Family Weekend is approaching fast! It’s always exciting to show your family around campus and give them a glimpse of your world, but let’s be real. Your parents are going to have a ton of questions. It’s great and all that they care about what you’re up to, but it can get to be a little much, especially if you don’t have the answers they’re looking for. But don’t worry! We’ve got some of the top questions you’re sure to get and how to answer them with the least amount of work possible. We give you the “Family Weekend Cheat Sheet: How Do I Answer This Basic Question.”
“What have you learned so far?”
Let’s be honest, Family Weekend is just after midterms and our capacity to talk about school work is almost at its limit. So instead, wow your family with the random trivia knowledge you’ve built up from the hours spent procrastinating on Buzzfeed. Take your family to Orange After Dark’s Family Weekend Trivia Night. It’s free and the perfect opportunity to pivot that initial question.
“Why does campus look so different from when we first toured?”
Campus has definitely changed a lot just in this year alone: the Barnes Center at The Arch is officially open, Schine Student Center is under renovation and other non-construction related things. And if you’re like any other college student, you’ve probably barely skimmed your emails with the updates about it all and aren’t as well informed as your parents think you should be. If that’s the case, you might want to consider taking your family to the Update on the Student Experience. You might not know all the answers, but the ESE Leadership team does and is ready to answer all of your family’s questions.
“How do you like your professors?”
Don’t really know your professors well? Don’t panic. The Experience Syracuse University Colleges and Schools events have you covered. All you need to know are your professors’ names and faces. Let the event do the rest of the work for you. You can bring your family to meet your professors and dean and enjoy a few snacks. Pick out one of your professors, introduce your family and voila! You’ve successfully made your family think you go to office hours regularly. (Which you might want to consider going to in the future since your professors are eager to help you succeed.)
“Have you gotten off campus at all?”
No, Marshall Square Mall doesn’t count. Although we highly recommend exploring Syracuse and the Central New York area, we also know that it can be intimidating at first. So if you haven’t taken the Connective Corridor, or you have no idea where Armory Square is, why not step out of your comfort zone while your built in support system is in town?! Check out Family Weekend’s Experience CNY events and bring your family to discover Beak & Skiff Apple Orchards, Green Lakes State Park or the Skä•noñh – Great Law of Peace Center. You and your family can pick up coupons for one of these excursions at the Family Weekend Welcome and Registration Center during check in.
“Have you been taking care of yourself?
We sure hope you have! Everyone deserves to feel good physically and mentally. But if you’re not sure how to talk about, show don’t tell. Consider bringing your family to see the Barnes Center at The Arch. Even if you haven’t taken advantage of all the Barnes Center’s resources, your family will be impressed 100 percent. Check out the Barnes Center Family Social. There’ll be entertainment, refreshments and staff ready to answer all your family’s overly detailed questions! Pro tip: if your family asks where the therapy dogs live, let them know the dogs’ owners bring them to visit.
“Where do I park?”
Be prepared. They’re going to ask this question over and over. First, let them know parking is free for the weekend. Keep reminding them of this. On Friday, tell them to park at Skytop on South Campus and take the Family Weekend Shuttles that will run from 8:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Again, tell them it’s free. On Saturday and Sunday, tell them they can park in any Orange lot on campus. And yes, that’s free too. This includes most of the Mount, the Women’s Building, the lot across from College Place, the lots on University Ave and the garage on Comstock. You’re smart. You’ll figure it out.
Family Weekend is Friday, Oct. 18 through Sunday, Oct. 20! If your family registered for the weekend, don’t forget to check in at the Goldstein Alumni Faculty Center. They’ll be able to ask even more questions that you can have Family Weekend volunteers answer for you. If your family isn’t registered but still coming, it’s a good idea to register as a walk-in on Friday or Saturday. That way they can ask their questions, too.