We are an OOS family (3 total) and will be coming for freshman orientation in June. They have the option for our entire family to stay in a dorm suite together, so I’m thinking this is a common scenario. However, there is a part of me that wonders if that’s weird and that our son should stay in a suite with other students and we stay at nearby hotel.
What is everyone else planning to do? I just don’t want my kid to be the only weird one whose parents stayed in the dorm if no other parents are there.
There is a facebook group for UTD parents that you should consider joining. There is a long discussion about hotels in the area. You could also ask the question where the parents will be staying. My daughter is in her fourth year and her orientation was right before school started. She didn’t even want me to attend, let alone stay at the dorm but that is my daughter. You might get a better idea of what the other parents are doing on the facebook thread.
Your son should totally stay in the dorm with other kids. They have activities going in the lobby. Kids were gaming, cookies were being baked. Remember the kids will be in sessions together - and walking back to the dorm together - so they are socializing and getting to know each other.
How many nights are you planning on saying @Mypooronly ? If it is more than one - I would not bother with the dorm suite for the rest of the family- unless they have changed things.
Last year it was only for one night - and I did not realized that until after we booked. We came the night before and stayed in a hotel. Had to worry about packing up, checking out and getting to the first day of activities - check into the dorm - only to check out right after events on day two.
It would have been much better to not be switching places.
@BlueBayouAZ - Good point - we would likely be there at least the night before and the night after. They only have dorm night for the one night in between the 2 days.