Parents on ASD? Forum

[jetlagz28]

Do people typically bring their parents with them to an admitted students day? My parents would like to come (as they will be partially financing LS), would I be better off telling them no? It really doesn't bother me if they come, but I just wanted to see if this is typical. Thanks!

You'll see other people with their parents too. Nothing wrong with it especially if they are supporting you financially.

[Kiersten1985]

If I saw a lot of parents at an ASW, I'd probably note that as a negative for the school. I want to go to law school with other adults. If your parents want to see the school, they can come visit you later on. In my opinion, if you need your parents to help you decide on a law school, you're not ready to attend one.

[Mr. Matlock]

I am, as many would refer, a non-trads non-trad. Hell, at the ASD I went to, I assume most people assumed I was someone's dad. That being said, if you want to bring your parents, why in the hell not? I agree they should "be seen and not heard" though. (Ah HAH! The hunters have become the hunted!) I get a feeling that most of the people who are taken aback by the thought of having a parent with them are probably 23-27 years old and feel "all grown up and mature now". It's nice having a close family. In the end, they're the only ones who really give a shit about you anyway.

And, to quote GS: No one cares!

[mirpanda]

What is immature isn't bringing your parents- it's being embarrassed by having them there. I remember being embarrassed about having my parents around when I was in 7th grade- but who gives a shit about that now? If you want to bring your parents, for whatever reason, bring them and forget about what everyone else thinks. I mean, they are your family and now that you're an adult you shouldn't have to think about looking uncool or whatever.

This, as well as feeling uncomfortable around the parents of others. One of the indicators of said immaturity, imo, is the identifying of parents solely as parental figures and not as fellow adults in general. If one identifies them as solely "the parents" and feels uncomfortable in their presence, it is likely that one does not identify oneself as an adult on the same level but still identifies as "the child".

I probably will not bring my parents when it comes around to it for me next year nor do I believe that they would want to go anyway. However, if they did want to, I wouldn't have a problem with either of them accompanying me, and I really wouldn't give a rat's ass what anyone thought about it.

[JTX]

[strike]No one cares[/strike] jtxcounitah (who is so grown up and mature) cares and thinks you're a HS senior. in your faces!

FTFY

in other news, I'll be bringing my pastor, my neighbor, my wife, my parents, my gammy, my BFF, my drinking buddies, and all the dudes in my fantasy football league. They are all very important fellow adults in my life.

should i send out formal invitations to get a head count?

[Mr. Matlock]

[strike]No one cares[/strike] jtxcounitah (who is so grown up and mature) cares and thinks you're a HS senior. in your faces!

FTFY

in other news, I'll be bringing my pastor, my neighbor, my wife, my parents, my gammy, my BFF, my drinking buddies, and all the dudes in my fantasy football league. They are all very important fellow adults in my life.

should i send out formal invitations to get a head count?

Dude, if I could bring all the dudes from my fantasy football league, I'd be all over it!

[violinst]

Are there people arguing different things here?

i think there is a difference in sharing with your parent(s) your life and needing them/ having them hover into ASD.

This is such a weird thread to me. Having my parents come with me to an orientation day never crossed my mind. Would you want them to come with you to a job interview or to your first big day at work?

But obviously, if your folks are in town, most people would show them around work or campus.

gtfo with this parents thing. if you come to my ASD with your parents, yes, i will be judging you. even if your mom is your bestie.

ASWs are very different from job interviews or one's first day at work. The latter are purely professional events whereas the former is quite the opposite: ASWs are essentially vacation-like. Unless you are a very up-tight person, you shouldn't worry about impressing others during your vacation time. And if I care about how you would judge me during my vacation, I would just be as immature as you are.

If you think that ASWs are just as professional/serious as job interviews/one's first day at work, I really don't have much to add. I just hope that you would be judged by others as a serious, professional, and mature admit!

[violinst]

[strike]No one cares[/strike] jtxcounitah (who is so grown up and mature) cares and thinks you're a HS senior. in your faces!

