Family Weekend
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Anonymous
| We will have a college freshman this coming fall and I just got some information about Family Weekend in October. I know all schools are different, but can anyone give me a general idea of what types of activities families participate in over these weekends? Is it fun and should younger siblings come? TIA. |
Anonymous
| I vaguely remember that my parents were invited for a fancy reception at the U president's house. Probably no siblings? Sorry I can't be more help. |
Anonymous
| It's nice to go for their freshman year if it's not a hardship. Hotel rooms will go fast. I would book now even if you only might go. These events are much less popular as the years go by. Google last year's event. You'll probably get an itinerary. If you can't go for the actual Parent's Weekend, try for the weekend before so your child will have seen you. I |
Anonymous
| I went to these as the stand in parent for my little brother. I his crowd, no one really attended the university events. It was more of a time where he and his friends got to "entertain" relatives as a group. Go shopping and restock his dorm/apartment. Hillel was sweet and had a special meal for the families that was well attended. |
Anonymous
| If the school has identified you as a potential big donor, you'll be wined and dined. Otherwise you'll be able to attend some large group functions, meet sorority/fraternity sisters/brothers; attend mass (if you are Catholic) and a football game (if the school has a team). Book early |
Anonymous
| Our two oldest, both confident kids who expressed no home-sickness during the first few weeks of school, were nonetheless thrilled to see us at Families Weekend. There are usually sports events, faculty lectures, concerts and recitals, art museum tours, receptions, etc., but the really important thing is just meeting your kid's friends and taking him/her out for a meal or two. We didn't take younger sibs, even though the kids are close; it just seemed like an occasion to concentrate on the one kid whom we were visiting. |
Anonymous
| My DC does a fall sport so the team does a potluck dinner for families. Otherwise there are sports events, various open houses, etc but it mostly a chance to see how your DC has settled in and do a a Target run and take DC out for dinner. |
Anonymous
|
Probably a bigger deal at schools with football. Here's an example from Wake Forrest:
https://familyweekend.su.wfu.edu/schedule_new.php As noted, big donors and well to do parents might be invited to private events hosted by a school dean or college president. |
Anonymous
| OP here; thanks for all the responses! |
Anonymous
| Have DC find a restaurant where your family and 4-5 other families can have dinner. Obviously the availability of one big table, plus the ability to make reservations, are helpful for this. Then you can meet DC's friends and their families in a friendly, informal setting. |
Anonymous
| Student will not admit it, but he/she will be happy to see you! Maybe lonely if you don't come. If you can afford it, take student and a hungry friend whose parents didn't make it to a restaurant they like and fill them up. Super parent: bring his favorite cookies or meatballs from home. My MIL flew in with two cooked chickens packed in ice. Much appreciated and remembered many years later. |
Anonymous
| What about bringing a sib? Ours is a younger teen. |
Anonymous
Absolutely. A good way to let the younger DC see what college life is like. |
Anonymous
Yes, absolutely! They can sit at the college kids' end of the dinner table, mine did, and they'll have fun and learn about college. We skipped most of the presentations (we work on international issues, thanks very much) in favor of a tour of campus led by DC. |
Anonymous
What's that supposed to mean? That you are better than the professors? Superior to the unsophisticated parents from EBF? Great to take a tour with your kid but unclear why you feel the need to diminish the college programming. |