<p>S got an invitation to be flown in for a diversity weekend this fall. Did anyone else get an invitation or know how they select students for this?</p>
<p>Anyone have an experience with the Wash U diversity weekend?</p>
<p>I didn't attend, but I had friends who hosted students for the weekend. It seems like there are tons of activities planned, and time to just meet others and hang out around washu. In my opinion, its good to take the chance to stay in the dorms, with a current student. Because you're not visiting alone, you get less interaction with current students, and more with the visitors, but it's still a nice way to get a feel for the students and campus life.</p>
<p>My son received an invitation and will be attending. We live in N.Y. We don't know much about Wash U and this is a good way for him to learn about the school without us having to fly there.</p>
<p>Thanks, laurezer for the info! :)</p>
<p>Chammom,
It's nice to hear that your S is going, too. It will be fun for us to compare our Ss' experiences. It also would be cool if they should meet as was the case when S attended a summer program with a student whom I had "met" here on CC.</p>
<p>Do you have any idea how Wash U selected your son for the invitation? Is he likely to be a National Achievement semi finalist (PSAT index score over about 190)?</p>
<p>PSAT 198, Puerto Rican heritage, possibly National Hispanic Scholar? My son is on CC. "sytry72" if your son wants to post a message to him. He did not apply to the program, the invitation just came in the mail. Has your son applied or attended any other diversiy weekends?</p>
<p>S did not apply to or attend any other diversity weekends. I have the feeling that some applications rest unopened in the clutter in his bedroom. </p>
<p>S is in line to be National Achievement semi-finalist (206 index), so it sounds like the PSAT-related minority scholarship programs must be where Wash U gets their mailing lists.</p>
<p>I have a Cuban-American acquaintance whose D goes to Wash U and loves it. The D got some kind of environmental sci mentorship when she was admitted. I don't know the D, so haven't heard first hand about her experiences.</p>
<p>discovery weekend or diversity weekend?
i think i got something about a discovery weekend.</p>
<p>It is called Discovery weekend, but I think that it is a diversity weekend.</p>
<p>Northstarmom,</p>
<p>What state are you in? I wonder if they are inviting students from across the country, or only certain geographic areas.</p>
<p>it's all across the country... there are TONS of students that attend the weekend</p>
<p>Thanks, laurezar.</p>
<p>I'm not attending WashU next year, but I was roaming around some college forums and found this thread.</p>
<p>I attended one of these programs last fall. The weekend I attended, IIRC, had three or four different prospective student events. I thnk there was the Diversity Weekend for URM students, who where flown up to St. Louis for free, the normal Discovery Weekend for students who registered and came to St. Louis on their own and then there were a group of non-URM students who were flown up to St. Louis for the Discovery Weekend. I think there was another group there at the time, but I can't recall what it was. I'm pretty sure that all the students who were flown to WashU for free were selected based on PSAT scores. </p>
<p>Most of the activities were common for all the students - improv comedy and a capella show, information sessions for different programs, campus tours, ice cream social, a big dance/party, essay and FinAid workshops, St. Louis tour, mall trip, bowling night etc. Everyone also gets a chance to interview, but if you want to interview or meet with someone on campus, arrange if ASAP (ie when they send you your information packet) because the interview time slots run out very, very fast. I remember there were a few events that were on the Diversity Weekend students' schedules that were not on those of other students (like me) but I'm not sure what they were. Overall, it was an awesome four day experience. If you or your S's have any questions, feel free to post or PM me.</p>
<p>Thanks, tanman</p>
<p>is anyone here going to the discovery weekend this year? if you are, and you've registered already, have you received a confirmation letter yet? to whoever this may apply to, please respond!</p>
<p>S has gotten ticket, letter, and a tentative schedule of events.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response, Northstarmom. Could you tell me how long ago she registered (just so I can get a sense of when I should receive those materials)?</p>
<p>S registered about 2 weeks ago, and got a phone cqll and e-mail about 5 days later asking about whether the tentative plane schedule would work for him. After he replied, he got a ticket and tentative weekend schedule in the mail a few days later.</p>
<p>It's a huge event, we are preparing for it now...Anyone invited should come. Even if only for the fun. FYI, The buzz around campus is that the admissions office sees this event as a way to get a feel for the incoming applications and how the applicants fit the image envisioned for the class of 2010.</p>
<p>RobertGregory,
I'd appreciate any more info you can give about the diversity weekend and admissions/merit scholarship process at Wash U. Feel free to PM me, too. No info is too trivial. :)</p>
<p>does wash u offer "similar" paid visits to National Merit Semifinalists?</p>