Orientation

MommaBlair · 06-16-2008, 10:32 PM

Anyone go yet? Any thoughts?

My daughter will be there this Thursday and Friday, June 19 and 20.

Will let you know what she thinks upon her return.

giddey_up · 07-03-2008, 11:27 AM

Hi MommaBlair, I have a daughter interested in LMU. How was the orientation?

cinniesmom · 07-03-2008, 08:29 PM

I am curious too.

mikei · 07-06-2008, 01:34 AM

Orientation was great.

My parents told me the experience isn't that great for adults. The only bad thing about orientation was that there is very little free time during the first day. However, everyone gets a lot done. Students are divided into their colleges (I was with other business school students) and then into smaller groups. Each small group has an advisor who helps everyone with choosing courses. Students (as you probably already know) take math and optional language placement tests on the first day.

I had a great time at Orientation. (You should make sure your son/daughter is in the right mood when they go! They will probably make friends since students are kept in their small groups throughout orientation.)

Each small group has two "O-Leaders." These two leaders are students at LMU. (My O-leaders were David and Sammi... They were awesome!)

There is also a spirit rally in which everyone leaves feeling like a Lion. :P

During the second day we planned our schedules and all walked to the stunning University Hall to register for classes. Registering for classes is fairly competetive because of the small class sizes. (Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors are given first pick at the classes.) Students will probably get most/all of their classes at their desired times.

LMU offers a TON of classes... Really, really interesting classes.

CollegeConfidential and other college websites definitely don't paint LMU as well as they should. (I think LMU just isn't well-known enough or something... It is SO MUCH BETTER than one would think by only reading websites describing the school.) It is a truly great school through and through. I also see a ton of future growth for LMU. This year was the most selective year and the staff seemed pumped about that. The school's staff is dedicated to its students and the Jesuit ideal of educating "minds and hearts" is definitely apparent.

Everyone in my orientation group (O-Group) couldn't wait to start school.

Also, keep in mind that you guys have signed up for some of the last orientations. Because of this, your student's experiences may not be as enjoyable as mine. (There are a lot of orientations and the O-Leaders or staff might get a little tired of doing orientation over and over again.) That's just a warning. So don't go into it with high expectations or anything! I had absolutely no expectations when I entered and I left very happy.

historymom · 07-07-2008, 04:20 PM

what a great report! Thank you mikei. I know a student who will be a freshman there in the fall and he seems really excited as well. His mom told me that the orrientation was great. She felt good about her son attending LMU but after orrientation she really was thrilled for him.

MommaBlair he went to the same session I think that your D did.

MommaBlair · 07-09-2008, 10:55 PM

hi everyone! sorry it took me so long to update -- i honestly don't know where the days go anymore. anyway -- my daughter LOVED orientation. she met tons of great people and even found a roomate -- she was very excited. she said that everything went well and she is really happy with her classes and schedule.

when i asked her if what she liked about her trip i was very happy to hear that she loved the way the orientation program was run, she liked the people she met that worked at the school and was satisfied with her class selection and availability. she also said the process of selecting her classes was not that difficult. i was thrilled that i didn't just get the standard, "oh, everyone was really nice" because i would think that if someone was not nice during orientation, you're really in trouble!!!

my husband said that the parent orientation program was good, but a little boring. he bailed out near the end of the 2nd day. he said the biggest problem is that parents don't seem to do their research and they don't listen. the questions asked by a lot of the parents was either information that was just presented or readily available on the website. he really didn't feel that he learned much, but was happy to be able to meet some other parents and get a better feel for the school. he is also very happy with our daughter's decision to attend lmu.

i was holding my breath a little because since we are from new jersey, she had only visited the school one during april 2007, so it had been quite some time since she was last there. i was really hoping that she would still love the school -- and she did -- perhaps even more. she is thrilled with her decision to attend lmu in the fall and even said that it was like a tease going to orientation and then having to wait 8 weeks to go back. she can't wait to get there!

historymom, i wonder if my daughter met your friend's son? is he, by any chance, a business major?

mikei, thanks so much for your update!

historymom · 07-12-2008, 11:53 AM

mommablair yes he is...small world eh?

MommaBlair · 07-12-2008, 06:15 PM

sure is -- they probably met each other!