<p>Does anyone know if there is a cost associated with attending one of the pre-orientation programs? Also, how many kids usually attend the pre-orientations? Have people in past years found them worthwhile?</p>
<p>The largest pre-orientation is TWTP (Third World Transition Program). Then there is the one for international students. Other than those 2, few kids do pre-orientation (this is one area where Brown is different than other colleges). </p>
<p>I don’t believe there is a cost involved. My daughter did one a couple years ago (one that doesn’t appear to exist anymore), and had an absolute blast. She definitely thought it was worthwhile.</p>
<p>who is a suitable candidate for pre-orientation? could not tell who it was aimed at? Is it for international students or just anyone? why go early? what are the benefits?</p>
<p>It depends entirely on the program. Please PM me the details of the letter that informed you about these options so I can address it if it’s the program I think it is.</p>
<p>There’s no such thing as a suitable candidate, most of them are open to everybody.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any insights on the “Excellence at Brown” pre-orientation program and if they think it would be worthwhile to attend. Also wondering how the housing/meals would work during the program. </p>
<p>Excellence at Brown
Sunday, August 30-Friday, September 4</p>
<p>Excellence at Brown is an intensive five-day seminar program that orients incoming students to Brown’s academic and campus culture. The program includes five classes taught by distinguished Brown professors from a range of academic disciplines. Short reading assignments serve as the basis for seminar discussions, and students work one-on-one with graduate-student staff at Brown’s Writing Center to review the elements of successful academic writing across the curriculum. Social programming helps students build community and learn about Browns campus. By the time Orientation begins, students feel ready to immerse themselves in Browns rich living and learning environment. For more information, contact the program director at 401 863-1404 or Douglas<em>Brown</em><a href=“mailto:1@brown.edu”>1@brown.edu</a></p>
<p>I believe this is a new program – it didn’t exist (to my knowledge) two years ago, when my daughter was a freshman, and I don’t recall it being around last year either. </p>
<p>I am pretty confident you would be staying in the dorms (most likely in the room assigned to you) and eating in the cafeteria.</p>
<p>That wasn’t offered when I was a freshman this past year, so I believe it’s new as well.</p>
<p>For the other programs, students stayed in their dorm room and ate in the cafeteria, though I’ve been told that they try to pack quite a lot into the programs, meaning not much down time. My roommate described his program as one that allows you to make friends with the people there, though more if one skips an activity or two to actually talk with these people.</p>
<p>I just looked up the Excellence program, and the key phrase is: “Preference will be given to students whose high schools may not have had abundant resources to prepare them for college-level work.” My guess is that this program was developed for kids who went to inner city or small rural high schools – it is not your typical pre-orientation program as it is academically oriented. </p>
<p>I would say that if you feel your high school was not that rigorous, this would be a valuable program.</p>
<p>There is no cost involved with any of the pre-orientation programs. I was interested in Excellence at Brown, so I messaged the man organizing it. I asked him a couple of questions and he answered by sending me a pamphlet of faq’s. You come a week earlier to Brown and you stay in your future dorm. There is no cost, food is given. In order to sign up for it, this man asks you why you are interested. I told him that I wanted to see the resources at Brown and I wanted to improve my writing by attending. Afterwards, he told me that I was in. </p>
<p>One thing though, the pamphlet says that this program tends to fill in fast because of limited space so you have to e-mail him asap.</p>
<p>Pre-orientation = thumbs up. No matter the program, you get to move in early, meet people, and get to know the campus, all before it gets really hectic. But no matter the program, register ASAP! I know a few kids who were turned away because they couldn’t take any more kids without breaking laws. </p>
<p>I can personally vouch for TWTP and say that it’s top notch stuff. Remember–it’s not exclusively a minorities only program. If it catches your interest, don’t let the opportunity (whatever the program) pass you by!</p>
<p>I find it amusing that the pamphlet says the program “tends to fill up fast” since that implies it’s been offered before. This is the first year – how do they know?</p>
<p>Another pre-orientation program is UCAAP ([UCAAP](<a href=“http://swearercenter.brown.edu/whatwedo/ADVISING_UCAAP.html]UCAAP[/url]”>Swearer Center. Brown University.)</a>) and ([University</a> Community Academic Advising Program (UCAAP)](<a href=“Seek Advising and Support | The College | Brown University”>Seek Advising and Support | The College | Brown University)). Unclear whether it is 45 or 50 students, since the two websites give different numbers. </p>
<p>Anyway – I agree with sungchul. Pre-orientation programs are good. I wish Brown had more of them. That’s something for all you new Brunonians to work on.</p>
<p>any idea what date TWTP will start this year?</p>
<p>Jman_: Probably 3 - 4 days before Sunday. So probably around late late August or early early September. You will probably get someone messaging you on Facebook and a pamphlet in the mail in August.</p>
<p>Jman, if you do a search on the Brown website, you’ll get the date.</p>
<p>I didn’t check anything, but last year, it started on the 26th of August.</p>
<p>I guess this link might be useful</p>
<p>[Pre-Orientation</a> Programs and Special Activities for New Students](<a href=“Undergraduate Orientation I Brown University”>Undergraduate Orientation I Brown University)</p>