<p>Hey, I just thought I would post a link for a video about ISU. Its a video that shows some of the buildings and gives a lot of facts about ISU. </p>
<p>Thanks mm99! It was fun to see the campus again. DD declared ISU, has an orientation date, roommate is lined up and is looking forward to buying for her dorm room! Should she be looking into various classes in advance before registration? Checking out professors and plotting her day? Should we, as parents, plan on staying on campus for registration too? Is that usually a student thing? Should we get a hotel and meet on campus?</p>
<p>Link can be informative, I myself viewed ISU video when I was searching for The University of Iowa video. It’s also strange that The University of Iowa doesn’t have any videos on collegeclicktv.com</p>
<p>Glaw,
I hope your daughter likes ISU. It certainly has been a great choice for my son.</p>
<p>I attended orientation with my son last year, as did a lot of parents. One part of orientation they want the students to do solo is register for classes. Not to worry, each student sits with an advisor before hand and you’re welcome to attend that mtg as well.
Make sure your daughter takes her placement tests before orientation. I recall my son waiting until the day before, but that was ok.</p>
<p>Also, we stayed on campus for convenience. Shopping for college is convenient as well. Target/Walmart are located on Duff Ave.</p>
<p>Congrats and Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks Jasper60103 for the reassurances.
My DD has been a little confused about the placement test thing. She has written her advisor for more direction but hasn’t heard back yet. I’m thinking that will work itself out. When I reserved for orientation, I learned that our girl will be in a separate room (duh… its a dorm!). It got my DH thinking he’d be more comfortable in a hotel room.</p>
<p>It is hard to wait on the shopping. She’s gathering things here and there. I keep telling her whatever she moves into the space, she has to move it out!</p>
<p>As for registration, we are going on the very last weekend. I’m hoping she won’t have lousy class choices.</p>
<p>Hi GLAW
My DD is going to be attending Iowa State in the Fall too. You mentioned the placement testing. You should have received a letter from the department that her major was in. That letter detailed out exactly what placement tests your child needs to take before coming to orientation.</p>
<p>I am bringing her to campus for orientation. Your packet about orientation has a whole schedule for parents that is separate from the students. There are times where both parent and student are at the same place at the same time. If that info was not in your packet it is available under orientation schedule, which is thru the Admissions website. Let me know if you don’t find it and I will email you the link.</p>
<p>I am thinking about staying in the dorm. Price is good and even though she will be someplace else it may give me a chance to meet some parents and get some additional information about football games, classes, etc. She is our first going away from home for college, so I am a bit unsure.</p>
<p>We are doing the same thing you are with buying things here and there. CC has a couple of links to great lists. Small things like umbrellas, surge protector, small tool kit, etc are being bought a little at a time and thrown into a plastic bin. Thank goodness we live driving distance (Chicago area) and don’t have to worry about packing for a plane ride! </p>
<p>Also if you DD is on Facebook there is a very active group called Iowa State students admitted Fall 2010. Has about 1000 members and the school posts great information about food plans, dorms, and upcoming events. My DD met her roommate on the site and has been talking to a number of people in her major (Athletic Training).</p>
<p>Also there is a CC member by the name of Marc who posts on this site. He is amazingly helpful! Gave us much info when we were trying to decide between Iowa State and a couple of other schools.</p>
<p>Hope this helps…</p>
<p><strong>Also one more piece of advice…we bought a bunch of Iowa State T’s, and car decals in the book store…only to find that in the mall right down the street from school is a HUGE store that sells tons of Iowa State branded merchandise, from PJ’s to grills to jackets and T’s. Prices were great and many were 2 for one or buy one get one 1/2 off.</strong></p>
<p>Hey, glad to hear that everyone is excited for ISU this fall!
When I went to orientation, my mom and I stayed in a hotel. I am pretty sure that all of the rooms have lofted beds if that is an issue for any parents.
I (and my mom) meet with my advisor in a group on the first day and we got the program overview. The next day I meet with the advisor again and registered for classes. I don’t think there is much room for selecting which professors you get, but maybe that was just my experience.
My friend had a late orientation and got into most of her classes, but she couldn’t get into English 250, which isn’t a big deal.
Another thing you may see at orientation is signing up for Student Alumni Association and Cyclone Alley. These are both run by the same group. SAA is a program that offers a discount card and a t-shirt for $20, plus there are some on campus events for those who join. I know I saved $20 using my discount card (I used it at some resturants, 10% off at the bookstore on everything but textbooks). Cyclone Alley is for basketball games and you get at least 5 t-shirts. They get special seats, are provided props and create the Hilton Magic. And you might want to look into buying season tickets while you are there. Just wanted to give you a heads up if your kids are interested in that.
And I really recommend bringing an umbrella in the fall, or maybe a water proof coat with a hood. It is not fun to sit in class after walking 5-10 minutes in the rain.
