<p>Any advice from experienced Cornell parents to new Cornell parents?</p>
<p>On major event dates the local hotels get booked up. Book as soon as you can for move-in day,if you’re staying, and especially- believe it or not- commencement.[Asssuming you want a hotel room for commencement.There are other options, eg house rental that require less lead time, and they also rent rooms in the dorms].</p>
<p>The place is beautiful, especially in the Fall but also in the summer. don’t know that it trumps Vermont, you may have pretty much the same deal going on there. But for others,you might consider spending a weekend there yourselves.</p>
<p>Can’t think of much else now. Basically you dump them off, they’re gone in like a nanosecond, then you go home and cross your fingers.</p>
<p>
Noticed that already for Cornell Days!</p>
<p>We have gorgeous fall foliage in VT too, but we don’t have the nice gorges and waterfalls near home, so we will have to make a point of enjoying the area at some point as well. </p>
<p>Any suggestions on important things to bring (and not bring) for freshman dorm living?</p>
<p>btw, what’s the schedule for move-in day? With a 4-hour drive, I think we’ll want to spend a night anyhow, but would be good to know how that day “works”.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/960094-everything-i-need-bring-dorm.html?[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/960094-everything-i-need-bring-dorm.html?</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/693566-dorm-items.html?[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/693566-dorm-items.html?</a></p>
<p>And on a different thread someone recommended a heated blanket/comforter, there may be a few days before they turn the heat on in the dorms that is really cold.</p>
<p>Thanks monydad. How about banking. I did find this thread:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/934896-bank-cornell.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/934896-bank-cornell.html</a></p>
<p>but wondering if you have any additional advice. We use TD Bank right now so it looks like he will have to change banks. Something national would probably make sense so he’ll have easy access wherever he may end up on internships or co-op.</p>
<p>I don’t have any additional advice about banking. D2 uses M&T, based on her personal convenience. She figured that out for herself, and established the account, once she was there. She did not come as a freshman, and never lived on North campus where the freshmen are housed these days.</p>
<p>Most hotel rooms will require you to stay for 3 nights on Cornell moving in day. I believe the move in day is Fri, so you would get in Thu night. They have stuff going on for parents on Sat, you take your kid out Sat night for dinner and that would be it. If it’s in your budget, try to book the Statler hotel. </p>
<p>As a nervous first time parent with a kid in college, we did hook up her land line 4 years ago. After Sep 11, we always had a fear of not able to reach our kid if there was an emergency. The land line did come in handy because AT&T had bad reception at North Campus few years back. I don’t know what it is like now.</p>
<p>There is no need to sign up for the full meal plan. Our kid used the red bucks more because of her schedule. Rain boots and water proof coats are a must. It rains and snows in Ithaca a lot (it snows side ways). The campus is big, so it is necessary to walk a long distance from one class to another. When your kid is scheduling his class, make sure there is enough time to get from one to another.</p>
<p>D1 never switched to a local bank. She didn’t need to take out cash that much, she used her debit card to pay for a lot of things. As a premier customer at our bank, she wasn’t charged for any transaction fees. If your kid should open an account at a local bank, you could easily transfer money to him/her via PayPal without any fees.</p>
<p>If your kid needs a refridge, rent one, no need to buy. Most kids live off campus after first year, and there is a refridge at apartments. No need for a microwave or TV.</p>
<p>Agree with everything noted above. I also recommend the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Ithaca if Statler is not an option. It’s new and nice, and it’s on a bus route that runs to campus. We just stayed there for Cornell Days.</p>
<p>There are many activities for students and parents on the Friday and Saturday of move-in weekend. You will be assigned a time slot for moving in, and probably won’t get it too far in advance. (At least that was true a few years ago). Since your slot might be at 9 AM, it makes sense to get there Thursday night. There are lectures (try to arrive early to see Jim Maas if he is speaking about sleep–super entertaining and very worthwhile) and meetings for parents (optional–may or may not be of interest), a big activities fair in Barton Hall, and on Saturday morning (?) is Convocation, also in Barton Hall. President Skorton will officially welcome the sesquicentennial class of 2015.</p>
<p>We did use the car for shopping on Saturday for anything we had forgotten. Just be aware that the aisles of Target will look as though they’ve been pillaged and inventory will be spotty.</p>
<p>You should book rooms for First Year Family Weekend (around Oct. 28 this year) also. There will be a minimum stay (a recurring theme). You can try to book Commencement, but we were unable to do so a month or so ago–the places we called said they do it by lottery one year in advance.</p>
<p>One thing our son wanted was a lamp with incandescent bulbs. That flourescent light in the dorms makes everyone look ill by the time Nov. rolls around. Be sure to bring a couple of power strips and plastic bins that slide under the bed.</p>
<p>I stayed at Statler during one of their giveaway weekends - after Thanksgiving. I was not impressed for the amount they normally charge for the room.
