I just returned from back to back family orientation programs for my twin boys, one at a medium sized private and the other at a huge OOS public. I loved both of them- got useful information about paying tuition, campus supports, registration processes, etc. There were differences in tone, with the big public making more effort to include the parents in the university “family”. Who else has gone with their students to orientation, and how was it?
Absolutely loved our academic orientation day. Large OOS public. The students met with their advisors, chose classes, and went to some specific seminars while the parents had their own sessions - paying tuition, health/safety, letting go. We had joint sessions with our students as well, time to open bank accounts, get swag, talk to IT, etc… Super well done and organized from start to finish. My daughter then goes for a week long student only orientation the week before classes start. So far super impressed.
Parents were separated out for most of D18’s too. I liked that for most sessions, we had options and could go to any that were of interest.
Our D went to a special early orientation program at her private LAC and it was great. Perhaps it doesn’t really qualify as a “summer orientation” because she moved into her dorm and remained on campus, but it happened right before the college’s general freshman orientation program.
Since there were less people on campus, registration and move-in to the dorm was much easier and less stressful. The new students were kept very busy with sightseeing and activities in the local area as well as seminars. The parents’ orientation for this early program was also very well done. We heard remarks from the college president and were able to select from various panels of deans and other officials discussing topics of interest to parents. The panels were held in college classrooms so we got to experience what the classrooms were like. The college also hosted a nice parent’s reception where aside from meeting and talking other parents, we also had the opportunity to mingle with faculty members and deans.
After our D’s special early orientation and our parent’s orientation program finished, we could have gone home if we wanted to, but we chose to stay. The general freshman orientation immediately followed with a much larger crowd and the topics were mostly redundant from what we heard in a smaller setting. It was nice to attend the pep rally for the entire Freshman class in the college’s basketball arena as a finale before we went home.
The timing was great for the special early orientation program, so there really was no need to attend another orientation program earlier in the Summer, especially since we live a great distance away from the college.
Our’s was pretty good. I would only say that day 1 was a little long and dragged on a bit. Parent where without kid. It was very regimented – I would have liked a little more free time just to chill out and take in the campus. On the second day, the kids did their adviser meetings and registration, with quick info sessions scattered throughout. The best session we did, which should have been longer, was on on the difference between studying/learning for HS and College.
The kid stayed in dorms overnight. Got to meet a bunch of people. Hung out at the rec center. Got a pretty good schedule. And came back pretty comfortable with what was going to happen in a few weeks.
Was a long time ago but was excellent even though I had gone to the same flagship. Giving the parents separate sessions gives them a lot of info kids won’t pass along.
My friend who had one child attend school in the U.K. and one here was struck ( and horrified) by the emphasis on drinking here at the parents event . In the U.K. her kid was encouraged to go to the freshers week beer and pizza event in his dorm . Here her kid was warned not to have a drop or risk being kicked out, but reported lots of binge drinking being done sneakily. At the parents events here, she said a good third focused on issues with alcohol. At the U.K. parents event there was no mention. (Btw … she’d been wrongly told by the kids HS guidance counselor told that there were no such events in the U.K. …that they didn’t exist outside the US). Her husbands commemt after the US event was “ We need to lower the drinking age”
It’s a different world across the pond that’s for sure. We had the same “warnings” at orientation. Unfortunately, rather than teach responsibility, I think we have just driven it “underground” with more bad consequences than good. When the local Chief of Police says “they can go to war, they can have a beer” you know change is in the air.
At St. Andrews in Scotland, the kids get dropped at the dorm on Saturday. Freshers week starts that night with alcohol served at dinner and the after party. It continues with a big bash at the Union Sunday night. And then there are events where alcohol is served every night for the next week by your dorm, the Union, various societies, and your department.
There was one small Q and A session for one hour for parents on Sunday, then it is buh bye. We saw her briefly twice after the drop off Saturday morning, saw the sights and flew home Tuesday. We haven’t been back since. There’s no parents weekend, or any other parent friendly event until graduation.
McGill in Montreal is similar to the Europe schools. Parents drop there kids off and get out fast. The kids start with Rez Fest (dorm focused activities) that do include alcohol since the drinking age is 18. They have sessions for a few days around key topics (e.g., academic expectations) and then have a four day “Frosh” which is lots of fun activities which do include alcohol (though you can do an alcohol free frosh). The focus of the entire 8 days is on building community. It’s a fantastic entry to university for kids and accomplishes the goals the university has for “orientation”.
