Props to BC - Orientation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to be contrary, but why not just do a couple of days of orientation, etc. as ‘new student week’ rather than require a separate trip in the summer? Of course info should arrive over the summer, but this seems like helicopter parent 101.

As a parent, I have zero interest in staying in a dorm. And do I really need days of programming?

I agree with this.

My daughter is a rising sophomore at Notre Dame. The freshmen (excuse me, first years) move in before everyone else and have Friday-Monday before classes start for their orientation and other welcome week activities. I am grateful for a college that recognizes it is not financially or logistically feasible for many families to make the trip 2x, take off work, etc.

Both of my kid's schools had 2 day orientation sessions during the summer, with the final one being 2 days before freshman move in. This was to accommodate international students, students from a distance/anyone who could not manage or afford to attend earlier. Registration was done during this time and both held back plenty of sessions for freshman in the final sessions so they got into courses similar to everyone else. For those that can attend, it helps an anxious/nervious/introverted kid better prepare for the big changes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is zero chance I will be participating as a parent in any of these orientation activities. ZERO. But I'm happy for them to put on stuff for my kids to do.

+1. I never did when my kids went to college. Let’s be honest: the parent programs are designed to keep the parents out of the kids’ faces during first year orientation. It’s anti-helicoptering.

And to also tell parents when to step back and let their kids do things (hint: most of the time) and how to help support your kid during their first semester and year. Lets you know the resources available so you can encourage your kid to use them. It's a time to talk to the health clinic if you kid has any medical issues (my oldest DC's roommate did and I know the mom was able to arrange most everything they needed during this orientation and it made her feel 1000 times more comfortable having a kid 4 hours from home with medical issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just got back from BC's 3 day orientation and just wanted to give them a shout out for a job well done! We had 7 sessions to choose from - anytime from June thru July. You arrive Sun and it goes until Tues afternoon. There are separate parent and student programs. After the initial welcome, we didn't get to see our kiddo until Tuesday. Students get to stay in the dorms to get a taste of dorm life and were able to register for classes after meeting with an advisor and hearing recommendations from upperclassmen. The presentations were so informative and they answered every question we could possibly have. We got to hear from residential life, dining services, security, transportation, deans from all the schools, financial aid, account billing, student employment, health services, university counseling and the registrar. We had lunch/dinner with fellow parents and were able to compare notes. Great opportunity to meet other families and even met a few from the DMV. We also got to tour the dorms with res life reps so we could measure etc. before we started dorm shopping. Upperclassmen were also on hand to answer any questions we had. After orientation, DD felt much more comfortable and is excited to move-in later this month. As parents, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to hear from so many students, staff and administrators and walked away knowing BC was the right choice for our DD.

**Our eldest child's college only had one day of orientation, so I just wanted to point out how unique and helpful this program seemed to us.

Tuition + room + board at BC is $85k. They charge a $600 summer orientation fee. Isn't it amazing what money buys!

My DD will is a rising senior. I looked up some of the orientation details for colleges on her list. I was shocked that they charged an orientation fee. Why is that? Why do colleges charge an orientation fee? I remember going to a mid-summer orientation 30 years ago and to the best of my knowledge, we weren't charged an orientation fee.

Shouldn't it be included in tuition?

[Anonymous]

My kid’s school (Juniata) had a really great orientation program. I think it was called Inbound. They were grouped based upon their choice of interests, ranging from rock climbing to art to volunteering—+ many other choices. The necessary information was interwoven with fun bonding experiences. That way they knew a cote group of people when the upper class men arrived in campus.

I did not appreciate schools that charged extra for these experiences because that meant low income kids started off at a disadvantage. Not cool.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is zero chance I will be participating as a parent in any of these orientation activities. ZERO. But I'm happy for them to put on stuff for my kids to do.

+1. I never did when my kids went to college. Let’s be honest: the parent programs are designed to keep the parents out of the kids’ faces during first year orientation. It’s anti-helicoptering.

And to also tell parents when to step back and let their kids do things (hint: most of the time) and how to help support your kid during their first semester and year. Lets you know the resources available so you can encourage your kid to use them. It's a time to talk to the health clinic if you kid has any medical issues (my oldest DC's roommate did and I know the mom was able to arrange most everything they needed during this orientation and it made her feel 1000 times more comfortable having a kid 4 hours from home with medical issues.

Do you need 3 days for this though? Seems like overkill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not to be contrary, but why not just do a couple of days of orientation, etc. as ‘new student week’ rather than require a separate trip in the summer? Of course info should arrive over the summer, but this seems like helicopter parent 101.

As a parent, I have zero interest in staying in a dorm. And do I really need days of programming?