D has kept her TD Bank account for the past 2 years. No problem there.
A fan was a good idea especially in that August heat. D also brought a floor lamp - excellent idea.</p>
<p>Woody, are there TD ATMs available on campus, or ATMs she can use without a fee? It would definitley be easiest if he can keep his TD accounts. </p>
<p>Thanks redshoes and oldfort for all the great advice! For move-in weekend, is there anything for younger siblings to do? Would it be appropriate to take them to parent sessions? Or should we try to pawn them off on the grandparents and just go with our Cornellian?</p>
<p>Statler is waaaay out of our price range. We stayed in the Super 8 for Cornell Days 
It woudln’t be suitable for the whole family, but for just me and the boy, it was perfectly adequate. I wonder if one could get around the minimum stays by trying priceline, or if they’d just have no priceline inventory at all for those weekends.</p>
<p>monydad, do you have a link for house rental info in Ithaca? That may be a better deal for us than hotels anytime we travel with the whole family.</p>
<p>Thanks again and hopefully other new parents are reading and learning from you experienced parents as well!</p>
<p>Our family of 4 (then minus one on the way back) went up together on the move in weekend. Because of our late booking, we stayed at a bed and breakfast nearby.
[Lodging</a> Search Results | Visit Ithaca](<a href=“http://www.visitithaca.com/lodging/results?resultsListTop=Search+%26gt%3B%26gt%3B&browseAllButton=Browse+All+lodging&tripPlannerSearch=1&tripPlannerCategory=lodging&radius=5&category0=Bed%2B%2526%2BBreakfasts%2B%252FInns&availabilityArrivalDate=&availabilityNumberOfNights=1&resultsMap=Show+Map]Lodging”>http://www.visitithaca.com/lodging/results?resultsListTop=Search+%26gt%3B%26gt%3B&browseAllButton=Browse+All+lodging&tripPlannerSearch=1&tripPlannerCategory=lodging&radius=5&category0=Bed%2B%2526%2BBreakfasts%2B%252FInns&availabilityArrivalDate=&availabilityNumberOfNights=1&resultsMap=Show+Map)</p>
<p>The younger sister wanted to know where her older sister will be living, what the room looked like, so she wasn´t about to be left behind.</p>
<p>Moving in at Cornell is actually quite organized. There are volunteers to help you move. At the appointed time, you pull your car up to the loading dock, and volunteers would come and move everything up to the student´s room.</p>
<p>Advice for packing - if you are driving, use garbage bags for packing, instead of garment bags or suitcases. They are light and disposable. The important thing to remember is to label everything - name, room number, and cell phone. You don´t need to bring everything with you. There are a lot of stores in Ithaca where your kid could buy anything he/she should need.</p>
<p>Clothes - obviously warm clothing, but they could usually bring that after the midterm or Thanksgiving break. They should have dressy clothes - suits for guys, dress shoes, different occassion dresses and shoes for girls. If girls want to join a sorority, bring some nicer clothes and accessories (bags and shoes, jewelry) for parties. In looking at D1´s pictures and clothes we buy for her, girls tend to get dressed up when they go out.</p>
<p>Outerwears - a lot of kids like North Face, especially dark color ones. The problem is they all look the same, and when leaving it at a party, it gets lost. D1 lost a nice long down coat at one of those parties.</p>
<p>No, there are no TD banks at Cornell but TD reimburses you for all fees asssociated with non-TD banks. If you don’t have that, just ask for it!
