We did two nights since we had to fly in the night before a morning move in. The school had a nice send off where the first year students gathered together inside a large auditorium for welcome speeches while the parents watched on big screens outside. Then all the students walked through campus while parents cheered on and caught glimpses of their kids. They walked through a gate and then closed the gate behind them. Then there was a parents only reception. I thought it was a really nice way to separate but I recall seeing a sobbing girl during the procession and my heart broke for her. So every school has their own way of doing things and I was happy to get a clear cut send off.

Staying 2 nights. We are a flight away. Want to make sure we have time to do target run etc and not be rushing to catch a flight that same day.

Slow down the car until it is barely rolling.
Toss out the kid and his stuff. Leave.

Anonymous wrote:We are staying 3 nights. Don’t expect to see my kid after we drop him off at his room. But we are driving 20 hours each way. So, the extra night is for much needed rest before turning around and heading back.

If it's a 20 hour drive, why not just fly?

I had coffee with a friend right after drop off and went straight to my hotel afterwards. I spent another night in case something came up but didn’t return to campus.

A lot of schools have parent programming, but that's because it serves as a way to get the parents to separate from the kids. Years ago they didn't need to have it, because parents just left. I am sure some people really enjoy it but I felt very skippable to me and not meaningful.

we did two nights. arrived at 10pm. move in that next morning. there were school-related activities (parents had a separate schedule from kids .. this may be bs at your school, was not at ours). I had a meeting the next morning with the development office (wasn't instigated by me, you can be sure). Left that day around 2pm.

Both Harvard and Yale have parents programming people stay for fwiw.

One night at most, and plan to say goodbye to your kid after a couple of hours of move in (assuming orientation starts same day?) and just go have a dinner out yourselves somewhere, get to know the town a bit

Driving in the night before for early move in slot the next day. Saying see ya before dinner. Having dinner with friends. Staying over and driving home the next day. I might have driven home after dinner but it’s longer than two hours and I don’t know how tired I will be by 8 or 9 pm.

We are staying 3 nights. Don’t expect to see my kid after we drop him off at his room. But we are driving 20 hours each way. So, the extra night is for much needed rest before turning around and heading back.

Ask your kid.

Absolutely not. Just one night, especially since you're only two hours away. That's nothing.

We are flying in the night before due to early move in. Then staying one night in the city because there's a parent event in the morning. We fly home that afternoon.

It’s best to just get out of there. Even if they have “family” events they’re not usually important or fun, just ways to peel you off your kid. It’s exhausting and emotional and best to just get going.

Anonymous wrote:Mine are only 2 hrs and 3 hrs away. Did not stay overnight. However, we made sure to plan a weekend home over Labor Day so they had something to look forward to, and fall break in early October. Helps to come home and get things they didn’t anticipate, and just get sleep/food!

For gods sakes no! Do not encourage your kid to come home over Labor Day. She should be settling in that weekend, studying, getting to know people. Don't be the kid who goes home for Labor Day weekend.