Catch Them Young: Younger Siblings at Freshman Orientation

[marite]

<p>College orientation gets family-friendly
Siblings invited to think ahead</p>

<p>By Linda K. Wertheimer, Globe Staff | July 24, 2007</p>

<p>

Maddie Randall , sucking her thumb and blanket, cried amid the array of silver and red balloons and banners in Boston University’s student union.</p>

<p>The pony tailed 7-year-old from suburban Pittsburgh did not want to be parted from her parents and older sister to attend BU’s program for younger siblings of incoming freshmen.</p>

<p>“You’re going to have fun instead of sitting here listening all day,” said her mother, Lynn Randall , who hugged Maddie, then nudged her to join the dozen other children in last week’s all-day sibling program.</p>

<p>A growing number of colleges are making freshman orientation a family affair, adding sibling programs to give parents a break and make a very early recruiting pitch to potential students.</p>

<p>“We know the traditional college-age population is shrinking. The better marketing we do on the front end is going to help at least keep those schools on the radar,” said Craig Mack , BU’s former orientation director, who created the sibling program in 2004.

</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/07/24/college_orientation_gets_family_friendly/[/url]”>http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2007/07/24/college_orientation_gets_family_friendly/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[doubleplay]

<p>What’ll they think of next?
Actually, it’s a pretty good idea. Orientation for us was sooooo long- two full dull days in freezing cold buildings. Anything to make it easier is a good thing.</p>

[LilyMoon]

<p>At my son’s school (UMiami) they didn’t have orientation for his younger sister, but they did have babysitting available and my daughter loved hanging out in the gym with some college students playing games.</p>

[JHS]

<p>It sure worked with my son. He was 16/rising junior when we took his sister to college, and it (a) kicked his interest in college generally into high gear, and (b) made him fall in love with sis’s school specifically.</p>

<p>But it was the opposite of a special program for younger siblings. Everyone assumed that he was there for freshman orientation; girls were chatting him up right and left. They all “got” his semi-obscure t-shirt. One of the Dean’s speeches combined “The Aristocrats” and “March of the Penguins” to satirize college-obsessed families, and it was a set of topics and references that were perfectly pitched for him. He thought he was getting a glimpse of heaven on earth.</p>

[garland]

<p>By the time my S got through his sister’s two orientations (freshman and transfer), it’s a wonder he didn’t think of college as hell on earth. No flirting or funny speeches for him–he was basically a pack animal/gofer who had to stay calm and uncomplaining in the face of She-who-must-not-be-stressed. I think her second school woulda been a great match for him, but the impression at the start was nothing but heavy bags, errands to the soda machine, 90 degree heat, and a lot of sitting around.</p>

[varsity1AC]

<p>I think its better to just let the siblings follow the parents- if theyre old enough, it should give them a chance to see what college is like and what they could get out of it. Sitting in the gym waiting is not a good example of that. And if they’re young, why make them split from their folks? Don’t colleges generally have optional opportuinities for part-time babysitting while parents help kids move into college? Why make this a mandated program?</p>

[paying3tuitions]

<p>LOL, if it’s recruiting they’re thinking of, why don’t the colleges just start visiting the newborn units at upscale hospitals? Pass out cards and size 9Month t-shirts with college logos.</p>