<p>I’m currently debating which of these pre-orientation programs I should sign up for, and then I just sorta realized that you fine folks at CC might offer some great advice - specifically the alums/current students - regarding how I ought to choose.</p>
<p>So, thoughts?</p>
<p>All three have completely separate missions and schedule make-up. Can you be a little bit more specific on what you’re considering when choosing a program?</p>
<p>E@B: Just what exactly is one being taught by attending the program? How proficient (or lack thereof) do they expect participants to be, and how do they (i.e. the program managers) help (pre-)frosh write better?</p>
<p>TWTP: Idk. I was just looking for general advice/thoughts/opinions. I hear that the event isn’t EXCLUSIVE to minorities, but what % makeup would you say minorities are in the program? Breakdown (i.e. the specifics)?</p>
<p>UCAAP: What sort of activities does UCAAP participate in? What’s attendance like?</p>
<p>And for each: Do a certain group/kind of people attend these particular programs? Also, a list of most popular to least would be helpful to put things in perspective.</p>
<p>Excellence: You attend daily intro. lectures with professors in various departments and write a relatively short paper based on a prompt that they give you. It gives you a broad perspective on different topics you can pursue before you pre-register. You definitely don’t have to be proficient in anything. One of the purposes of the program is to get you used to college-style writing and to a college schedule before you actually get thrown into your freshman year. </p>
<p>The meat of the program lies in working with Fellows from the Writing Center - typically graduate students or sometimes trained advanced undergraduates who look over your paper and discuss potential improvements with you for 20-60 minutes. You are assigned to one Fellow for the whole program and develop a much more personal relationship with him/her. You then revise your paper and turn it in for further feedback. The rest of the program is socializing and games with everyone else. </p>
<p>Shameless plug: I attended EaB for my pre-orientation and formed my closest friend groups here. It sounds like a lot of work, but it’s really very chill and pretty awesome. =) </p>
<p>TWTP: Break-up is probably most similar to Brown’s demographics. It’s definitely not filled with any particular minority or racial group; they’re super inclusive. This program is by far the largest and most popular of the three. A lot of people attend the programs and discussions but I knew plenty of people who ignored them and just used TWTP to get to Brown early and hang out with other froshies. Lot of inter-mingling with the EaB kids as the TWTP programs start later in the week as EaB winds down. </p>
<p>UCAAP: Maybe someone else who actually attended this can answer better than I can. I believe this program is the smallest of the three, but also the most tight-knit. The community service aspect of it tends to bring people together in ways that the other programs can’t. Even years later, the former UCAAPers I know still reminisce fondly about their experience and almost all of them became extremely active in social justice and community-based initiatives. I’m very impressed with how passionate these guys are about what they do.</p>
<p>TWTP’s demographics mimic Brown in general now? Wow, that is a major shift within the last decade.</p>
<p>Sorry, disclaimer: ^ personal observations and not official stat. Someone actually from the program would be better qualified to comment.</p>
<p>From my understanding, the fact that you could even think the demographics were similar is major change enough.</p>