FTFY

in other news, I'll be bringing my pastor, my neighbor, my wife, my parents, my gammy, my BFF, my drinking buddies, and all the dudes in my fantasy football league. They are all very important fellow adults in my life.

should i send out formal invitations to get a head count?

If
1) they all desperately want to come
2) You will feel very comfortable with them during the ASW
3) the school allows/welcomes it
4) you have the means to pay for their trip (optional but preferred)
5) it will not be too complicated logistically

Why not?

[xyzzzzzzzz]

.

[violinst]

what about bringing an so? bad idea?

Even better. After a school-sponsored bar night, it's always a good time to...

[Mr. Matlock]

what about bringing an so? bad idea?

You risk being judged by jtxcounitah and thereby losing out on a 2L OCI firm offer, but if you're comfortable with that, absolutely bring them.

[notanumber]

what about bringing an so? bad idea?

Unlike bringing your parents (which I'll maintain is a terrible idea), nobody will question your maturity or commitment if you decide to bring a SO.

[violinst]

If I saw a lot of parents at an ASW, I'd probably note that as a negative for the school. I want to go to law school with other adults. If your parents want to see the school, they can come visit you later on. In my opinion, if you need your parents to help you decide on a law school, you're not ready to attend one.

Why later on? Isn't one of the purposes of ASWs to have (qualified) people who are interested in the school visit them? Your assumption that bring one's parents = the need to have parents decide for oneself is wrong.

[violinst]

what about bringing an so? bad idea?

You risk being judged by jtxcounitah and thereby losing out on a 2L OCI firm offer, but if you're comfortable with that, absolutely bring them.

Sounds good until I got to the last word. Now it's fantastic!

[Aeroplane]

What is immature isn't bringing your parents- it's being embarrassed by having them there. I remember being embarrassed about having my parents around when I was in 7th grade- but who gives a shit about that now? If you want to bring your parents, for whatever reason, bring them and forget about what everyone else thinks. I mean, they are your family and now that you're an adult you shouldn't have to think about looking uncool or whatever.

This, as well as feeling uncomfortable around the parents of others. One of the indicators of said immaturity, imo, is the identifying of parents solely as parental figures and not as fellow adults in general. If one identifies them as solely "the parents" and feels uncomfortable in their presence, it is likely that one does not identify oneself as an adult on the same level but still identifies as "the child".

I probably will not bring my parents when it comes around to it for me next year nor do I believe that they would want to go anyway. However, if they did want to, I wouldn't have a problem with either of them accompanying me, and I really wouldn't give a rat's ass what anyone thought about it.

+1 to both. I didn't go to a single ASD myself (caring about touchy-feely stuff like "campus" and "vibe" is SOOOOO childish ), but I would've been happy to bring my parents if I went. I don't see how excluding them (if they wanted to go) would make me more "adult."

[Mr. Matlock]

what about bringing an so? bad idea?

You risk being judged by jtxcounitah and thereby losing out on a 2L OCI firm offer, but if you're comfortable with that, absolutely bring them.

Sounds good until I got to the last word. Now it's fantastic!

I have been tested as suffering from Mormon tendencies.

[JTX]

x

[Jeff Mangum]

What is immature isn't bringing your parents- it's being embarrassed by having them there. I remember being embarrassed about having my parents around when I was in 7th grade- but who gives a shit about that now? If you want to bring your parents, for whatever reason, bring them and forget about what everyone else thinks. I mean, they are your family and now that you're an adult you shouldn't have to think about looking uncool or whatever.

This is a valid point with respect to people who are embarrassed by parental existence in the 7th grade way you describe. But I think that it is also a mark of maturity to consider what is appropriate to the circumstances and to make some concessions to the reality that first impressions matter, fair or not. Part of being an adult is recognizing that even though you may not personally care about what other people think of you, the opinions of others will often have significant practical consequences for you anyway. People who bring parents to the first organized event at a professional school give the appearance (true or not) of having been insulated and protected from the real-world adult consequences of giving a really bad first impression, which makes them seem relatively immature.

