<p>In mid July you will get the Calendar for the Opening Days so you can plan on what you want to take part in. Typically, after Friday move-in, the parents usually leave by Saturday afternoon. See schedule from last year to get an idea of the events. You definitely want to stay for the freshman assembly.</p>
If it’s like last year, the assembly will be Saturday morning, not Friday move-in day. Also, if you plan to watch from Woolsey, dress light as it will be warm in there and it is not air conditioned.</p>
<p>^^Let’s hope this year’s freshman assembly doesn’t start like last year’s: with a detailed description of the hurricane preparedness plans that were being put in place!!</p>
C’mon, that’s what made it so fun. Of course, driving back through heavy rain was no picnic. At least we were heading NW and away from the storms. :o</p>
<p>Another 2016 parent here. Just want to say first how grateful I am for the helpfulness of the people on this thread. We are excited for our son who just committed to Yale last week, but also a bit overwhelmed. It is great to have a place to ask what sometimes feel like dumb questions. ; )</p>
<p>He is interested in the PSE course. Can anyone explain about the summer research component? Do students live on campus? Does it last the entire summer break, or does this vary by research project? And how does doing summer research affect financial aid, as our son will be expected to contribute several thousand dollars from his summer earnings?</p>
<p>No problem. The events we found worthwhile were the Master’s open house on Friday and the Freshman Assembly on Saturday. If I had to do it again I would skip the President’s Reception on Saturday. We stood in a big line to shake hands with President Levin and Dean Miller and then were ushered out like cattle. It was a total waste of time. There is a complimentary lunch in the dining hall Saturday afternoon if you want to check out the dining hall and you can head down to the basement afterwards to check out the theater, exercise room, and other rooms.</p>
<p>I was remembering the assembly as being on move-in day, but I’m probably misremembering. I think it’s worth staying overnight for, especially if one of the parents is an alum. One tip: get to Woolsey Hall as early as you can, and I recommend going up to the balcony rather than sitting on the first floor behind the students.
Another tip: get your hotel room NOW. It may already be too late to get something decent in New Haven.</p>
<p>QUICK QUESTION!
Where are the nearest dorm room outfitters (BB&B, Walmart, Target, etc.)?
Am used to using such to supply dorm rooms at drop-off!
Once we are gone, the car and ability to get there from Yale may disappear, as these may be quite a distance away??
Thanks</p>
<p>Bookmobile: Re PSE. Not silly questions at all! There is precious little information out there about PSE. My daughter’s a freshman just finishing up her year of PSE. She will be doing research in New Haven this summer. Here’s what I know. The course itself and the (possible) research component are rather separate. All year (as you probably know) they read and discuss a variety of research papers in all sorts of disciplines. If they are interested in doing summer research, they should really start reaching out to professors in the late fall or just after winter break (my daughter waited a bit too long, IMHO, but it worked out ok in the end). As far as I could discern, the PSE class didn’t give them that much mentoring on how to go about this; she just started emailing professors who were doing things she was interested in. She got a lot of “sorry I’m full” and “no answers” before finding her mentor, but she’s found a great one in the end. My husband and I (both scientists) helped her look at the department websites to find topics that might interest her, but it can be tough for a young, shy, freshman. The main advantage PSE students have is that they get a “free” $4000 stipend for the summer research, which makes them quite attractive to their potential mentors. The research isn’t necessarily in New Haven; for example I believe some kids go to CERN if that’s where their mentor spends the summer. As far as living, they need to find their own off-campus housing (my daughter’s still straightening this out ! but apparently there are lots of sublets available for the summer). As far as length, my daughter said that the $4000 simply requires 10 weeks of work, so there’s still time for family vacations etc. I think as long as your mentor is ok with it you can break up the 10 weeks as you like. We aren’t on FA so I can’t address that one for you. But good luck!</p>
<p>For 2016 parents–
Move-in for the class of 2016 will surely be quieter than the hurricane and schedule changes etc…of the 2015 group
We left a day early. Our K1’s roommate–the parents left early am of Saturday and missed the convocation–as they had to take 4 flights to get home…
Move in went smoothly. Hotter than expected. Rooms are small so plan accordingly. OM me if you have a specific question. </p>
<p>We did the Master’s tea…though it was so hot and crowded, we didn’t stay–though the spread was lovely. K1 was busy doing things on campus, going to the post office, and had a team mtg…so k1 didn’t stay for the Masters tea
We were up early at at Woolsey to get a decent seat. It is a very moving and special service. This is one thing you don’t want to miss.
Had lunch at the res hall and then scooted out to the airport before it shut down from the storms…
As it turned out…k1 had a mtg with frocos–They really do have the kids all booked right away so there is no real big time to do the goodbyes–So be sure to do that the night before the move-in if you want a meal with the family etc and some special time. Our goodbye was over and done as k1 headed to SSS for a mtg before we realized it.</p>
<p>^^lol, we were the parents that never left! Our flight out of JFK to Europe(for our empty nester/anniversary celebration) got cancelled (remember how they preemptively closed JFK on Saturday morning because of Irene? and then it didn’t amount to anything?!) Well, once you cancel an entire trans-atlantic flight it’s not that easy getting another one booked because, of course, all the subsequent flights are booked! So we had to stay in New Haven until Monday, and BELIEVE ME, our son was like, “ummmm, when are you guys leaving…?” It was pretty hilarious, we definitely overstayed our welcome!</p>
<p>Performersmom - there are Walmarts all over, but in Orange (less than 10 minutes on 95, exit 42) there are a Target and Walmart a few blocks from each other. Bed Bath and Beyond is in Milford (another 5 or 10 minutes from the Orange stores, off exit 39), or in Hamden - the latter is closer to New Haven but in the opposite direction from Orange target and Walmart. If you don’t need aTarget, there is also a Walmart elsewhere in New Haven.</p>
<p>Yeah, most practical stores can’t be walked to. Ikea is the exception, but is not in the most pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, and a good hike if you’re carrying things.</p>
<p>DS just decided to attend Yale last night. My daughter graduated in 08 so Yale is familiar. Did all of your kids do FOOT or some other program? Did anyone’s kid do the farm trip?</p>
<p>Congrats on the decision mimk6. I know he made the right one :). DS did FOOT which was his kind of thing after other hiking trips. DD will probably to the farm thing which other friends have liked.</p>
Also, if you plan to watch from Woolsey, dress light as it will be warm in there and it is not air conditioned.</p>