Parents of HS students who will be college freshman this fall

[Anonymous]

What do you know so far?

We've paid our deposit for enrollment, received our financial aid package, filled out our housing application and paid deposit, registered for new student orientation in July, and my son has set up his online student portal which includes his .edu email address.

We don't know when he registers for classes, when he finds out his dorm assignment/roommate, or anything else pertaining to starting freshman year. Is this normal? When I called to pay the deposits I asked if there was anything else I needed to take care of and was told, no. I feel pretty out of the loop though, do schools usually send out a packet for new students or do you learn everything when you go to orientation? His orientation is 2 weeks before move in day!

[Anonymous]

He will likely sign up for his classes during new student orientation. That is one big reason why orientation is mandatory. Dorm selection also has to be made official (ours is online selection).

I'm guessing they'll send the tuition bill in the mail as soon as they are registered.

Our first is an incoming college freshman, too. So we're going through the same thing. So far, no packet has been sent to us, either, other than what was sent at the time of his adimission's offer.

[Anonymous]

We have similar thoughts but in talking to other parents in our neighborhood, I think it is normal.

The word seems to be you are going to feel even more out of the loop in the fall.

Even if your DC signs the form to let you see their records, the school wants everything to go through the student.

[Anonymous]

Thanks pp, I'm glad I'm not alone here!

There were options for an earlier orientation, maybe I should reconsider that. I can't imagine now knowing anything until 2 weeks before he is to move on campus.

[Anonymous]

Hi - Went through the same feeling last year. It's disconcerting after years of being the primary contact. Usually the school websites will have a parents/families page where some of this will be covered. Ahead of the physical mailings though, your student may receive emails or more commonly should check that student portal and the portal where he received his admissions info. Either may hold the info or link to info you seeking. Class registration may be during orientation but there may be some online pre-tests which should be done prior to registration. And I would guess the housing info will be on the portal along with packing and move in instructions. And no one tells the parent any of this. DC may have received an email but as all communications from the school was also on the portal going forward with no alerts, I think they were training DC (and us) for going forward. We do get an email for tuition payments but that's it. Also, get a medical durable power of attorney done in case you are needed for a medical emergency. We also did a financial one as we set up accounts in DC's name for expenses. Also TSA precheck for travel is very handy.

[Anonymous]

If it is a big state flagship you probably have to send your kid there for orientation midsummer, at which point registration would be done.

There might be placement exams to take.

At least these two things are true for us.

[Anonymous]

We have to submit health forms by August 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have to submit health forms by August 1.

OP here. Yes, us too. And we also have to have final transcripts sent my July 1.

[Anonymous]

Hallelujah! DC is finally 18 and a legal adult and capable of figuring it for himself. I think getting accepted to where he's going is enough independent judgement to me that he's capable of fending for himself (besides the money thing). No great joy in filling out paperwork, questioning his course selections or asking about his grades.

I'm looking forward to interacting with him like an adult. I don't want him to ask for approval ever again. I want to hear what he wants to share about his life, his new interests, and evolving views. I can't wait until he has a paper or a project that I won't be able to understand. I hope that he'll ask for my perspective (not advice, heaven forbid) and that he knows I might be less knowledgeable/wise/informed than other adults he knows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hallelujah! DC is finally 18 and a legal adult and capable of figuring it for himself. I think getting accepted to where he's going is enough independent judgement to me that he's capable of fending for himself (besides the money thing). No great joy in filling out paperwork, questioning his course selections or asking about his grades.

I'm looking forward to interacting with him like an adult. I don't want him to ask for approval ever again. I want to hear what he wants to share about his life, his new interests, and evolving views. I can't wait until he has a paper or a project that I won't be able to understand. I hope that he'll ask for my perspective (not advice, heaven forbid) and that he knows I might be less knowledgeable/wise/informed than other adults he knows.

Besides the paperwork my son has been doing that for years.

[Anonymous]

We got like a booklet of steps: filling out the roommate questionnaire, submitting dorm preferences, when health forms and class choices were due. In mid-June we report there for a two day orientation (which we have a schedule for--student & parent activities). It is at that June session when they meet an advisor & sign up for classes.

Four days before school starts in August, she will go early for "Inbound"--a bonding experience that you get to choose: like camping or community service, international immersion...there were like 14 choices. You are making me feel like maybe our place is a little more organized or communicative.

[Anonymous]

Placement exams due one week before orientation.

Your calendar will be full, so don't overlook this. My kid is doing them this week.

[Anonymous]

Usually, based on what the kid indicated as their intended program of study, the university will preemptively enroll them in the basic 101 level courses (or next course level for those who placed out). During orientation, they'll break off into smaller groups by major where someone from the university will present each student with their tentative schedule and explain the classes. They explain the track and course they need to take for that major and assist with making any adjustments the student may want. Keep in mind, incoming freshmen are getting the leftover slots, which means LOTS of 8 am classes and Friday afternoon classes. First semester schedules are not fun or ideal and usually just have to be dealt with until they're able to wake up at the crack of pre-dawn to pick their own classes for the Spring semester.

(I say all of this as someone who was an Orientation Helper at my University where I helped incoming freshmen with their schedules).

[Anonymous]

Anything you need to know will be sent to you. Otherwise it's completely on the student to be reading emails regularly and doing what's requested. Our kids are now adults and are responsible for all the paperwork. We just continue to write checks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anything you need to know will be sent to you. Otherwise it's completely on the student to be reading emails regularly and doing what's requested. Our kids are now adults and are responsible for all the paperwork. We just continue to write checks!

This is true but it can be a rather abrupt change from the way your HS handled students. I would say that asking some questions to prompt your student to look is not a bad idea as a transition.
Any person at 18 or 81 could use some helpful advice when doing something for the 1st time. You're also assuming a lot that the college and USPS will be efficient enough to allow students enough lead time if they don't think to look for information online themselves.