How much younger are the younger sibs? If they’re in HS, I’d bring them along. If they’re little ones, I’d say sign up the grandparents. It’s a busy time and the unpacking thing with the cars…well, it would be too much for me!
Ask the kiddies!</p>
<p>Sibs will be rising 10th and 5th graders (both boys). The older one is probably interested in checking out Cornell, and the younger one will probably want to see where his big brother will be staying, so I’m guessing we’ll end up bringing them. </p>
<p>We live in Vermont (and S skis) so he already owns suitable outerwear and knows how to dress for the weather so that part is easy for us </p>
<p>What would a young man use a suit for? Mine is still growing, so I’m hesitant to buy him one at this time unless he really needs it. Are there going to be occasions where dress pants, shirt and tie will not be sufficient during freshman year? (Maybe interviews for internships?) We did see a handful of kids in what looked like interview clothes on campus when we visited last week, but I assumed they were maybe interviewing for co-ops or full-time employment. (fwiw, I doubt he will be interested in fraternities, but who knows. But he’s not really a party kid. He’d rather hang out with a few friends and play D&D or video games or watch a movie or use the climbing wall or stuff like that.)</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Yes, I would say bring the sibs. Our younger one really wanted to see where his brother would be living. He also played video games with some of DS1’s hallmates. He was 13 at the time, and said he never knew you could bring video games to college! It became a much more attractive proposition for him! There were also plenty of other siblings in attendance. If worse comes to worst, they can play frisbee on the grassy area near the dorms.</p>
<p>My older son was not in a fraternity and never needed a suit til senior year. He did have dress shirts, ties and a blazer in case he needed to look semi respectable (not often.)</p>
<p>Also, I have heard good things about a B&B called something like The Inn on Columbia. Have not stayed there myself, but I believe they have a variety of different room combinations so it might work well for a family. The owners are said to be lovely. If you can’t find it, I’ll search my pile of “important Cornell documents.”</p>
<p>D was not at all interested in the Greek system when she arrived on campus - now absolutely loves her sisters. On the other hand, she has a lot of non-greek friends as well. She was on the ski team first year - too much of a time commitment this year and just went skiing with friends every now and then.
Her boyfriend is in a frat - all the pictures I see of parties, formals, etc., he and most other guys are in navy blazers and khakis.
“He’d rather hang out with a few friends and play D&D or video games or watch a movie” - That’s how d describes a few frats for what it’s worth…
Those kids you saw around in jackets, etc…D told me the hotelies have to dress like that at least one day a week but I don’t know for sure.</p>
<p>Yes, if he goes Greek, he will need to look nice on occasion. And many, many freshman arrive with no interest in Greek life and then learn it’s not like Legally Blonde or even Animal House and they change their minds. And the fraternities do reflect the university, so there is a range of mindsets, preferred activities, etc. depending on what fraternity it is. DS2’s eyes got very big when he heard about a fraternity where they hooked up multiple monitors/gaming systems when the latest Halo came out. </p>
<p>The Hotelies have the Dean’s Distinguished Lecture series most Fridays and they have to be in formal business attire for that (they bring in all kinds of industry luminaries to speak) and the students are expected to ask questions and generally act professional. There was no lecture this past Friday though (we were there.) It could also have been MBA students you saw dressed up for interviews.</p>
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<p>Which ones? :)</p>
<p>agree with the need of a lamp–floor lamp is nice as there are no overhead lights in the dorm. And you can also pick up a cheap incandescent desk lamp. D hated the flourescent one. </p>
<p>We flew in to to drop our D off so we had to shop locally. we found most of what we need right there at Target and at Walmart.</p>
<p>Your younger son might find some things he likes–Sapsucker woods–nice trails for birdwatching and the ornithology lab has some neat things to see. On the north side of the library there is a really cool xylaphone that you can throw stones across and listen to the sounds–my engineers really appreciate it and it occupied my son for long periods of time. There are places to go gorge jumping and activities on the lake. There is a farmers market on Saturday mornings too. There is a tour of the bell tower where you can watch the lady play the chimes. And of course there is the dairy barn–Its in a new spot I think, but the Cornell dairy barn ice cream is wonderful.</p>
<p>The kids have some orientation meetings that weekend to attend so you will have some time without your freshman. there are lots of things for parents and familiy on campus though.</p>