Parents do not have to attend, it's optional. Our rising freshman flew to Boston on his own and attended orientation on his own. Plenty of students do it on their own, for many it's one of there first independent trips on a plane, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s school (Juniata) had a really great orientation program. I think it was called Inbound. They were grouped based upon their choice of interests, ranging from rock climbing to art to volunteering—+ many other choices. The necessary information was interwoven with fun bonding experiences. That way they knew a cote group of people when the upper class men arrived in campus.

I did not appreciate schools that charged extra for these experiences because that meant low income kids started off at a disadvantage. Not cool.

The Juliana poster, again!

It ain’t Harvard honey.

[Anonymous]

We did this in 1995 at GW. Absolutely amazing. No parents were there though; that would have ruined it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just got back from BC's 3 day orientation and just wanted to give them a shout out for a job well done! We had 7 sessions to choose from - anytime from June thru July. You arrive Sun and it goes until Tues afternoon. There are separate parent and student programs. After the initial welcome, we didn't get to see our kiddo until Tuesday. Students get to stay in the dorms to get a taste of dorm life and were able to register for classes after meeting with an advisor and hearing recommendations from upperclassmen. The presentations were so informative and they answered every question we could possibly have. We got to hear from residential life, dining services, security, transportation, deans from all the schools, financial aid, account billing, student employment, health services, university counseling and the registrar. We had lunch/dinner with fellow parents and were able to compare notes. Great opportunity to meet other families and even met a few from the DMV. We also got to tour the dorms with res life reps so we could measure etc. before we started dorm shopping. Upperclassmen were also on hand to answer any questions we had. After orientation, DD felt much more comfortable and is excited to move-in later this month. As parents, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to hear from so many students, staff and administrators and walked away knowing BC was the right choice for our DD.

**Our eldest child's college only had one day of orientation, so I just wanted to point out how unique and helpful this program seemed to us.

Tuition + room + board at BC is $85k. They charge a $600 summer orientation fee. Isn't it amazing what money buys!

My DD will is a rising senior. I looked up some of the orientation details for colleges on her list. I was shocked that they charged an orientation fee. Why is that? Why do colleges charge an orientation fee? I remember going to a mid-summer orientation 30 years ago and to the best of my knowledge, we weren't charged an orientation fee.

Shouldn't it be included in tuition?

Towson did a single day orientation, parents could go, but if they did, the cost was $30. I guess these schools really know their customers.

[Anonymous]

I would 100% send my DS on his own to a mid-summer orientation (although like other posters, mid-summer would annoy me vs. right before school starts when he would already be there).

And not because I don't care and not because I'm not type-a (because, I am) but because I would read everything the school sent me about the school, incoming process etc. and just come to campus at move in. DS doesn't need me hanging around for a 2-3 day orientation.


That being said, it sounds like you had a nice time OP and you were thankful for the opportunity and programming. It's your first child going to college and it gave you the lay of the land. There's nothing wrong with that or the fact that you enjoyed it as some killjoys here will have you believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just got back from BC's 3 day orientation and just wanted to give them a shout out for a job well done! We had 7 sessions to choose from - anytime from June thru July. You arrive Sun and it goes until Tues afternoon. There are separate parent and student programs. After the initial welcome, we didn't get to see our kiddo until Tuesday. Students get to stay in the dorms to get a taste of dorm life and were able to register for classes after meeting with an advisor and hearing recommendations from upperclassmen. The presentations were so informative and they answered every question we could possibly have. We got to hear from residential life, dining services, security, transportation, deans from all the schools, financial aid, account billing, student employment, health services, university counseling and the registrar. We had lunch/dinner with fellow parents and were able to compare notes. Great opportunity to meet other families and even met a few from the DMV. We also got to tour the dorms with res life reps so we could measure etc. before we started dorm shopping. Upperclassmen were also on hand to answer any questions we had. After orientation, DD felt much more comfortable and is excited to move-in later this month. As parents, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to hear from so many students, staff and administrators and walked away knowing BC was the right choice for our DD.

**Our eldest child's college only had one day of orientation, so I just wanted to point out how unique and helpful this program seemed to us.

Tuition + room + board at BC is $85k. They charge a $600 summer orientation fee. Isn't it amazing what money buys!

Sheesh! You're right. I looked it up. So BC, with it's roughly 2300 freshmen, is collecting $1.3 million from this alone. Good Lord.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not to be contrary, but why not just do a couple of days of orientation, etc. as ‘new student week’ rather than require a separate trip in the summer? Of course info should arrive over the summer, but this seems like helicopter parent 101.

As a parent, I have zero interest in staying in a dorm. And do I really need days of programming?

I agree with this.

