<p>With less than a month to go, I'd love to hear from current/former students who've participated in the PREPARE pre-orientation for internationals. Feel free to respond as specifically as you like. Anecdotes would be great! </p>
<p>Here are a few of my questions:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Do the folks who attend PREPARE tend to stick together beyond the program? (i.e. during the main orientation week, first weeks of classes and so on)</p></li>
<li><p>Where in Ithaca might we be taken shopping and what should we be looking to buy?</p></li>
<li><p>Are there parties (in Collegetown, or otherwise) on those four days?</p></li>
<li><p>How much of the program is informational and how much of it is social/casual?</p></li>
<li><p>Is it awkward spending four nights in almost-empty dorm buildings? </p></li>
</ol>
Yes, one thing though that was somewhat annoying was how people formed small groups based on their nationalities… sure, people feel more comfortable talking to people who come from the same background, but they need to reach out too!
It would be Ithaca mall, unless they change the location this year (which is highly unlikely). So there is target, best buy, etc. at Ithaca mall (check: [Welcome</a> to The Shops at Ithaca Mall](<a href=“http://www.theshopsatithacamall.com/]Welcome”>http://www.theshopsatithacamall.com/)), so you get to buy a lot of daily needs from target, electronics from best buy, or clothes from other places.
I think people did bring the new freshmen for parties in one of the nights.
The program is pretty informative; however, some of them tend to be less useful (and boring). How social it is: you get to play games @ sports night or games night so that’s when you socialize. also, breakfast and other meals are also when people get to socialize more.
Yes and no. There will be people who also stay in your dorm. That’s when you get to know them more, etc.</p>
