Delaware Discovery Day July 2011

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Delaware
1

<p>Just returned from a visit to UD for their Discovery Day program.</p>

<p>Impressions of campus: overall beautiful campus, brick buildings with white columns, lots of grassy areas and mature shade trees; no hills. :)</p>

<p>Impressions of town:historic Main St runs right through campus- nice variety of places to eat-everything from pizza and fast food to sidewalk cafes, sports bars, and sushi. :)</p>

<p>Discovery Day Program itself: could have been better organized- too much walking from place to place and wasted time; Check in location at Gore Hall 8:30-9:15 was 10 minute walk from the parking garage behind performing arts center; from Gore Hall we had to walk another 10 minutes to a separate location for the information session 9:15-10:00 (consisted of short film about UD and an informative presentation by director of admissions); after that, you had to choose one of three different locations to attend an information fair- we chose the science, math and engineering one which was another 10 minute walk. :(</p>

<p>The information fair consisted of bunch of tables set up in a gym- not too interesting (nothing you couldn't find out from the website), very crowded and so we left quickly. At this point it was 10:30 and no campus tours would be offered for another hour. So we walked up and down Main St and had a snack before walking back to Gore Hall to meet the tour (again more walking). By this time, we were pretty tired out and hadn't even had the tour yet! :(</p>

<p>There was a large number of folks waiting for the tour and only 4 tour guides! This didn't seem like very good planning. Our group was one of the smaller groups- and we still had 35 people in our group vs. 1 tour guide. Unfortunately, the tour did not include: residence hall, dining hall, sports facilities, or student center. We just basically walked around the green and saw the outside of buildings. :(</p>

<p>We broke away from the walking tour after about a half hour in order to see the residence halls (two were open). To get to the residence halls, we had to go on another long walk- about 15 minutes- by this time we were pretty hot and tired, and the residence hall was not air conditioned :( took a quick peek- it turned out these were honors housing dorms(Russell) and so the room wasn't really indicative of most freshman rooms :(</p>

<p>After seeing the dorm room, we stopped by the bookstore and took a peek into the student union (which was closed). Outside the bookstore they were giving away free water bottles (thank god!) and selling UD Creamery ice cream (yum). :)</p>

<p>All of us (parents and teens) had a really positive impression of the campus, but we felt like going on this summer tour did not really show us enough- fortunately we live only an hour away so we'll plan to go back in the fall when the dining halls and the student union will be open, and there will be more activity on campus. :)</p>

<p>Overall, glad that we visited, but a bit disappointed in the program-I would advise others to wait until fall to visit if at all possible.</p>

2

<p>We never visited during discovery days for exactly that reason. We did a smaller tour after my daughter was admitted when school was in session. I still feel that was the right decision.</p>

<p>I’d like to mention to you, though, with regard to the dorms, that as far as freshman dorms are concerned, Russell is not the best by any means, so if you were thinking that non-honors dorms would be less nice than that, you are mistaken.</p>

3

<p>I personally went to discovery day last July. Same amount of walking, only in the pouring rain :slight_smile: I live about nine hours away from campus so it’s a little more of a process for me to visit and this has been my only visit. </p>

<p>Even drenched, with all of the walking, I knew Delaware was the place for me. My mom and I are actually leaving monday for my NSO date on tuesday. </p>

<p>I think Discovery Day is what you make of it. It was really amazing to meet the dean of my program that I would be applying to and actually take the chance to speak to the Director of Admissions himself.</p>

4

<p>Wow, this doesn’t sound like either of the two visits we had. What I remember most was the huge numbers of extremely helpful, smiling UDel kids in blue and yellow tee shirts posted all over the campus. I assumed they were compensated guides, but still couldn’t imagine how they got them to keep those smiles all day. And we got free ice cream on all our visits.</p>

<p>I wonder whether there were NSO (new student orientation) days also going on the day you came which might have made the visit less than it could have been. When my D had her NSO two weeks ago there were also a few tours going on and I remember thinking that those students had come on a day when the University’s real focus was on incoming freshman. Perhaps UDel tried to do a bit too much at one time.</p>

5

<p>yes i do think it is a case of trying to do too much–and I think the program would have gone much smoother had the check in, information sessions, and start of tour all been at the same location.</p>

<p>also- instead of having so many students posted around the campus, they could have had more serving as tour guides- so the groups could have been smaller :)</p>

<p>don’t mean to say that we weren’t impressed by UD itself, just not this particular visit program.</p>

6

<p>I think I know what you mean, pamom. UDel’s tour and discovery day was less managed and effusive than other schools’ we attended. There was certainly less handholding at both than at other schools. At both discovery day and orientation we were given schedules but also options of what to attend or see, instead of being neatly led along all day. (We did a lot of walking each time too). Perhaps there is a deliberate or at least conscious decison at UDel to underplay those aspects of tours and orientation or present a more realistic view of what going to college is like and letting students learn about school and life on their own.</p>

<p>Before going to orientation, my D was a bit let down by the fact that NSO was only one day when friends going elsewhere and her siblings before her at other schools had orientation of 2 or more days. But when NSO was over she wondered what other schools even did at a second day. Likewise, when school starts there is essentially only a weekend before classes for students not attending something like Freshman Fest. At NSO parents were given a session about letting go. </p>

<p>Maybe it’s a way to foster independence or attract those who can can accept it early on. Or perhaps its a belief that students who are interested in the school, while enthusiastic, are not expecting the same type of environment as those who will go to a place like UMd or Penn State.</p>

<p>Withal, we both still felt welcomed and enthusiastic about what was ahead for her. Cetainly all the students we saw all day whether tour guides, students posted on corners to give direction or those actually going to class, all seemed happy to be going there. When she left, so was she.</p>

7

<p>Yes- I’d say the program was definitely less “rah rah” than Penn State’s or Pitt’s - both of which I have attended (though UMD’s visitor program was not inspiring IMO). Despite the logistical problems with the Discovery Day program, I thought UD did a good job of communicating what makes the school different from others, and what it has to offer. Both my D and her BF were really impressed with the school, and plan to go back in the fall so they can see it when the students are there and everything is open.</p>

<p>Can’t wait to hear how things go for your D in her freshman year!</p>