<p>Just got the flyer for "Trojan Family Weekend" and am wondering if we should go (my son is an incoming freshman). Does anyone have any experience with this 4 day event? </p>
<p>Is it really for parents, or just alumni? If it's for the students' families, do most parents of freshman usually go? Will my son be left out if we don't go? Is it fun for the younger siblings of the student, or should they stay home?</p>
<p>Just curious, since I don't remember such a thing when I went to college. We had homecoming, but really just alumni who came to that.</p>
<p>Our son was a freshman last year and we went to Trojan Family Weekend. I had mixed feelings about the weekend. There were definitely lots of parents there though not alot of younger children. Our son did not want to participate in any events with us. He was happy for us to take him off campus to shop and eat that weekend but did not want to be pulled away from his routines and friends and did not want to include us in them either. There were some interesting and fun sessions and campus atmosphere was wonderful. The tailgate lunch was not worth the cost. HOWEVER… going to the football game was such a fun, fun, fun and memorable experience. I do think it is something that parents of a Trojan should do at least once.</p>
<p>Definitely come if possible. As a freshman student, by that point in the semester it’s a great break and a good chance to see your parents, get off campus and get some good food. How far away are you? Would this be the first time you see your child after dropping them off? If that’s the case, then definitely yes. In my dorm, my friends who didn’t have parents come felt somewhat jealous and left out. It’s a balance, some students want to show their parents everything and have them meet their friends, while others just want a break, and then to go back to their normal routine. Definitely do the football game. The tailgate is overpriced, but is a great way to meet some of your child’s friends and their parents if they’re going. My parents bought one extra ticket my freshman year, with the intent of me brining a friend who didn’t have a parent there.</p>
<p>My son was a freshman last year, and I thought the weekend was a lot of fun. You get a very good feel for the Trojan spirit, and USC does a very good job. We went to events on our own, but saw our son for blocks of time during the day as well. We went out for dinner one night, but didn’t impose much on his schedule at night. The football game was a lot of fun as well. Tailgate was overpriced, not very good food, no alcohol and a little boring. This year we will just have a picnic with my son and his friends’ parents somewhere on the grounds.</p>
<p>Did your kids go to the game with you or did they want to sit in the student section?</p>
<p>We bought our son a football ticket, but he went first with his friends to the student section and “divided his time” by meeting up with us 2nd half.</p>
<p>Our son sat in student section. We had a ball sitting among parents.</p>
<p>Our son was a freshman last year and we came for Family weekend. We live in Florida so it was our first time seeing him and well worth it, but I will do things differently this year. We are going again for sure but as mentioned above, the tailgate event (food) was not worth the money. I attended a few events during orientation and our visit during the explore events and the food was excellent and well catered so we were suprised at the lack of quality during the tailgate event. The students sit in the student section and the parents sit in the “Parent Section” which is so far away from the field in the end zone you can’t see anything. I will buy a pair of tickets for my wife and I in the regular seating so we can see the game this year. Due to the size of the Coliseum, the parent section would be in the parking lot of most college stadiums. Stub hub here I come! We love USC and cannot be any happier with the school and our sons progress there. Parent weekend is the only area I saw this year that USC could improve on. I attended a few events during orientation and our visit during the explore events and the food was excellent and well catered so we were suprised at the lack of quality during the tailgate event.</p>
<p>Any idea on game time? It’s still TBA</p>
<p>Thanks for all the replies! I get the picture now… it seems like homecoming on steroids.</p>
<p>Ok, so I take it that:
- It is good to go to show support for our student (and so he doesn’t feel leftout/jealous), but we might not end up spending much time with him. My son already has season tickets, so I know we won’t attend the game with him.
- The football game is fun, but skip the tailgate since the food is lousy.
- It’s fun to sit with the other parents, but the seats themselves aren’t so good. So may have to choose between the view and the company. (I’d choose company, since I don’t care much about football, my H may disagree).
- Seems there isn’t much point in bringing the younger kids.</p>
<p>Just one last question… How are the “talks”? Most of the comments seem to be around the football game, but there are all these talks and events, the thing last 4 days! Are they worthwhile, or should we just come down for the weekend? We are in Northern California, so just the weekend is very possible for us.</p>
<p>Couple of comments. Last year, we bought tickets in the parent section, but then joined our son in the student section for the second half at his suggestion. That worked out well, but he does not mind being seen in public with us.</p>
<p>On the “talks”, they are what they are. The description on the parents weekend website were accurate. If they sound interesting, go, if not, just find other stuff to do. Overall, it was a pretty rah rah atmosphere, which I enjoy, but others might find a little tedious. My wife and I had no ties w/ USC before our son went, but now are big fans.</p>
<p>We haven’t received anything on either S getting student tickets or Parents getting tickets for this weekend event. Has this info gone out already?</p>
<p>For tickets for family check out: [USC</a> Office for Parent Programs](<a href=“http://sait.usc.edu/parent/tpw.asp]USC”>http://sait.usc.edu/parent/tpw.asp)</p>
<p>For student season tickets check out: [USC</a> Ticket Office - Student Season Ticket Information](<a href=“http://www.usc.edu/bus-affairs/ticketoffice/card/]USC”>http://www.usc.edu/bus-affairs/ticketoffice/card/)</p>