<p>I'm thinking about doing one -
has anyone here been there, done that? </p>
<p>I'd like to know if it's worth flying all the way across the country for!</p>
<p>I'm currently a sophomore at CMU and I did a post-admission sleeping bag weekend. I also visited USC for a similar program (included an interview for scholarship), Northwestern, and Rice (Owl weekend, 3 days, 2 nights, and 30 minutes from my house). </p>
<p>I found that you can tell a lot about the atmosphere of the campus by visiting. USC, for instance, is a busier school than the others I visited- lots of people on a relatively small campus, and lots of people outside enjoying the weather. At CMU, I met some of the odder people on campus, but their quirkiness is part of what I like about CMU (the girl who hosted me is a dedicated member of the KGB... no, not THAT kgb). I also ended up meeting several people who I now have classes with.</p>
<p>If you have the time and the money to visit, I highly recommend it (at any school). Just keep in mind that different schools seem to have slightly different goals during their weekends- Rice has TONS of events, more than any other time during the year, while CMU's really gives you a better look at what a typical Sunday night on campus is like.</p>
<p>My son attended the Sleeping Bag Weekend in October and he thought it was really worthwhile. It gives you a good sense of what the environment is like, what the students are like, and an in-depth view of the academics. They have a lot of options available, so it's up to you to choose what to attend during the weekend. You can hear from the head of a particular department, sit in on classes, have an interview, etc.</p>
<p>CMU is a different type of college than many because of its strong academic focus with kids coming in already knowing what they want to major in. This type of environment fits some kids, and not others. Coming for Sleeping Bag Weekend gives you the opportunity to see if the fit is there. It's hard to really get a sense of the school without visiting.</p>
<p>Nope: Just after 911, nobody was going anywhere. IB was also too demanding to spare a weekend, flying xcountry, to see a bunch of buildings. Virtual tour would have to do.</p>
<p>Everyone's different but attending a SBW was THE way S determined where to go. </p>
<p>Early April he did a SBW over a Sunday night, then 2 days later spent the night at another school (JHopkins). Specifically because of the overnight experiences at the schools, during the same week, he was able to make the choice of CMU. The choice was clear to him and without hesitation. I believe if you go into your college experience having spent the night, you know at least a LITTLE about campus culture and won't be surprised or disappointed once you get there.</p>
<p>btw if you're flying across the country perhaps you can spend the night or at least visit other Eastern colleges.</p>
<p>K guys. I'm going next weekend. =D SO EXCITED!!!</p>
<p>Last time we had some baggers they made them come on Sunday and spend the night Sunday night... I thought that was a little odd, considering Sunday night = homework night, no questions asked. We are given the option to host baggers if we wanted to in our dorm rooms, but if they keep on doing it on Sunday nights, well, I just won't be around to entertain her because I'd be too busy doing homework/studying :)</p>
<p>Sleeping Bag Weekends are always Sundays until April when they ask for hosts almost every night of the week. It is kind of silly, but at the same time it gives students an idea of what the schools is actually like (some other schools have many more 'fun' events when baggers are around than on a normal weekend), allows for a three day weekend trip, and reduces the chance that baggers will end up at parties (baggers on Friday nights might be a bad idea).</p>
<p>Aw. :( ....</p>
<p>S went to one a copule of weeks ago. Stayed up til 2:30am talking with freshmen in the dorm, crashed on the floor with 3 other "baggers." When he got up at 7:30, a number of the freshmen were still up talking in the lounge and were going to skip classes that morning while S went to a couple. So much for Sunday being a homework night. It was very well orgainized, though, and they were having different Halloween themed parties on different levels of the dorm. S and hosts pretty much ignored the parties except to grab some cupcakes, though. </p>
<p>Don't know if it will help S decide where to go, but it let him picture himself at CMU, living in the dorms and taking classes. He says he could see himself going there, so I think it was very worthwhile. Of course, we only had to drive 4 hours, not fly across the country.</p>
<p>I was there that weekend and I think I was in the same rooms as your son, which dorm was he in?</p>
<p>BTW, the sleeping bag weekend cemented my decision to apply ED..... now I'm just waiting for theirs!!!</p>
<p>I did the SBW a month or two ago... Was a lot of fun but it wasnt enough to make me apply ED.</p>
<p>If you do go, ask your host to take you to the Mech Pods, they are fun!</p>
<p>aaron--
I'm not sure, but I think he was in New House with a couple of CS majors. It was a pretty small room, and he said that after he crashed he kept getting hit in the legs whenever anybody opened the door.</p>
<p>yup, he was definitely in my room :)</p>
<p>aaron-
Small world! He doesn't know I post on these forums ;) or I would tell him hello from you. Good luck on your applications!
D~2</p>
<p>Hey dad and aaron, i was the one of the hosts of that room. 4 baggers. haha. and 8 at the next sbw!.</p>
<p>8? I'm glad I'm not one of the baggers. At least you're all male- at Rice I was one of 10 baggers in an 8 person suite. Using the bathroom in the morning wasn't much fun.</p>
<p>S had a good time, and I think that being around a bunch of freshmen in the dorms let him visualize what it would be like to go to CMU. 8 baggers next time? Wow! Glad we came in October!</p>
<p>S had a good time, and hanging out with a bunch of current students in the dorms let him see what it will be like next year. I think you might run into him next year....</p>
<p>Thanks
D2</p>