<p>It is from the 12th to the 19th. What is it? Should I go? If I go do I stay in my dorms or do I need to rent a hotel? Do I need to buy tickets....? Etc.</p>
<p>Wildcat Welcome week in September is for all freshman. It is the orientation week. You will live in your regular dorm room. You need to be there by the 12th. [Wildcat</a> Welcome: Northwestern University](<a href=“Student Transition Experiences - Northwestern University”>Student Transition Experiences - Northwestern University) You’ll receive plenty of info about it in due time.</p>
<p>To clarify: its mandatory and fun and incredibly important.</p>
<p>Taking off on momof3sons comment that you will receive info in due time, remember that NU is on the quarter system. The fact that school starts later in September than all but the other quarter schools, this means that pretty much everything you’ll be doing here forward in your college career will be a little later than your friends in semester schools.</p>
<p>That being said, you may be chomping at the bit once September comes around to do something. So, you may want to go on the web site and check out the pre- Wildcat Welcome events, such as PWild.</p>
<p>If you happen to be admitted to any of the speciality programs (MMSS, ISP, etc.) they will also provide you more info about those programs during Wildcat Welcome. My S says its a great way to ease on into becoming a college freshman. In addition to orientation, there are also plenty of social events to choose from as well. Mid-September, the weather has a good chance of being pleasant, giving you plenty of time to check out outdoor things as well.</p>
<p>ok perfect. I wanted to go but I just didn’t know if getting there the 12th would be super important just because I have a wedding to attend the 11th before I leave vegas. Thanks!</p>
<p>I am parent and we will be flying in from the east coast to help our daughter move in. My question is: how long the parents should stay? Does anyone have an idea? I would think that the parents ought to be leaving by the next day at the latest.</p>
<p>I thought I read that there were parent programs planned for both Monday the 12th and Tuesday the 13th, with the expectation that the parents were gone by the afternoon of Tuesday the 13th. Honestly, that seems rather long and drawn out to me. </p>
<p>We are Chicago-area (45 min from campus), S is familiar with campus having spent summers at CTD, H and I are alums and we know our way around with our eyes closed … I don’t want to not show up at something that’s important for parents to be at, but by the same token there is a part of me that says that it’s best – ESPECIALLY because H and I don’t need “Intro to Northwestern 101” – to move S in on Monday as planned, ensure that he’s in and all is well, and then get the heck out of dodge that evening and let him own his experience. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Our son had a morning move in time; after running a couple of errands and getting a late lunch, we said goodbye to him about 4:00 p.m. as he was heading off to his first mandatory orientation event. There was a separate event for parents about 4:00 - the President talks to parents (don’t miss hearing Morty Schapiro speak! he’s terrific), after that we left campus. There would not have been any need for us to be there a second day - I don’t think many parents hang around for the second day. The kids are busy all day long with orientation events.</p>
<p>I agree that its best to get out of dodge as quickly as possible. Its my daughter’s time, not mine and it sounds like she’ll have her own activities. So I’ll probably head out Tuesday afternoon. That will leave some time to pick up some last minute dorm room supplies. If not, we’ll just say goodby and play tourist for the day. It was a lot less planning when my son went to college only a 4 hour drive away.</p>
<p>While I’m not an alum, between my tours of campus and reading of the web site, as well as two local NU events, I think I know pretty much all I need to know. </p>
<p>Thanks for everyone’s comments.</p>
<p>So here’s what we (my S and I) did last year. Note that we were flying in from CA and had only seen the campus one time, just for the orientation session and campus tour, last July.</p>
<p>Because we had relatives in the area, we flex in Sunday afternoon, so we could spend time with them in Oak Park. Late Monday morning, we started the drive to Evanston. We stopped on the way at a Staples and Target, to pick up school and food supplies. </p>
<p>We checked into the hotel at Evanston, then went off to the BB & B at Wilmet (sp?) to pick up the pre-order of bedding supplies and such. By then, the rather large rental car was stuffed (we also had our suitcases, duffles, etc.)</p>
<p>We headed back to Evanston, the strolled the commerical area and the campus. It was beautiful weather, so we had dinner outside at one of the local restaurants. More strolling and picture taking. A lesiurely Monday and I got a good feel for the nieghborhood.</p>
<p>We had an early move in time Tuesday so up and at 'em. Dropped the stuff, moved the car. Helped a bit with the unpacking, then left because the room was too crowded. We had lunch at Norris. By then, I realized we would not be having dinner together, since S already had programmed activities with his residence hall. I went with him at the “March Through the Arch” and said my last goodbye. Tuesday evening, I attended the Pres. Shapiro address (fun) and the buffet reception.</p>
<p>Only because I came from CA, I decided on a ticket back home Wednesday rather than Tuesday. It was a good call, as S asked me to take a few items back to BB & B and procur a few others, based on discussion with his roommate. So I did that Wednesday morning, dropping things off with the CA who went with me to the room, where I left the stuff. I like to walk and the weather was still beautiful, so more campus exploration for me. I accidentally came upon S as he was at a group session outdoors. I was across the street and did nothing but keep walking by. Somehow he noticed me and I waved. (I later sent a joking text saying I was not stalking him!)</p>
<p>I grabbed a snack at Norris, then headed to Midway (Southwest flies out of there and since they had the “free bags” using them was a no brainer.)</p>
<p>This schedule worked well for us. I didn’t hang too long, but just enough for me to get a feel for the area and make one last, convenient use of the parental credit card for S before getting out of Dodge.</p>
<p>Coming in from NY we arrived the day before in the evening so our younger daughter/husband could come after school/work. Went to bed early as she also had a very early move in time. We brought everything up to the room, found the boxes we shipped in the package room (which was in another dorm), moved those in, unpacked a little then her roommate came about 3 hours earlier than she was supposed to! She’s international and her parents speak little English so to allow them their space we left to do all the miscellaneous Staples and BB&B shopping. When we were back in her room our younger daughter organized her sister with all the new items we bought, set up her computer and printer, etc. We left her for the evening and met back up in the morning for a nice breakfast and a send off. She seemed really happy and was settling in nicely so we were done.</p>
<p>There was really nothing we were interested in as far as the Wildcat Welcome was concerned. Daughter did the “Walk Through the Arch” without us but she was perfectly fine to do that with her new friends. To me it was much more important to see where she was going to spend the year than to listen to anyone speak and it was more important to leave quickly once everything seemed settled.</p>
<p>I hope everyone is having a blast at Wildcat Welcome this week!</p>
<p>Just watched the March through the Arch video and got misty, just like last year when we were there in person. For those who will be auditioning for A Cappella groups this week, good luck!!</p>