UDelfreshmom

Daughter will be a Freshman at UDel. Does anyone know if there are activities for parents on move in day or do we just bring up the bags and leave?

Mattmoosemom

If I remember correctly, there was some meeting scheduled for parents in the afternoon. We were supposed to arrive in the afternoon (based on where we live), but we got to the dorm first thing in the morning so we could attend the session. We were not questioned about arriving early. This was 2 years ago, so I don't know if they will do things the same. (What will be the same is the traffic.) They do have many people from the university helping you to move in, carrying your boxes up the stairs. Make sure you label everything with your name and room number. Our move-in day was the hottest they remembered, but at least it didn't rain!

We hung around for a few hours afterward. There were some last minute items to purchase, and then we went home. Living a little more than an hour away made it easy. Some parents coming from further away got a hotel room.

Good luck with your move in day!

UDelfreshmom

Thanks for the info. We are staying at the M Hotel on Friday night since we live a little farther away.

NewHope33

I "shared" move-in day with Mattmoosemom. It was hot and humid. A gang of blue-shirted student volunteers descended on each arriving car like a pack of wolves ... pulling out student belongings and carrying them upstairs. Setting up the room took a couple (hot, sweaty) hours. We were four hours away so we stayed overnight. That gave us the chance to have dinner with D and her roommate. We skipped the parents stuff EXCEPT for the Parent of Honors Students session ... and then visiting International House (which was recommended in the PoHS session).

whldch

Move in Day goes pretty smoothly. One of the only criticisms we had of Udel at all was the fact that we had to wait till late afternoon to get into the dorms and get our child settled. Considering how many families are from out of state this meant driving home late and tired. There was lots of help offered by friendly, helpful students. Our son was in the towers last year and the lines were very long for the elevators. Many exhausted aging parents were climbing lots of stairs that day.

the_mom

I thought move in day 2006 was horribly hot and humid - DD did 2007 arrival survival and says it was just as bad - maybe she carried boxes for NewHope and Mattmoose! She was an RA for 2008 and for 2009 will be back doing arrival survival.
We are OOS and came down the day before - we went to look at her dorm and the Russell Fellows told us that we didn't have to wait until the afternoon. You can show up at anytime, so we came in the morning. That left time for a Target run. I can't remember what I was doing but DH must have gone to the PoHS session (or maybe they didn't have one then?).
It's good advice to label EVERYTHING with your child's name and room #. It can get very busy and stuff can get dumped in the hall when the rooms are crowded with families trying to get organized. Bring cold drinks and a snack!

misterbill

So my son is moving in on Thursday for Freshman Fest (Hillel). You only get 2 hours to move in and leave which is not much time to get stuff in and set up (not to mention there won't be as many people helping you unload and my son is on the 3rd floor of his building). With acknowledgement to SopranoDad for the idea (which at first I thought was crazy), I am wondering if it pays to stay until regular move-in day on Saturday (or make another trip, we are 3 hours away) to finish move in and pick up other stuff then (not clear I will be able to fit everything in the car but given an extra day we could shop after it's been emptied). Given that we can stay at the Hilton for cheap on Priceline, it might just pay to stay down there for a couple of nights as SopranoDad is doing. We could always drive over to Rehoboth or elsewhere for a nice dinner on Friday night.

Is anyone else whose child is doing Freshman Fest doing this?