<p>I second the Convocation vote. The entire class, plus families, addressed by the president of Cornell. It’s a nice ceremony. There were some interesting lectures, and various meetings for parents (optional) by college. I think Convocation was Saturday morning, but I could be wrong.</p>
<p>I agree, it doesn’t look like parents <em>have to</em> attend anything. But if they stay over Friday night, there are some things they are invited to attend. Here’s last year’s schedule: <a href=“Tatkon Center for New Students | Student & Campus Life | Cornell University”>Tatkon Center for New Students | Student & Campus Life | Cornell University;
<p>If the kids don’t need you, check zevents,Ithacaevents, the Ithaca Times, Ithaca Journal, Cornell Chronicle, Cornell events calendar, other sources to see what’s going on about town. The only thing I see, this far in advance, is the Hangar Theater is putting on the Rocky Horror Show.</p>
<p>I would recommend booking a parent room within Ithaca or as close as possible if it’s a long drive home. Two nights would be nice – the day before and the day of move in – and then head home. </p>
<p>I have to say, move in freshman year was a wonderful experience. I still have my “Proud to be a Cornell parent” button that they handed out! Cornell is an awesome place and an amazing education. Savor the beginning moments – the four years goes too fast!</p>
<p>^^^That’s what we did. You may also want to make some dinner reservation(s) early. Ithaca has pretty good restaurants, from Asian to steak house.</p>
<p>Ithaca also has good spas. I used to go up there for a girl’s spa weekend.</p>
<p>Parents, my son is going to be freshmen coming fall. Our family is planning to travel from mid June to end of July. Are there going to be things like forms, course selections etc., that needed to be done before we go?</p>
<p>What I was trying to say in post #28 was-- go back some non event weekend if possible, rather than trying to stay and do a lot the weekend you drop them off. I’ve dropped off 3 kids at 3 different schools. The students are scared, yes, but eager to go meet friends and get their rooms in order. Generally, the longer you stay, the harder it is for all. </p>
<p>Two of my kids schools, requested strongly that parents be gone by a certain time on the day of move in. I believe Cornell was the one that didn’t.</p>
<p>@Banker
There is a todolist of things that should be completed before arrival, which can be found [url=<a href=“https://newstudents.cornell.edu/first-year/todolist/]here.[/url”>https://newstudents.cornell.edu/first-year/todolist/]here.[/url</a>] Many of these things can be done online, though there may be a couple that require mailings.</p>
<p>Yeah, my son’s going to be working at an overnight camp all summer with very minimal internet access, so completing all the online summer todo items may be a challenge, but I imagine he’ll figure it out 
I think he ought to change his mailing address temporarily to his camp address though if that’s possible so he’ll get all the appropriate snail mail packets in timely fashion (including the book they’re supposed to read).</p>
<p>@morrismm Cornell seems to <em>encourage</em> parents to stick around through much of Saturday (after moving the kids in on Friday). Parents are encouraged to attend Convocation Saturday morning, and events in each college that afternoon. But I think we’ll mostly have him go off alone to events while we run back to Walmart for whatever we forgot or didn’t know he needed They suggest saying goodbye at dinner <em>Saturday</em> though I am pretty sure we’ll leave before then!</p>
<p>My D2 was at a different school freshman year, so obviously we didn’t experience Cornell’s freshman orientation process.</p>
<p>But leaving that aside- which admittedly is kind of a big set-aside in this context-
I agree with the spirit of morrism’s comments. I remember when I came up there to start my own freshman year, as soon as we got there, there were kids helping us unload and find the room and way around, and then I was meeting them and the other kids in the hall, we were talking. Within the hour I was commencing on a different adventure, one in which my parents were not a part. </p>
<p>It was more or less the same with our two daughters, not at Cornell. Except with them we stuck around for a while to go buy them stuff they evidently needed, for the room or clothing-wise. But beyond that we left, they were already on to their new adventure. Sticking around longer would have felt like taking them to one of their school parties and then staying there yourself.</p>
<p>I imagine it depends on how independent your kids are, and whether they would want or appreciate you staying around.</p>
<p>But for a number of them, I think they would rather be going out to dinner Saturday with a group of their new acquaintances, to begin the effort of establishing what will be their new network, vs. going out to dinner with their parents right then.</p>
<p>But I could be wrong.</p>
<p>I just remembered…after the move-in on Friday, the RAs had some sort of huge meeting for the students in the dorm. After that, the Orientation Leaders gathered their groups up to do dinner and then some funny get-to-know-you activities on the green on North Campus and more hijinks in Collegetown. H and I were off campus at this time. On Saturday, we all went to the Convocation, one more trip to the drugstore and then said goodbye.</p>
<p>There will be events that require your son/daughter’s attendance (without parents). Cornell is very clear about where you are welcome, where you are not, and when you should leave. If you want to leave before that, fine, but do look at the list of activities. We saw a fabulous lecture by a famous professor (it was so crowded he agreed to do a second, shorter version for the people who couldn’t get in the auditorium), which was appropriate for the whole family. Do not be in such a hurry to leave a magnificent university! And just because you’re at Cornell, you don’t have to be on top of your son or daughter.
I’m like a broken record, but there is something to be said for attending Convocation. It’s kind of grand (not the venue, just the numbers), you get a chance to hear the leader of the university, and kids without families in attendance were in the distinct minority. It was kind of like a reward for the long years of hard work (before the next segment begins.)</p>
<p>
No, you’re definitely NOT wrong on that one. I don’t know a single person who would want the opposite, even the shy ones.</p>
<p>We planned to stay for two days. But once we drop of our kid, we planned to explore Cornell and Ithaca on our own. I don’t think other parents want to pull their kids for lunch or dinner either after Friday. And even if they want to go with the kid for dinner, what is the big deal. The students have four years less one evening to make new friends.</p>
<p>
Yes there are four years, but the beginning is the most critical moments in making friends. Freshman year friends are friends for life. It’s a big step, and one that needs to be taken alone.</p>
<p>And parents have an entire life less one evening to have dinner with their kids.</p>
<p>I agree that by Saturday dinner the kid should probably be off on his own adventure. But to some extent we will play it by ear and see what he needs and what he and his new friends are planning.</p>
<p>I would call myself a very independent person, and I’m moving in on my own. Does anyone else do that?</p>
<p>@captrick, I’m sure a lot of people do move in alone, especially anyone who lives too far to drive.</p>
<p>Captrick, previous couple of years, when my son went to summer camps, lots of kids within US and from other countries came alone. We drove to drop off since we are nearby. While coming back he caught a train/flight. So I think plenty of students will move in without parents.</p>