<p>What are these for? I've been told by some experienced parents (whose kids attend other colleges) that they're really just anti-helicoptering measures to corral the parents while their kids begin their own orientation. If this is the case, do we need to attend? </p>
<p>We were just planning to help D haul her stuff to her room, take a quick tour, and say goodbye, but now I see that there are events planned for the parents all day long (lunch, etc.) I don't want to miss anything useful.</p>
<p>We went to the big parent sessions in Alumnae Hall, etc. last year, but I don’t remember anything particularly useful about them. I found it helpful to go to the parent meeting in the dorm living room and meet the Resident Director, RAs, etc. I’m not quite sure why, but it just made me feel more knowledgeable about D’s environment. In retrospect I would have skipped the big meetings and just gone to the dorm parent meeting. I agree that the parent functions exist mainly to keep the parents from hovering and to set a firm limit for their departure.</p>
<p>Agree with the above. I don’t think my parents went. It’s really just to make sure you know what resources are available for your daughter, especially if she’s likely to get homesick (it happens a lot first year).</p>
<p>We attended 4 years ago so I don’t know if the programming has changed, but agree that the dorm meeting was particularly useful. It was the first time on campus for H, D and me, so we enjoyed seeing everything. They had a big ceremony in the chapel (Alumnae Hall was being renovated then) we found very moving. In total we were only on campus for around 7 hours. After having launched a second child at a different school, I consider it part of the rite of passage and was glad I could participate.</p>
<p>For us, move-in day was complete chaos (delayed flight delayed everything) and we had to make three trips to BB&B and move her in. We made only the athletic meeting and don’t feel like we missed anything.</p>
<p>"We were just planning to help D haul her stuff to her room, take a quick tour, and say goodbye, but now I see that there are events planned for the parents all day long (lunch, etc.) I don’t want to miss anything useful. "</p>
<p>I had thought that I would just drop her off and leave after a few trips from the parking lot to the room with boxes, but DD “encouraged” me to stay for the lecture in the Alumni Hall. The program was more of a panel discussion with a few faculty and administrators. They all the right things. The theater is beautiful and it was nice to be there. I would encourage it.</p>
<p>I agree with NJSue. The dorm meeting is useful. </p>
<p>Rumor has it that someone with the screen name Pizzagirl sobbed like a baby during the meeting in Alumnae Hall when the students sat in the middle and the parents on the ends, as she was realizing the magnitude of the step her baby girl was about to take, and that her husband graciously shielded her so that her daughter wouldn’t see so it wouldn’t impede on her daughter’s happiness or excitement. But that’s just a nasty rumor and I don’t want any of you spreading it :-)</p>
<p>I’m sure you were in good company, Pizzagirl. For those of us who are about to launch our daughters to Wellesley, it will undoubtedly be an emotional time. Dads like me vow to keep a stiff upper lip, but whether that really happens remains to be seen.</p>
<p>I’m afraid that will be me, Pizzagirl! However, I did manage to make it through high school Class Day and the graduation ceremony without shedding a tear, so maybe there’s hope. As long as they don’t show any sappy videos or play wistful music at any of these functions, I might survive.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>edit: realized how dumb I sounded bc wrong thread haha???</p>