"Recruitment Weekend?" (Engineering: EE/CS)

Graduate School
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<p>I've been invited by two universities for "recruitment" weekends (but not received acceptances yet) for PhD in Electrical Engineering/ECE. One of them (private) is all-expenses-paid while the other (a UC) is reimbursing ~$250. Neither invitation actually uses the word "interview", but both have a few hours set aside to meet with faculty.</p>

<p>I couldn't seem to find any old threads dealing with this sort of "recruitment", so...what are these things about? Anyone been through them? Stealth interviews in a field that does not usually employ interviewing? If so, to use the words of another poster, are these the "you-have-the-job-if-you-don't-screw-it-up" type?</p>

<p>As an aside to my last question, the number of invitees for one of the places is approximately 20% of the department's stated graduate student population....</p>

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<p>A recruitment weekend is generally more about showing off the school to you than secretly testing you, but if you haven't been accepted yet, you're most likely being judged at least a little.</p>

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<p>If you were invited to a recruitment weekend, you are accepted. Is that your question? Mollie has it right, these are mainly to show off the department to the new incoming graduate students.</p>

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<p>semi-related question - what's the dress code for these things? i mean, if you've already been accepted it's not an interview, but i have a personal meeting with a professor scheduled and i don't know if it's formal or not...</p>

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<p>I didn't where a tie for my discussions last year nor did I see anyone else with on.</p>

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<p>@ jmilton90:
Did you seriously use "where" instead of "wear"? That's embarrassing. Please tell me you're an international student.</p>

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<p>


</p>

<p>??
Maybe there's something wrong with your computer?</p>

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<p>@ KG:
That's really odd because on my computer it says: "where". I'm looking at it right now and I'm 100% sure that it says "where".</p>

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<p>I see 'where'.</p>

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<p>Crazy, mysteries of human cognition, I guess, down to transcription. I can see it now too.</p>

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<p>Riiight... now back on topic. I'm actually interested in this too.</p>

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<p>Actually, I'm American and a PhD student. and I did type "where." Is it that embarrassing? I guess that tells you how good your verbal skills needs to be to get into grad school.</p>

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<p>"If you were invited to a recruitment weekend, you are accepted."</p>

<p>Really?</p>

<p>I was just invited to an "Applicant Information Session". I assume that's different and does not imply acceptance? Do many grad schools host weekends for non-admitted students? That seems weird to me.</p>

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<p>If they're paying for you to visit the school (giving you travel + a hotel) odds are you're going to be admitted.</p>

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<p>Since Sadsong725 and sirD's questions weren't answered, I think it somewhat depends on the department. Your best bet, is to just e-mail the Graduate Coordinator at the department and ask them if there are any dress code requirements/suggestions for any of the aspects of the visit weekend (at least that's what I did). If you don't feel comfortable doing this, then just wear business casual unless told otherwise (better to be overdressed than underdressed even if an admission's decision is not in the balance).</p>

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<p>Business casual = dress pants + shirt + tie + blazer?</p>

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<p>No, business casual is usually just dress/khaki pants with shirt. A tie isn't part of business causal, but you are more than welcome to wear one if you feel more comfortable that way. I think a blazer would be overkill (unless you are going to an Ivy, j/k).</p>

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<p>thanks for the tips... does anyone know when the Berkeley, Stanford, UT-Austin, UCSD, or Purdue visit weekends are?</p>

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<p>Actually, I am!</p>