<p>A little while ago I got a packet in the mail regarding the "Freshman Summer Research Institute".</p>
<p>I read it through, but have no idea what to make of it. Its stated goal is to "ease the transition into Caltech" and "teach and assist incoming first-year students to develop learning behaviors that will help them excel at Caltech. " and is addressed from the Caltech Center for Diversity. </p>
<p>Should I be skeptical of its usefulness? Should I be offended (just joking...)? I have heard no one else talk about so I'm a bit in the dark; all I know from the website is that about a dozen people actually end up choosing to attend.</p>
<p>From the people I talked to that have been to it, they really enjoyed it. The reason so few go is simply because not many are invited (it’s tied to minority status).</p>
<p>Quite honestly I’m more than a little dissapointed in Caltech for having such a program; this could very easily be made to have nothing to do with minority status at all.</p>
<p>Fun or not, phrases such as “helping students transition” are usually a red flag for remedial programs, but yet the problem sets assigned there seem to be legitimately worthwhile. This is what’s called a mixed message.</p>
<p>It’s meant as a recruiting tool, at least in some way. Therefore, it makes sense for them to specifically try harder to recruit members of populations that they have had trouble recruiting in the past.</p>
<p>I heard from another source that it is fun a little while ago also. I just hope they aren’t playing Brawl instead of Melee…</p>
<p>I guess it does seem like a good way to get in touch with faculty and become familiar with Caltech labs in advance. I think I’m going. Thanks all for the responses.</p>
<p>One of my friends was in it prior to coming to Caltech, though she had a fairly negative experience. I think it was more of her not meshing well with some of the other students that were there early than anything else.</p>