[keg411]

I am, as many would refer, a non-trads non-trad. Hell, at the ASD I went to, I assume most people assumed I was someone's dad. That being said, if you want to bring your parents, why in the hell not? I agree they should "be seen and not heard" though. (Ah HAH! The hunters have become the hunted!) I get a feeling that most of the people who are taken aback by the thought of having a parent with them are probably 23-27 years old and feel "all grown up and mature now". It's nice having a close family. In the end, they're the only ones who really give a shit about you anyway.

And, to quote GS: No one cares!

+1

[Pearalegal]

My dad and I going to Austin this weekend to help me look for apartments. No one in my immediate family has ever stepped foot in Texas, so we're looking forward to our father/daughter bonding experience.

He won't be going to my law school tour stuff (I set up stuff independently from ASDs because of work), but I think it'll be fun to have someone to bounce ideas off of about housing who has known me before I was a fully formed Pearalegal.

Plus, hes buying dinner. Woot! Him, and then the other night I have dinner with one of my attorneys who is in Austin for mediation for a case. She's buying. I find nothing immature about this mooching.

[BriaTharen]

They had a ton of parents at LSU's ASD, and I was kind of surprised to see so many of them. I figure that a number of them will probably be financially contributing, which if they are, it is kind of presumptuous to tell them that they can't go.Yet, regardless of the immature/not immature debate that seems to be going on on this thread, some parents can be embarrassing. Case in point- Pearalegal's story about "Money Mom" on the Embarrassing ADS moments thread: http://www.top-law-schools.com/forums/v ... 8&t=113897

If your parents want to attend as an observer that will let you ask the questions, I don't see that being a problem. But if your mom/dad is making up a list of questions they want to ask the financial aid/career services/IT and so on, you may want to rethink them coming.

[NJ914]

I've seen lots of parents at ASDs, and it has nothing to do with being immature or whatever people are on soapboxes about.

However, my 2 cents - almost all of the kids who have brought parents usually end up sitting with them, not talking to others all that much, and it sort of takes away the experience of meeting other prospective classmates and making some friends / shooting the breeze. If you go alone, you'll be forced to talk to other accepted students and get a good feel for the place.

[hubtubrub]

I've seen lots of parents at ASDs, and it has nothing to do with being immature or whatever people are on soapboxes about.

However, my 2 cents - almost all of the kids who have brought parents usually end up sitting with them, not talking to others all that much, and it sort of takes away the experience of meeting other prospective classmates and making some friends / shooting the breeze. If you go alone, you'll be forced to talk to other accepted students and get a good feel for the place.

Yes, but your parent's opinions are important aren't they? At least I value my parents input. Granted, they came to a few ASW's (but they did other things) while I was at all of the events. IT was in the night/after all the activities were done that I would take them around each school and ask for what their opinions were. I don't get what the big deal is if your parents take you to ASW.

[Kiersten1985]

If I saw a lot of parents at an ASW, I'd probably note that as a negative for the school. I want to go to law school with other adults. If your parents want to see the school, they can come visit you later on. In my opinion, if you need your parents to help you decide on a law school, you're not ready to attend one.

Why later on? Isn't one of the purposes of ASWs to have (qualified) people who are interested in the school visit them? Your assumption that bring one's parents = the need to have parents decide for oneself is wrong.

Yeah, that is the purpose. So why the need to bring your parents? I just don't get it.

[NJ914]

I've seen lots of parents at ASDs, and it has nothing to do with being immature or whatever people are on soapboxes about.

However, my 2 cents - almost all of the kids who have brought parents usually end up sitting with them, not talking to others all that much, and it sort of takes away the experience of meeting other prospective classmates and making some friends / shooting the breeze. If you go alone, you'll be forced to talk to other accepted students and get a good feel for the place.

Yes, but your parent's opinions are important aren't they? At least I value my parents input. Granted, they came to a few ASW's (but they did other things) while I was at all of the events. IT was in the night/after all the activities were done that I would take them around each school and ask for what their opinions were. I don't get what the big deal is if your parents take you to ASW.

Oh definitely, their input is very valuable. If it's better for you to bring them along instead of reporting back to them at the end of the day, that's fine. I'm just noting from what I've observed at ASDs, that's all; for the most part, those with parents never talked to anyone else.