Many parents ask me if they really need to join their college freshman at the orientation program. They wonder “what will I be doing while I am there?” After attending my third college orientation this summer, I can tell you for certain, attending orientation with your child is worth your time!
Typically, the orientation starts with a general welcome to the entire group of parents and students, often including something unique to the campus culture. It is memorable to experience learning the school fight song, or watching a student performance with your child. After the initial welcome, you typically break out into a smaller, college-specific welcome, where professors and advisors share information about class offerings and graduation requirements.
Families have the opportunity to eat in the dining hall, this helps you remember what it is like to walk into a cafeteria style facility and make a decision of what you will eat from the smorgasbord of choices. Here is your chance to remind your child that even though they can eat as much as they want once they swipe in, maybe having ice-cream or dessert with every meal is not such a good idea. During the information sessions, student life representatives share information about life in the dorms, meal plans, healthcare, clubs & activities, and the realities of college life-even sharing information about safe drinking, in a realistic, education-based way. Parents usually have a chance to hear from current students, while separated from their child.
This is your chance to ask questions about dorm move in, what things you really need in the dorms, the weather, the trip to and from the airport, professors, the honors college, student organizations and more. It’s a great way to get all of your anxious, parent-y questions out of the way without embarrassing your child! While parents are getting “the scoop” on all things college, incoming students are playing games and mixing to start making friends before school even begins. Students spend the night in the dorms, to get a sense of what life will be like when they move in for the year. Students meet with advisors to create their class schedules and learn how to access the university system for everything they need to know.
After two or three full days of indoctrination, you head home to think about all of the information that has been thrown at you. Then reality hits: you are left with about 6-8 weeks to prepare for move-in day and can start to imagine what it will be like to say good-bye. Maybe you are still wondering, “I will send my child, but why do I need to go?” I believe that above all else, going to orientation with your child shows them that you are excited for them to start their future and let them know you care about where they are headed and want to be able to imagine their life away from you.