Excellence at Brown: For the scholarly scholars or the bottom of the barrel?

<p>I applied to this pre-orientation seminar really not knowing anything about it.</p>

<p>I was accepted, but am not sure whether to take this as a compliment or insult since I am a very good writer and won awards etc for papers written. I read online that the program gives priority to underprivileged students whose high schools lacked educational resources etc (which isn’t my situation at all). Is it possible that maybe not enough people applied and that is why I was admitted?</p>

<p>I am just not sure if these seminars are meant to be remedial or not, in short.</p>

<p>Thanks for the help!</p>

<p>I wouldn’t say bottom of the barrel; I was under the impression that it was for students whose schools lacked upper level english courses. I got 5s on both english language and english lit and I feel this might be the reason why I was rejected from EAB - did your school have upper level english courses?</p>

<p>Honestly, I had one friend do it because she loves writing and it’s her passion and another friend who wasn’t a strong writer at all and wanted to improve his writing. It really can go either way.</p>

<p>Whatever your final decision is, I’d highly recommend doing a pre-orientation program: people make great friends at EAB/TWTP/IMP because you’re spending a ton of time with a smaller bunch of people (wait till you get to the ice cream social during general orientation). For instance, I’d count my pre-orientation friends among my closest friends at Brown.</p>

<p>I agree with blueroomjunkie. My roommate last year did EAB, and she was already a pretty decent writer. The program’s much more about getting you to the level that Brown expects, and making new friends - just do it. I wish I’d done a pre-orientation program.</p>