@BrianBoiler , hear hear. There are so many things I wish I had known before my daughter went off to college. I really wish both she and I had read a thread like this: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-life/2016222-to-those-who-feel-lonely-homesick-friendless-think-they-chose-the-wrong-school-etc-p1.html
As far as actual advice received before she went, a few good ones are to book Thanksgiving plane tickets well in advance, and to reserve a hotel room well before move-in or parents’ weekend. We paid a lot of money to stay at a pretty terrible hotel when we went to the first parents’ weekend. I would have rather spent the same money at a better hotel.