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 typically stay in the dorms....the soon to be freshman do.

And for the kids, it is a good, low pressure 1 or 2 nights in a dorm to help them get an idea what college is really like and help calm some fears for many.

For my kids, the 2 or 3 day orientation was very nice and included when they registered for classes. Much nicer to do that in person with guidance of highly qualified staff for each major/school (eng vs business vs health sciences vs Liberal Arts vs Theater vs etc) My kid meet 2 of their future good friends at that orientation. They also got to meet one of their roommates who was at the same orientation session. It makes it nice when you move in, you have a chance to already know a few friendly faces on campus. It also made for our second trip to the town/campus since we are 2K miles away---although it was strange to do as we sandwiched it in right before final exams for HS---so my kid had not even officially graduated yet.
The schools then also have 3-5 days of "new student orientation", but since kids already are registered, this can focus on them adjusting to college life, meeting people, and more of the social aspects to get freshman year started off right.

I actually don't see it as helicoptering at all. But rather as a tool to ensure kids get started in a positive manner. Adjusting to college is difficult for many kids. Both of my kids went to schools 2-3K from home and knew absolutely nobody from home. Great experience for them, but they were obviously both a bit nervous about the new life experiences and these various orientations help put them at ease.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymosity 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.

That's great, but I don't think it's that unique these days, I get the sense that colleges are doing a lot more for their incoming freshmen students than they ever did back in the day (our day).

Yup—it’s not unique for private schools/smaller schools. My kids had 2 day orientations during the summer with programming for kids and parents separately and staying in the dorms.

University of Florida has 2 Day orientation for freshmen in middle of summer. Sounds similar- kids separate from parents, stay in dorm, etc. Freshman spend part of time registering for classes with advisor (after completing mandatory pre orientation prep work) Downside was with so many in staters that knew each other my OOS DC felt even more nervous about distance and not knowing anyone. But it all works out.

But your OOS DC had to have known this is what it would be like In the fall as well. Majority of kids are in-state, many know each other from HS. It's that way at most state schools---for many it is HS 2.0

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.

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You are assuming everybody is in the same boat or situation as you. As parents of a first gen we appreciated the extra parent info sessions. They helped us understanding if and what was further needed of us, where we could direct our kid for further information and just understand this strange new world our kid was entering. It was two half day sessions for parents, while the incoming freshman had 4 days of orientation right before classes started.
It was drop off your kid, say your goodbyes and go to the parent session (Day 1 PM, Day 2 AM).

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.

🚁🚁🚁🚁🚁🚁

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.

Same with Wake Forest and Hopkins. I’m also not a fan of the midsummer orientation and glad to avoid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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. T

**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.

Why would a parent want torture themselves with this nonsense. I get your kid but after my kid makes the decision all I want to know is where to send the check. I could careless about meeting other parents who I will never talk to again unless their kid some how become roommates with my kid.

This reads like someone wants to relive their college experiences through their kid.

As a BC alum - the school has a very strong community, so it does not seem out of the ordinary for them to welcome parents too or for some parents to get to know one another. That said, my mom (like you) would have never come in the first place. It's also a school with a strong legacy contingent (I see them in FB all the time!), so I'm sure those parents love linking up. BC's a great place to be and to revisit - especially in gorgeous summer.

Anonymous wrote: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. T

**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.

Why would a parent want torture themselves with this nonsense. I get your kid but after my kid makes the decision all I want to know is where to send the check. I could careless about meeting other parents who I will never talk to again unless their kid some how become roommates with my kid.

This reads like someone wants to relive their college experiences through their kid.

Anonymous wrote:I mean, yeah, it sounds great, but no different than any other orientation. And please, don’t call your child “kiddo”.

Ok all you haters.....our child attends Georgetown and doesn't have this sort of orientation.

No complaints though, Georgetown did a great job, but freshmen move in a few days earlier than returning students and the freshman orientation covers 6 days before classes start. They had lots of contact/info/sessions over the summer online and remotely.

My kid is going to an $85k/yr private college and I think orientation is just a few days before school starts. BCs system sounds nice to me!

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.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they provide financial assistance for families that might find going to Boston for 3 days out of their budget?

BC isn't for poor kids.

14% of BC students receive Pell Grants

Yea. And that’s on the low end for top colleges.

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!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they provide financial assistance for families that might find going to Boston for 3 days out of their budget?

BC isn't for poor kids.

14% of BC students receive Pell Grants

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.

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.