<p>What happens at the Columbia 101 session? Has anyone already been this summer and if so, what was your experience like? Is it important for parents to attend? For us, it’s a 3 hour drive for a 2 hour session so I was thinking of passing and having son go without me. Thanks in advance for your reply!</p>
<p>They separate the parents and students. Students are pretty much lectured a review of the advising booklet sent to students through mail (not sure if your son received it). Of course, students are able to ask questions and stuff.
Parents, from what my mom told me, are lectured about the school and given the opportunity to hear the experiences of parents of current students.</p>
<p>Honestly, I went for my free copy of the Iliad. Ha! Of course, meeting my future classmates was a plus!</p>
<p>Hope this helps and that I didn’t confuse you.</p>
<p>Thank you, overachiever. I ended up going with my son and I really enjoyed it! I am so glad that I went even though the ride was awful and ended up being more than 4 hours with traffic. They had sandwiches and cookies and we all went into the auditorium. They spoke briefly and then sent the students to different rooms while the parents were told basics about basics about Columbia like grad requirements. If you’ve read the brochures and the emails that have been sent, there really wasn’t any new information but having the alumni, parents and current students speak and answer questions from the new parents was well worth the drive. We even ran into a student that son knew from elementary school so that was nice for them to reconnect. At the end, they had the alumni pass out the summer reading books so that was a nice touch, too.</p>
<p>If you are debating going like I was, just go!</p>