspective for me.</p>
<p>I would definetely suggest going to SAOP. Not only do you get to talk to other people with your major, to help plan schedules, but you also get to know the people who you will be living near and having classes with. It just so happened that of the people I met at SAOP and stayed in contact with, six ended up living in my dorm, and one was in my VUCept (new student orientation) group. It was a great way to get started with college.</p>