Most of the parents’ orientation was boring, consisting of parents asking questions that could easily be looked up or were going to be addressed in later sessions. The person from dining services was interesting, and the presentation from the school our son is enrolled in was excellent. We also had dinner with the deans of the school of communication, and they made their way around to talk with all the parents.
Summer orientation is different than when parents take their kids to school for the fall semester. That dorm drop off is fast- limited parking time and demands on the student- eg the floor meeting after supper sans family. I suppose some private schools only have orientation just before the semester (quarter) starts because students often come form great distances and perhaps try to include parents in activities. Summer orientation is fact filled and a chance for parents to see the campus before the usual student filled season. So many good details you don’t need to ask a kid who will be too busy to answer or not know once there for school. Your big chance to see the place and ask questions without embarrassing your kid.
@wis75 “Fast” just wasn’t our experience with drop off even at our kid at a large public. While parking was limited every mom I knew something hours and hours helping fix up the room with the dad moving the car and then coming back to pitch in. There was no dorm meeting til the following day. And the restaurants were still crowded the entire day and night with parents and kids together.
Summer “orientation” at a military academy is a five-minute speech ending with: “Your kid belongs to us now. You have 60 seconds to say goodbye.” Then you watch them leave through the auditorium door, civilians no more. Lots of parents skip the non-productive dropoff and wait until after the six-week blackout period (basic training) when they can hug their cadet/mid in uniform for the first time. Ours had lost 15 pounds he could not afford to lose. I hugged a bald stick.
My daughter is attending a smallish private school. She went to the first orientation in June. They only had parent programming the first day. We learned a lot about things like safety, basics that I’m sure they tell more detail to students such as where the campus shuttle goes off campus, campus traditons etc. I left early due to my youngest having an 8th grade “graduation” that night. My daughter was with me from check in until 11am or so and we went to the room to drop off her bedding etc and met her roommate for the night and the roommate’s mother doing the same thing. Then we went to an honors meeting and a special program info session for her major together though were separated into parent/student groups. Then students did their own thing. I know at one point they said that one far away spot could be walked in 7 minutes. As I was heading out I bumped into the students coming in from their 7 minute walk and some were exhausted. I guess it isn’t a 7 minute walk for everyone. There was a lot of talk about how even if the student didn’t show it they know all students are nervous initially and more talk about listening to the student but mostly directing them to go to campus people for help when needed.
My daughter did some getting to know you/team bonding type activities. Parents were not part of dinner but had there own dinner with staff (I wasn’t there for that) then left. After students had dinner they had a comedy show, outdoor dance with some other activities etc. I think it ended between 10 and 10:30 then my daughter and her roommate went back to their room to get ready for bed. While they were up in the morning before 7am wake up time at 7am summer orientation staff when yelling down the halls, pounding on doors etc to make sure everyone was awake. After breakfast each student met with an advisor, got schedules for the first semester (they already had them but some needed adjustments), received their ipads etc. I think parents came back around noon for pickup (my daughter had a car for the night).
Large public university for my D18. Two full days of programming for both parents and students that included: campus safety, class registration set up and simulation, laptop pickup, athlete session (for both), 2 lunches, 1 dinner, financial aid. Some of those sessions were together, some were apart.
Great opportunity to meet new families and confirm one last time the right choice was made.
We usually find speeches for parents to be boring and obvious. There is a website for all the info one could need! During admitted students’ weekend, my husband and I blew off the speeches and went for a hike instead. During orientation, our focus will be on helping our son move in. He can attend any speeches/ bonding activities while we do runs to Walmart or whatever!
We were the opposite, we went to all the sections for orientation. The second day I said I want to go! One of the professors who spoke, my son has his class since his first selection core was full.
I enjoyed going to the parents’ sessions at my son’s orientation since it was at my alma mater, but I didn’t learn much new information. There was a lot of advice about not hovering too much!
The parent part of orientation for my oldest at our state flagship seemed to ping pong back and forth between admonitions to back off and let your kids find their own way, they’ll be fine, and make sure your kids don’t drink too much and ruin their lives. I found that really frustrating.