<p>Son (rising HS senior) got a letter today inviting him to this. Free and 3 days "designed to give exceptional students the opportunity to see the quality of blah blah blah".... Is it worthwhile? I gather it's an opportunity for UT to sell themselves to prospective students, but I'm worried it will be managed and run like the orientation sessions.....which are horrible.</p>
<p>I got the letter today too and not sure if I should attend. The classes actually do sound interesting though…and it’s free.</p>
<p>S went to this a couple of years ago. He enjoyed it and I enjoyed the parent program. I thought it was well done and kids interested in applying to honors programs got to learn about these. There was also information about clubs, organizations and opportunities on campus. It is really for kids considering applying to UT Austin. If that isn’t on the radar and doesn’t seem appealing there really isn’t much point in going. You are exactly right it is an opportunity for UT to sell their programs but S and I both found it worthwhile, even if S ultimately didn’t go to UT.</p>
<p>UT is definitely not my first choice, but I’m using it as a safety due to the top 8% rule. However, if it offers interesting sessions and opportunities to meet new people, I’m interested in going.</p>
<p>I went last year and would say if your son doesn’t really have a clue at all about UT, then this would definitely be a great chance to be introduced to UT and some of the great programs that a lot of applicants don’t even know about. You get to talk firsthand to the people in the honor program of your choice, which if you’re super-engaging can be quite the advantage to have them remember you.</p>
<p>However, if your son does know UT, knows he’s going to apply anyways, knows the programs, then I wouldn’t really encourage him to go if he doesn’t want to. It was fine for me since I knew a bunch of people there and we could have a great time just hanging, however, this event is going to attract hundreds and hundreds of people so it’s very easy to just get lost in the shuffle and not meet too many people whatsoever. And really, the classes were middling at best, the event leaders just not too interesting or engaging, and just the whole thing really long. </p>
<p>Also, I felt that the people there were, not too sound elitist, not the “smartest” people ever in that some didn’t really see beyond UT than just a cool place they can party come next year. Truthfully, if I wasn’t familiar with UT already before this event, I would be turned off by the school and people who wanted to go there.</p>
<p>Anyways, that’s my opinion and I’m going to UT next fall, so maybe it did work after all. :)</p>
<p>Good info, thanks all. Wakeup, your post hits home because I find quite a few UT events are run poorly (Parents’ Weekend anyone?) and I’d hate for the party-mentality to override the academic message. I suppose it’s just hard to do everything on such a large scale, and do it well.</p>
<p>We know UT already, so will skip this one.</p>
<p>I was curious, how do you even get invited to the program (as in how high does your SAT score have to be)? It seems like they invite a whole bunch of people, even if they’re not smart. WakeUp, what kind of sessions did you sign up for, and how are they? I don’t know anyone else that is willing to go, so will it be really boring if I went?</p>
<p>I think that was sort of the problem was that it was up the schools’ discretion about whom to invite. Mine did it based on being National Merit commended and those other PSAT things while other schools seemed totally random, maybe just top 10% if even that…</p>
<p>I did one on music and how it affects our reaction (okay, but in a cold, dark room so it made a little bit sleepy), one on advertising’s objection of women (once again okay, some interesting points, but the professor wasn’t too engaging, which could be the norm for most, I don’t know) and then one the environment (not at all good, I felt bad for the professor since everyone was falling asleep). I signed up pretty late, so I didn’t have as good of a pick. </p>
<p>I heard some of my friends who went into debates on ethics and morals had a really good time. And I don’t want to deter people away from the event. It just didn’t really do what it set out to do, which was attract me to UT in a new way. I DID get a bunch of info that was semi-helpful on the application process, like about resumes for UT, since it’s totally different from the common app and about Plan II and BHP. </p>
<p>I just felt that as with most UT things, it was unbearably unorganized, a definite con you will come to realize with such a HUGE school (see: graduation). And another negative is you’ll be staying in Jester, which is, let’s say, not the nicest dorm ever and eat the food there. God, I’m sounding terribly elitist, aren’t I? </p>
<p>The point is that the event did introduce me to some things about UT (Gregory Gym, how to get around, people in the programs) that did broaden my perspective on one hand. Yet, realize that this is so early in the application process that people you’ll meet will very likely not be going to UT. So don’t go out of your way to plan to go to the Colloquim.</p>
<p>I think the best way to look into UT is to wait until fall and crash at a friend’s dorm for the weekend and go to the sessions the programs (Plan II, let’s you watch a class) offer. You’ll get one-on-one time with students who are in the programs you are interested in and your friend could hopefully show you around on and OFF campus to what UT really has to offer. Something I was lucky to have with my sister.</p>
<p>Sorry, that was so winded. Hope that helps, Magnesium.</p>
<p>thank you so much for the info. I’ve heard a lot about Jester and its reputation. Too bad I don’t have any close friends going to UT and it will be awkward staying with them. I think I should just sign up first, and revoke it if my schedule doesn’t work. It’s not a big deal because I’ll probably not be at UT anyways, but it also probably wouldn’t hurt to take a look.</p>
<p>It was worth the time. Also, Jester food is not horrifying, it’s fine/decent. :)</p>
<p>There is a silly misconception that the food at Kinsolving is MUCH better than the food at Jester’s J2. </p>
<p>The food for both cafeterias is supplied by the same folks. During the day, you can see a little electric catering truck schlepping the same food to both cafeterias.</p>