<p>In case I attend, and I know it's still early, but I want to know around how many days should I go to Miami before the day of orientation? How long should parents stay after that?</p>
<p>I see no one answered your question so I'll try to help....</p>
<p>Around late June/early July you will receive a packet (provided you sent in your deposit in May) that will give you the dates and info about orientation. You will also at that time get your course registration packet.<br>
Orientation usually falls mid-August. Orientation is a four-day affair for students (usually 3 for parents). Move-in for freshman starts on Friday. Freshman/new students have move-in priority (other than the RA's, DA's and orientation staff who will have already moved in). You will be assigned a move-in time (i.e. Friday morning/Friday afternoon/Saturday morning). No need to try to move in prior. Move-in usually runs pretty smooth. I would say how soon you get to Miami prior to move-in day is up to your family. I know some families use the days prior to do the Miami/FL vacation thing, some just come down that day. I will say this, however..... I'm a strong believer in getting as much done as possible BEFORE that weekend. But with that said, most of the things you can do without being in Miami. Orientation starts officially on Saturday evening with Cane Kickoff but you will be very busy prior to that. Sunday and Monday then will be serious orientation activities. Classes will then usually start on Wednesday. </p>
<p>As far as parents go....the last parent activity is the Sunday morning bruch. By that time you will be so involved with orientation things that most parents leave on Sunday. I've seen a few leave Saturday for that matter. Is it mandatory? Nope.... </p>
<p>Here is a thread where we discussed parents leaving last fall:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=87475%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=87475</a></p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>1tcm summed it up well. Here is another link to some of last year's experiences. I think this year move in will be on the 18th and 19th with orientation starting on the 19th. Info is usually available on the website in late May, a few weeks before they mail the packets.</p>
<p>last year, we flew down on the Wed. before orientation and parents flew home on Monday. We didn't know how long to plan to spend down there, and parents flying home on Sunday would have been fine too. </p>
<p>FYI - last year, they opened the freshman dorms early and we were able to move in on Thursday instead of Friday (this was not publicized - just word of mouth from other Target shoppers when we got there).<br>
That was really helpful - it was crowded, but not as bad as Friday/Saturday.</p>
<p>We fly in on Thursday the 17th in August and our S's time to check in to the dorm is at 1 PM on the Friday. We went ahead and arranged for a timeshare for the week in Hollywood, Florida so we plan on doing the parents orientation and then enjoying ourselves for the rest of the week.</p>