My daughter is a rising sophomore at Notre Dame. The freshmen (excuse me, first years) move in before everyone else and have Friday-Monday before classes start for their orientation and other welcome week activities. I am grateful for a college that recognizes it is not financially or logistically feasible for many families to make the trip 2x, take off work, etc.

Both of my kid's schools had 2 day orientation sessions during the summer, with the final one being 2 days before freshman move in. This was to accommodate international students, students from a distance/anyone who could not manage or afford to attend earlier. Registration was done during this time and both held back plenty of sessions for freshman in the final sessions so they got into courses similar to everyone else. For those that can attend, it helps an anxious/nervious/introverted kid better prepare for the big changes

I like this. I think that's very reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just got back from BC's 3 day orientation and just wanted to give them a shout out for a job well done! We had 7 sessions to choose from - anytime from June thru July. You arrive Sun and it goes until Tues afternoon. There are separate parent and student programs. After the initial welcome, we didn't get to see our kiddo until Tuesday. Students get to stay in the dorms to get a taste of dorm life and were able to register for classes after meeting with an advisor and hearing recommendations from upperclassmen. The presentations were so informative and they answered every question we could possibly have. We got to hear from residential life, dining services, security, transportation, deans from all the schools, financial aid, account billing, student employment, health services, university counseling and the registrar. We had lunch/dinner with fellow parents and were able to compare notes. Great opportunity to meet other families and even met a few from the DMV. We also got to tour the dorms with res life reps so we could measure etc. before we started dorm shopping. Upperclassmen were also on hand to answer any questions we had. After orientation, DD felt much more comfortable and is excited to move-in later this month. As parents, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to hear from so many students, staff and administrators and walked away knowing BC was the right choice for our DD.

**Our eldest child's college only had one day of orientation, so I just wanted to point out how unique and helpful this program seemed to us.

Tuition + room + board at BC is $85k. They charge a $600 summer orientation fee. Isn't it amazing what money buys!

Sheesh! You're right. I looked it up. So BC, with it's roughly 2300 freshmen, is collecting $1.3 million from this alone. Good Lord.

So because of how big colleges work, the orientation office pays housing for the dorm space, dining for the meal passes, facilities for the meeting spaces, pay the student orientation leaders who give up half their summer, pay the office staff that plans the whole thing, etc. etc.

Yes, it’s bureaucratic, but it’s how big entities account for spending.

Somewhere, they have to account for the resources used in putting on the program.

I definitely remember sending in a check for orientation at my SLAC in the 90s. If you don’t, it probably wasn’t a cost that worried you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We just got back from BC's 3 day orientation and just wanted to give them a shout out for a job well done! We had 7 sessions to choose from - anytime from June thru July. You arrive Sun and it goes until Tues afternoon. There are separate parent and student programs. After the initial welcome, we didn't get to see our kiddo until Tuesday. Students get to stay in the dorms to get a taste of dorm life and were able to register for classes after meeting with an advisor and hearing recommendations from upperclassmen. The presentations were so informative and they answered every question we could possibly have. We got to hear from residential life, dining services, security, transportation, deans from all the schools, financial aid, account billing, student employment, health services, university counseling and the registrar. We had lunch/dinner with fellow parents and were able to compare notes. Great opportunity to meet other families and even met a few from the DMV. We also got to tour the dorms with res life reps so we could measure etc. before we started dorm shopping. Upperclassmen were also on hand to answer any questions we had. After orientation, DD felt much more comfortable and is excited to move-in later this month. As parents, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to hear from so many students, staff and administrators and walked away knowing BC was the right choice for our DD.

**Our eldest child's college only had one day of orientation, so I just wanted to point out how unique and helpful this program seemed to us.

Tuition + room + board at BC is $85k. They charge a $600 summer orientation fee. Isn't it amazing what money buys!

Sheesh! You're right. I looked it up. So BC, with it's roughly 2300 freshmen, is collecting $1.3 million from this alone. Good Lord.

So because of how big colleges work, the orientation office pays housing for the dorm space, dining for the meal passes, facilities for the meeting spaces, pay the student orientation leaders who give up half their summer, pay the office staff that plans the whole thing, etc. etc.

Yes, it’s bureaucratic, but it’s how big entities account for spending.

Somewhere, they have to account for the resources used in putting on the program.

I definitely remember sending in a check for orientation at my SLAC in the 90s. If you don’t, it probably wasn’t a cost that worried you.

Thank you for the mansplaining. I just looked up my university's. It's $150.

[Anonymous]

Our school orientation is just before school starts. I haven't seen the bill to see if it has a line item - but otherwise I assume it's just part of the tuition. We did have to pay for an optional pre-orientation program, that seems reasonable (but I hope FA students are offered subsidies to attend pre-orientation if they want to)