Do parents attend Admitted Student weekends for grad school?

alh
Mon, 30 Mar 2009 12:33:34 +0000

OP I forgot to say congratulations to your daughter for this accomplishment. She must be an outstanding student with lots going on for her to be invited to all these weekends. Very impressive!

Even if the program is arranging housing, social events, etc… and your daughter understands this and still wants you to go and you have the means and energy I’d say do it… even though it is definitely not the norm… if you feel she needs you. But stay away from the group and make yourself inconspicuous, just available to her if she wants you. I might stay at a different hotel. My reasoning: last term before graduation with everything involved plus grad school decisions can be really stressful for some students and what is the downside to giving support if they ask? I can imagine students not wanting to travel on their own or negotiate a strange city and at 50+ those can be rather overwhelming experiences for me by myself and I have had lots of experience with it. Maybe after the first visit, she won’t think it necessary you accompany her. Thank goodness, my parents were always willing to provide handholding, when requested, even after I had my own children. And I am making travel arrangements right now to go catch up cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping for a grad student child who just successfully completed a major academic hurdle and asked for assistance getting everyday stuff back on track. My other children would find this idea rather horrifying at this point in their lives and I wouldn’t intrude on them. But I don’t mind feeling needed and being of use… at all. And I don’t in any way feel this is being too indulgent. We aren’t talking about slacker offspring here LOL

edit: OP I just read your last post and agree with your approach except I wouldn’t go to any events but just have her report back to me. But that is just one opinion. Do what is right for you and your daughter. Have fun!