<p>During FPW I would recommend that you eat breakfast at least once in Annenberg (breakfast is the cheapest meal) - after freshman year it will be off limits and it is really neat. We enjoyed going to the football game - didn’t stay for the entire game but long enough to appreciate the stadium and visit with some of the other parents. Once your child gets involved in a campus activity next fall, there will probably be a “must see” event that involves that activity. My S was on the novice crew team and we spent some time on the bridge so we could see him pass by - we don’t have crew and it was a treat. We are easily entertained! As someone has already pointed out, your child will be tied up with class work and more than likely will not be available to do any thing with you until Friday night and Saturday. As I stated earlier, we are easily entertained so just being in Harvard Yard was a big deal to us - we were more than willing to oblige every tourist that wanted their picture snapped in front of the John Harvard statue!</p>
<p>for those experienced parents, we decided to fly in to help our son get sorted.
moving day will be monday and we hope that he will be participating in FOP.
I read that they want the students to sleep in their perspective dorms- can he stay with us instead? Also , will there be any events for the parents on moving weekend- the saturday, sunday before? I thought i read somewhere there was something- if not, I assume we should be arriving Sunday. Lastly, i was hoping to leave tuesday to have one last time to visit- is this unrealistic?
thanks for all your help - does anyone have an idea of how many committed Harvard freshman we have her on CC?</p>
<p>@murphy12: If memory serves correctly, parents are supposed to say their goodbyes on move-in day around 5pm, as there are freshman-only events and orientation meetings that students need to attend. Not to be disrespectful, but it’s time to cut-the-cord. It’s better if your son DID NOT stay with you on move-in night, and instead stayed for the activities, which often go until 10:00Pm-11:00pm, and give him a chance to bond with the rest of his roommates. The same can be said for Tuesday, the day after move-in day.</p>
<p>@Murphy, I ditto what Gibby said. It was tough to cut the curd but all my son wanted to do was join his new found ‘family’ and participate in the freshman programs. He moved in on Wednesday and I had booked to leave the following Tuesday, by Saturday he told me “Mom, it would have been nice if you left on Friday.” Ouch! I am planning to arrive early with my daughter maybe, a week, and leave 1 or latest 2 days after move in. My daughter is doing the Fall clean up for 2 days so needs to arrive early. We will use the early arrival to look around Cambridge.</p>
<p>One of the best things we did FPW was have dinner with the families of S’s three suitemates. I think one of the parents suggested it and one of the kids made reservations at an Indian place in Harvard Square. We had a wonderful time, all seated together at a long table, talking and sharing food. The kids lived together all four years and we had one final meal together last thing commencement weekend.</p>
<p>murphy12 - The big event for both students and parents to attend on move-in day is the convocation ceremony - the official and formal opening of the new school year by the president.</p>
<p>I agree that you should say your good-byes in the early evening of move-in day, and your student should sleep in his room that first night. You can arrange a short visit for the next day or later in the week to drop off final supplies you subsequently bought, and maybe eat a last lunch together, but the big break should happen that first day.</p>
<p>A question about photos that need to be submitted by May 31. I know that the ID photo should be a passport style picture (S’s is not very flattering), but what type of photo is typically used for the freshman register? Should it be a head shot along the lines of a high school graduation photo, or something more informal?</p>
<p>^^^^ Definitely needs to be a head shot. I think informal is best - otherwise they may be unrecognizable! LOL</p>
<p>^^Many (but not all) students use their high school senior picture.</p>
<p>^^^^ I guess I should have clarified that they should use an informal pose from their senior portraits - that is what my son submitted.</p>
<p>FWIW: Waiver applications for Harvard’s Student Health Insurance (NOT the Student Health Fee) are currently being taken: [Waiver</a> Eligibility & Application | Harvard University Student Health Program](<a href=“http://hushp.harvard.edu/waiver-eligibility-application]Waiver”>Waiver Eligibility & Application Process – Harvard University Student Health Program)</p>
<p>There are also plenty of formal senior photos used in the Freshmen Register: sweater and necklace for girls; suit and tie for boys. The only one I remember as being a bit strange (and mysterious) was a girl in huge sunglasse with wind-blown hair covering the face.</p>
<p>Coureur, I believe this year’s Freshman Convocation is on Labor Day, a week after move-in, making it very hard for parents to attend. :(</p>
<p>Last year’s Freshman Convocation was not during move-in either. Maybe Courer is speaking of something else because move-in day is busy as is.</p>
<p>This past year we arrived early on Saturday, rented a car, picked up a bunch of stuff for the room, had a couple of nice dinners, moved everything in on Monday, got a hug and kiss goodbye about 4 hours later. It was great. Someone told us to stay till Tuesday in case there was anything else needed, but I don’t think that’s necessary at all. Getting in a bit early was a really nice time for all of us and I’d recommend that, but you know they are so excited to start this new adventure and once you get them reasonably settled in their room it seems almost cruel to hold them back any longer. We walked away from the dorm with tears in our eyes and immediately went to Border Cafe to drown our sorrows in margheritas.</p>
<p>New parent have questions: If we have HMO insurance through the parents, do we still need to purchase Harvard student insurance plan? Any suggestion for the cheap hotel and close T or bus stop for moving day or freshman parents weekend?
many thanks and will have more questions.</p>
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<p>It looks like it’s more a case of my experience getting to be outdated. Apparently convocation as it currently exists wasn’t established until 2009:</p>
<p>[Class</a> of 2013 experiences first convocation | Harvard Gazette](<a href=“http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2009/09/class-of-2013-experiences-first-convocation/]Class”>Class of 2013 experiences first convocation — Harvard Gazette)</p>
<p>Our Move-in was a few years before this, and the formal school year opening ceremonies were definitely held the same weekend as the moving in.</p>
<p>Convocation for Class of 2016 didn’t occur until more than a week after move-in so we did not get to see that!</p>
<p>@likeCC - as far a health coverage, there is a waiver checklist on this link to see if your insurance is sufficient: [Waiver</a> Eligibility & Application | Harvard University Student Health Program](<a href=“http://hushp.harvard.edu/waiver-eligibility-application]Waiver”>Waiver Eligibility & Application Process – Harvard University Student Health Program)</p>
<p>@likeCC: I’m not sure about HMO’s. Your health plan MUST provide comprehensive health coverage to your student in Massachusetts, including preventive and primary care, emergency services, surgical services, hospitalization benefits, ambulatory patient services, mental health services and prescription benefits. We, for example, live in New York State and are covered under Empire BlueCross/Blue Shield with an Expresscripts prescription plan that covers our student while they are away at college in a different State. So, we waive Harvard’s Health Insurance, as it is duplicative and becomes a secondary plan that we would never use. You need to check with your HMO to see if they provide the same level of care for your student in Massachusetts as they do in your home state.</p>
<p>Thank you student4ever:) and gibby. Will call insurance company tomorrow. If not covered, will change plan for coming year.</p>