University of Tennesse Knoxville

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 hear you on the cost and inconvenience. But if there is a way to go to your kid’s top two choices (or top choice if they know where they are going), I think it would be a good idea to make the sacrifice l. As the mother of a third year student and a rising senior, it truly is one of the last decisions that shapes your child’s future that you will be involved in, and not just a cheerleader.

You picked what type of homelife to give them, their k-12 experiences, their camps, their friends when they were little, their extracurriculars - you have been involved in some way in all of it. This is the last decision you make together that sets them on their path. Who to room with, what internship to choose, where to apply for a first job, who to marry - you are on the sidelines of their life cheering for them but not involved in the decision making. So go - think of it as the coda on the intense phase of parenting.

Your kid probably told you that parents don't participate so he could plan an "impromptu senior trip" with his friends. Generally, most kids and parents know that these events are for parents and kids. Often times, even siblings can come. At the bear minimum, you should look.at the website for your kids school.

Anonymous wrote:I’m the bad parent who wasn’t planning on going (and my kid has affirmatively told us that it’s for students not parents so we shouldn’t go). When I went to college I went to all these by myself, including flying across country and taking Amtrak etc and I think a bus. The colleges put us up in dorms back then sleeping on the floor—they don’t do that now? My kid has flown lots of times without us and has stayed in hotels without us too (with digital checkin, it’s super easy).

Kids are so coddled now. I was just planning on gojng for parents weekend in the fall. (My parents never went to that either, but I do remember parents there for that.)

I don't think a lot of places do the overnight thing. Some do. I don't think that you are a bad parent for sending your kid by him/herself, but just know that the vast majority of kids go with their parents. Maybe your kid just wants to do a road trip with his/her friends. Generally, parents are included in these events. Next time the parents participate might be orientation and then move in and family weekend.

Anonymous wrote:I’m the bad parent who wasn’t planning on going (and my kid has affirmatively told us that it’s for students not parents so we shouldn’t go). When I went to college I went to all these by myself, including flying across country and taking Amtrak etc and I think a bus. The colleges put us up in dorms back then sleeping on the floor—they don’t do that now? My kid has flown lots of times without us and has stayed in hotels without us too (with digital checkin, it’s super easy).

Kids are so coddled now. I was just planning on gojng for parents weekend in the fall. (My parents never went to that either, but I do remember parents there for that.)

None of them do that, but maybe you should check rather than asking on this forum. The events are for families and yes, you are being a bad parent for not going, but you can excuse that by calling kids coddled.

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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

Attended accepted student days at UVA, W&M and VT as well as WF and BC. Very helpful in making the final decision - W&M.

What was the deciding factor(s) for W&M?

Size of school, felt like home, student vibe and able to waive foreign language requirement.

Foreign language is only required for certain majors right?

Other finalist was WF where a foreign language requirement would have had to be met.

I’m the bad parent who wasn’t planning on going (and my kid has affirmatively told us that it’s for students not parents so we shouldn’t go). When I went to college I went to all these by myself, including flying across country and taking Amtrak etc and I think a bus. The colleges put us up in dorms back then sleeping on the floor—they don’t do that now? My kid has flown lots of times without us and has stayed in hotels without us too (with digital checkin, it’s super easy).

Kids are so coddled now. I was just planning on gojng for parents weekend in the fall. (My parents never went to that either, but I do remember parents there for that.)

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Anonymous wrote:We had a blast at Michigan's! They brought in the marching band, answered lots of questions, showed a lived-in dorm room and offered lunch in a good cafeteria. DD was already 99% committed but left so excited and proud to go to Michigan.

you went with your student to an admitted students day?

I have been to many admitted student days with my kids. I have never seen a kid at one of these events without a parent. Why would you send them alone?

Our child is 17 years old and getting to Michigan involved a plane ride and two nights at a hotel in a state where she knows no one. They don't offer accommodations. Every kid there was with a parent, usually two. This is a pretty big deal, so yeah.

Even an 18 yo can't check into a hotel, so I'm not sure how people are saying this is feasible if an overnight stay is required.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Attended accepted student days at UVA, W&M and VT as well as WF and BC. Very helpful in making the final decision - W&M.

What was the deciding factor(s) for W&M?

Size of school, felt like home, student vibe and able to waive foreign language requirement.

Foreign language is only required for certain majors right?

Depends on school. At some SLACS it is required for everyone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Attended accepted student days at UVA, W&M and VT as well as WF and BC. Very helpful in making the final decision - W&M.

What was the deciding factor(s) for W&M?

Size of school, felt like home, student vibe and able to waive foreign language requirement.

Foreign language is only required for certain majors right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

Attended accepted student days at UVA, W&M and VT as well as WF and BC. Very helpful in making the final decision - W&M.

What was the deciding factor(s) for W&M?

Size of school, felt like home, student vibe and able to waive foreign language requirement.

Honestly - I have never seen any kids attend by themselves (even 18 years olds). Even though it is the kid going to college, for most families it is also a family affair/milestone/rite of passage. So many parents want to be involved. Also, like many others pointed out, there are logistical and safety issues sending your kid to travel by themselves.

Choose your student’s top 3 options and attend those. Definitely no need to go to all of them.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a blast at Michigan's! They brought in the marching band, answered lots of questions, showed a lived-in dorm room and offered lunch in a good cafeteria. DD was already 99% committed but left so excited and proud to go to Michigan.

you went with your student to an admitted students day?

I have been to many admitted student days with my kids. I have never seen a kid at one of these events without a parent. Why would you send them alone?

Our child is 17 years old and getting to Michigan involved a plane ride and two nights at a hotel in a state where she knows no one. They don't offer accommodations. Every kid there was with a parent, usually two. This is a pretty big deal, so yeah.

+1 - I've heard of kids going with a friend to the state school that's a short drive away if they're already committed and the admitted students' day is really just for fun and another trip to the campus store, but even logistically I don't see how or why you'd send your kid alone to do this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We had a blast at Michigan's! They brought in the marching band, answered lots of questions, showed a lived-in dorm room and offered lunch in a good cafeteria. DD was already 99% committed but left so excited and proud to go to Michigan.

you went with your student to an admitted students day?

I have been to many admitted student days with my kids. I have never seen a kid at one of these events without a parent. Why would you send them alone?

Our child is 17 years old and getting to Michigan involved a plane ride and two nights at a hotel in a state where she knows no one. They don't offer accommodations. Every kid there was with a parent, usually two. This is a pretty big deal, so yeah.