Orientation - Crazy, large scale production!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DSs small. It well known school has a fire works tradition at the start of each semester.

***Not well known

[Anonymous]

Thirty years ago, Notre Dame’s was a little overwhelming to me. I just wanted to get settled and then start classes with regular people I would get to know organically, not be forced to move in a clump over to a guy’s dorm quad for forced ice-breaker games and ice cream, followed by another forced match to Steppan for hamburgers and a carnival, repeat fur about 3 days straight. Later, when I was an RA myself as a senior, I saw that it was hard on some of my freshmen too, so I knew by then it wasn’t just me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friend of mine said the W&M first year move in was “really over the top”.

We just returned and it was awesome. Not over the top at all. My husband and I were impressed and left feeling completely comfortable that DD is in great hands. Move in was well orchestrated, thoughtful of students and families, great spirit, no fireworks. Lots of happy volunteers directing students. OAs on hand to whisk kids off to dinner together after saying goodbye to parents. Kids had staggered move in windows so each family had time alone in the room to get set up and say goodbye privately. Just right IMO.

Fireworks were last night - courtesy of Colonial Williamsburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Friend of mine said the W&M first year move in was “really over the top”.

My DS is an Orientation Aide at W&M this year. Their first job is to get the new kids info on W&M policies and procedures. Their second job is to keep them so busy they're exhausted at night and don't go out drinking. The OA's used to help families move into the dorms but after a couple of injuries, they are instructed to just cheer when the new students move in. I haven't talked to my DS since Wednesday night - I'm sure he's as exhausted as the new students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Apparently Duke is also way OTT.

It was last year with the Ed Sheeran concert.

Of course, they fired a bunch of people 9 months later and now have a hiring freeze…..

So…..

Ed Sheeran was for the Duke Centennial in September, not orientation. They do have fireworks on campus for the students once a year though

And they paid him $2m for that gig.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friend of mine said the W&M first year move in was “really over the top”.

My DS is an Orientation Aide at W&M this year. Their first job is to get the new kids info on W&M policies and procedures. Their second job is to keep them so busy they're exhausted at night and don't go out drinking. The OA's used to help families move into the dorms but after a couple of injuries, they are instructed to just cheer when the new students move in. I haven't talked to my DS since Wednesday night - I'm sure he's as exhausted as the new students.

Former OA and Student Activities coordinator. Orientation is the one the most expensive, complex, and exhausting activities of the year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Princeton does a ceremonial march through the front gate.

The indoctrination march to the reprogramming camp.

[Anonymous]

I’ve seen both - one was a huge event like that, with multi day crazy stuff. The other was one day with families and students with faculty/staff doing presentations then available for questions, meeting one-on-one, etc.
I much prefer the second. The first one did not feature any significant faculty or staff, and no one to answer questions or solve problems.
The second one was very lovely, able to address issues and resolve problems on the spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a feeling OP is trolling. Otherwise, she would just name the school. I've never heard of any school having an orientation like that.

Pitt used to have fireworks for orientation but they switched to a drone show this year.

Yeah, Pitt's orientation events have been pretty impressive, including the drone show.

[Anonymous]

I've been so impressed by what I'm hearing from my kid about orientation so far at W&M. (Not "over the top" at all, and I frankly can't figure out where that would come from; it doesn't track with anything I saw when in town or have heard since then.) The dropoff day last week was extremely smooth, and from my kid's mid-orientation reports, they're connecting well with other students and having a great time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which SEC school?

Jealous?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Friend of mine said the W&M first year move in was “really over the top”.

We just returned and it was awesome. Not over the top at all. My husband and I were impressed and left feeling completely comfortable that DD is in great hands. Move in was well orchestrated, thoughtful of students and families, great spirit, no fireworks. Lots of happy volunteers directing students. OAs on hand to whisk kids off to dinner together after saying goodbye to parents. Kids had staggered move in windows so each family had time alone in the room to get set up and say goodbye privately. Just right IMO.

Tbf they did do fireworks in Colonial Williamsburg for the students last night, but I agree that it was all well done

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have a feeling OP is trolling. Otherwise, she would just name the school. I've never heard of any school having an orientation like that.

Not trolling at all. It was Chapman University--very positive experience. I just didn't think the specific school was relevant.

Are you kidding ? Of course, the name of the school is relevant.

[Anonymous]

Ivy was wholesome- not tons of flash. Normal

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which university was this?

Must be an SEC.

That's immediately what I thought!