going solo to indoc
Let them go, let them go. DS is now a 4/c so this subject is still rather fresh in our minds. We let our DS go with another plebe candidate from Colorado when they began indoc last year. The MMA will arrange all the traveling for you and they do get them there the day before.
The best place to start this process is to get ahold of your state's MMA parents association and find you DD a traveling buddy. Our son found another willing soul, they met up at a hotel in New York, and then the next morning shared a car service to the front gate. I still remember them deciding what is the ideal time to arrive for indoc, you don't want to be the very first and definitely not the last ones there.
There was an issue with the hotel as he did not have a credit card and was at the time barely 18. The hotel needed someone to guarantee the hotel and there were some phone calls back and forth from the hotel, the other boys father, and the MMA, but they were still able to get a wonderful meal that night, a good nights sleep and reported on time.
Let them (see I am assuming she has a buddy) fly in, take a car service (about 40) to Great Neck, and stay at the Inn at Great Neck (about 230) or the Andrew Hotel (about 180). In the morning have them walk to the LIRR Station and catch a taxi for about 8 bucks to the MMA front gate.
Yes we were nervous, but DS definitely wanted to do this huge part of his new life without hovering, emotional, crazed parents dropping their first child off to college. Yes, save the money/airfare/transportation costs for your parents weekend. Again I would recommend one of the above hotels, you will save a fortune in transportation costs. That is a "do not miss weekend".
(Now all of this would have been out the window if we lived near New York and would be driving our DS to indoc. But Colorado is a ways away.)
If you can let her go, do. It will be extremely hard for you and you will be hovering the phone the whole time she is in New York before reporting, but she is telling you something. Do remind her that you absolutely need a final phone call from her before she walks into the gates. We wish your DD the absolute best as she begins her journey at the USMMA.