Buzymom: are you talking about The Strawberry Patch in the mall?</p>
<p>Wow guys, all good info. Yes, after reviewing DD’s HUGE pile of college literature, I found the info for orientation. Haven’t decided on the hotel or dorm deal yet. I’m going to look for the thread that lists what to bring. (Good ideas for grad gifts?) Hadn’t thought about rain and it is raining cats and dogs today! I don’t want to go out and get the paper, much less a walk across campus! Thanks again.</p>
<p>just to give you a heads up, all the beds in the dorms will be unlofted. You will either have to buy your own or rent one.</p>
<p>Buzymom: are you talking about The Strawberry Patch in the mall?</p>
<p>I have no idea what the store was called. I only know that it was at the far end of the mall, closest to JC Penney’s (it ws either Penney’s or Sears). It was filled with all Iowa State tShirts, sweatshirts, etc. Loved it!</p>
<p>We have orientation on the 9th & 10th and I am planning to stop by there before we leave to get my DD a football jersey.</p>
<p>mm99…thank you so much for all the great information! Good to know what to sign up for in advance so that we don’t miss it. Season tickets are on our list for a graduation gift for her. </p>
<p>does anyone know about Rushing? My DD is going to rush, but no one in our family really has any experience with this. Casual clothes ok?? What to expect? She went to Greek Getaway and loved it! Cannot wait to do it, but just unsure of what she needs to wear.</p>
<p>Do we rent lofts thru the college directly? What about fridge’s? Can we get those directly or should we buy them ourselves?</p>
<p>Now that it is getting to be closer to summer it just seems like time is flying!</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for all the great information!</p>
<ol>
<li><p>the store is called strawberry patch, it sells a whole bunch of iowa state stuff for a good price, you will receive so many free t shirts its nuts as well.</p></li>
<li><p>ill get back to you on the rushing part, ill ask my friend on facebook once i see her</p></li>
<li><p>during move in times there will be u hauls and such renting out fridges/microwaves/lofts, however i suggest buying a loft yourself (many people will be going around trying to sell of theirs, just nab one of them) and sell it off whenever you plan on moving to an apartment (they are a lot cheaper than the dorms)</p></li>
<li><p>since you are from chicago, i would suggest doing your best to pack light, i’m staying in ames for the summer, if i didn’t it would require me to get a storage unit and place everything there because there is no way i can bring everything back home.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>alright from what she said </p>
<p>"the first day, they give you the greek shirt to wear. second day is sundress day, then business casual and then finally coctail dress night</p>
<p>and then on the reveal day, you wear whatever</p>
<p>and your house gives you a shirt"</p>
<p>hope that helps for rushing</p>
<p>I believe there is something at orientation to get information about greek life. Formal rush would be the week before classes start. </p>
<p>Some dorms are lofted. check out the website [Places</a> to Live : ISU Housing](<a href=“http://www.housing.iastate.edu/places/]Places”>http://www.housing.iastate.edu/places/)
to find out if your dorm will have lofts. </p>
<p>I rented a microfridge from a company that is approved by ISU. Your daugther will probably get something in the mail. It was called Colliegate Concepts. They rent out lofts and microwave/fridge combos. They deliever to your room before you move in and they are based pretty close to Ames if there are any problems. Also, they are on campus during move-in, so that might be the people in the trucks marc mentioned.
[Collegiate</a> Concepts, Inc. College Loft Beds, MicroFridges™, and Campus Mats for Residence Halls](<a href=“http://www.collegefridge.com/]Collegiate”>http://www.collegefridge.com/) </p>
<p>Another thing that you might not think to bring next fall would be a three hole punch for notes that I printed off. (I lasted about a week before I was trying to find on in target)</p>
<p>Question about lofts, since they were mentioned. 
We rented the loft kit from Collegiate Concepts, Inc. for our freshman D at ISU and are not happy with it (too short, safety rail is a hazard, other various reasons) and plan to return it. We found a basic loft kit at the local Lowe’s, but does anyone know of other options for loft kits in the Ames (or even Des Moines) area? I found some at a decent price online, but the shipping costs almost as much as the kit. Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>what kind of loft is she looking for? and where is she living?</p>
<p>everyone i know either bought hanging lofts or built their own.</p>
<p>We went ahead and ordered a kit from Collegebedlofts.com. It should arrive tomorrow, so her dad and I will go and assemble and set it up Saturday. Now, if her roommate will loft her bed, too, they can actually both fit in their tiny shoebox of a room!</p>
<p>Hi…we bought our loft at Lowes in Ames!! In fact we bought one at the same time for my daughters roommate and put them both together. They were only $135 and included the side rail and the ladder.</p>
<p>They are really sturdy and don’t wobble at all like the metal one’s. We were really impressed with the kit and it came with everything needed to assemble…well except the tools.</p>
<p>Hope this helps!
j</p>