Which Admitted Student's Days were really worth it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That was 30 years ago when people thought hitchhiking was fine too.

PP here. True.
I am realizing we need to go because everyone else is.
I'm bummed because I raised a kid who could totally do this on her own at age 18.

DP. All of these kids are perfectly capable of doing this on their own. The point is, it's for both students AND parents. Not sure why you don't grasp this.

Of course **I** grasp this, but there are people upthread saying it would be irresponsible to send a student on a plane by themselves. I think it's really paranoid and time to cut the cord, at least in our case it would be paranoid.

But I also think there's a reason it's good for kids to go alone that is beyond just travel. I get that parents now spend so mucn more $ on education, but...

This has been addressed multiple times and you must be the same poster who for some reason doesn't understand this is a family event. We're not paranoid and in fact my kid (like most) has flown alone multiple times. But no, at 17 he hasn't (and legally can't) stay alone in a hotel in another city. The events are largely designed for parents and their kids about to invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in a major life decision. We get it, you don't want to take the day off work, but this isn't about paranoia.

THIS ^^. My kid has traveled all over Europe by herself. She's fully capable of hopping on a plane and going anywhere - but that's not the point, because these ASDs are designed for families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your kid is already committed, then there isn't much reason for either your kid or you to go. I think the Admitted Student Days are more for schools to convince students to attend their school. However, if your kid wanted to go, I wouldn't send them alone - unless its within a commuting distance (and even then, it might be weird to be there alone without parents/family). However, even if your kid is already committed to the school, the admitted student's day can be a great way to feel more excited about the school (and possibly even meet their future roommate).

Yep. This is exactly how my kid met their roommate.

[Anonymous]

We went to the UVA one on Monday and it was great

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That was 30 years ago when people thought hitchhiking was fine too.

Nobody thought hitchhiking was fine 30 years ago.

--Class of '85

😀 I love people’s concept of 30 years ago like it was ancient history. I went to college 30 years ago and my parents came for accepted students day as did all the other parents. There was information relevant for parents and they also were interested enough to want to know more about where I was going. It wasn’t helicoptering; it was normal parental interest. Some of you may not feel the same way but it doesn’t mean that kids who go with a parent are incapable or less independent/ competent than yours. Good grief. If you don’t want to go don’t go. If you want to go, go.

We also had our own version of political correctness, we had feminism, drunk driving and sexual harassment were bad, and we had LGBTQ people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That was 30 years ago when people thought hitchhiking was fine too.

Nobody thought hitchhiking was fine 30 years ago.

--Class of '85

I might be off by a decade- but wasn't there a time when people did it all the time? Personally, I never did it, but I thought people did.

30s through early 70s, I think. It was never that dangerous but there were big scare campaigns against it.

This says that hitch-hiking died out in 1980, makes sense with the Reagan era. I'd have been 11 at that time and I remember seeing hitch-hikers holding up destination signs at just about every highway exit during family trips.

https://digitalcollections.wesleyan.edu/_flysystem/fedora/2023-03/23377-Original%20File.pdf

[Anonymous]

Side note: what did you or your kids wear to admitted students day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm sure many of us have multiple admitted students events to check out, but might not be able to attend them all. What admitted students events have been very good? Feel free to name any school - since it could be helpful to others on this board. However, I am most interested in the following (and we may have already missed some of the deadlines for these events):

UVA
William & Mary
Ohio State
University of Florida
Clemson
Virginia Tech
University of South Carolina

You should not go because some anonymous DCUM poster enjoyed the event.

Your kid should narrow their options down to top 2 or 3, and see Admitted Students Day as a key chance to differentiate between them.

[Anonymous]

It also allows the kids to see the types of students who might be in their class. And perhaps meet the faculty who would be in their major department.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I notice everyone is saying “we.” Do parents really need to go to thee? I’m not an admitted student. My kid has already made up their mind but wants to go to check out dorms and such. Taking a day off work and spending another $800 plus for me to go seems silly. Am I wrong?

I don’t know if they need to, but every kid I saw was with family. Often both parents.

Weird that this poster does not care enough about a major life decision that their kid will be making

(Way to show support 🙁)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I notice everyone is saying “we.” Do parents really need to go to thee? I’m not an admitted student. My kid has already made up their mind but wants to go to check out dorms and such. Taking a day off work and spending another $800 plus for me to go seems silly. Am I wrong?

Usually, the parents come to these events (at least they did for all the ones that I attended). In many cases, the parents are the ones driving/accompanying the kids to the schools so it makes sense that they would be at the events. Plus, many events have a special programs for parents. But I get it - it is pain to take off work and spend extra $.

How many kids do you have?

What is more important at work?

They will be gone before you know it. Parent them please, until that time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I notice everyone is saying “we.” Do parents really need to go to thee? I’m not an admitted student. My kid has already made up their mind but wants to go to check out dorms and such. Taking a day off work and spending another $800 plus for me to go seems silly. Am I wrong?

I don’t know if they need to, but every kid I saw was with family. Often both parents.

Weird that this poster does not care enough about a major life decision that their kid will be making

(Way to show support 🙁)

Right? Usually, the parents are just as excited as the kids to attend these events (at least from what I have seen and experienced personally).

[Anonymous]

Anyone has attended one from UMD? I'm hoping my kid will get excited about this option. 🤞🏽

[Anonymous]

Mine attended UMass’ admitted students’ day several years ago and it was fantastic. They had separate sessions for students and parents (parents did not have to attend if they didn’t want to). It was nice, as a parent, to see what the campus was like, eat the food (which is off the hook), and get a sense of the kinds of resources available. UMass is not easy to get to, so it made more sense for us to drive him up there. He is an introvert, so our being there just made it less scary for him, particularly since he would be launching on his own soon after. FWIW, he’s doing just fine as an adult and is fully independent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Side note: what did you or your kids wear to admitted students day?

Totally casual. LOTS of walking, so sneakers or really comfortable shoes are a must. Layers because sometimes you'll go into a auditorium or lecture hall that's cold.

[Anonymous]

bump