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Do you have to go? As much as I want to bond, wading through fountains, doing skits, and going on a scavenger hunt doesnt sound so appealing.

*Realizes this is all contingent on getting in...and smiles *

By Trojan1444 (Trojan1444) on Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 06:58 pm: Edit

Yeah, thinking about Admit Weekend is a little premature considering Stanford has a 12% acceptance rate.

But of course you don't have to go. I got in and am an entering freshman, but i didn't get to go to Admit Weekend because of a speech tournament, even though i wanted to go.

From what i hear, some people liked it and some people thought it was cheesy.

By Jlq3d3 (Jlq3d3) on Monday, September 13, 2004 - 12:31 am: Edit

Dont even think about that, unless your family donated millions. It is very very very hard to get in.

If you do get in, and are sure you will go to Stanford, than I dont think admit weekend is useful or that fun. If you are deciding between a couple places, than it is good.

By Jason (Jason) on Monday, September 13, 2004 - 02:25 am: Edit

I went to Admit Weekend 2004, and I thought it was a good experience. Out of the 3 things you mentioned, I didn't do a single one of them. And I'm sure that, after the negative article written about the Admit Weekend, they're going to be trying extra hard next year to add some "depth" to the event.

I don't think Stanford's admit weekend is any different to an admit weekend at any other prestigious university. It's obviously going to be somewhat tacky and in-your-face - but that's just the way admit weekends are.

By Twojaw (Twojaw) on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 - 07:30 pm: Edit

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A10157-2004May8.html

By Chrisq (Chrisq) on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 03:36 am: Edit

Even though I'm going to Stanford, I think Sarah's editorial (link above) is right on target. Of course it's going to be nothing more than an elaborate sales-pitch! Of course it may or may not be an honest representation of the real deal! That said, I'm actually glad that Admit Weekend may have backfired against Stanford this year. I hope Sarah's editorial serves as a wake-up call to the people in charge of the Stanford propaganda engine. I lovingly refer to Stanford's self-hype devices as "propaganda" only because I find it silly that Stanford feels it has to resort to cheesy tactics like Admit Weekend to attract students. Stanford really doesn't have to! The people in admissions would do well to understand that many of the ProFros simply aren't swayed by any amount of cheesy bonding activities. If my tone appears critical of Stanford, that's only because it takes self-directed criticism to improve anything, and I think Stanford can easily avoid another editorial like this next year. (Her article is really downright scathing, but I think all of her points, especially the one about the minority-themed events, deserve Stanford's attention.)

By Twojaw (Twojaw) on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 01:52 pm: Edit

Was it a matter of Admit Weekend content or was it a matter of who the admissions committee selects to come? As long as admissions has the policy of discounting those who show continued interest in Stanford and disregard those who actually come and do things at Stanford (summer programs et al) and insist on choosing such a casual applicant as Sarah Bell then you will get articles like that in the Washington Post.

By Stanfordman99 (Stanfordman99) on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 02:21 pm: Edit

Twojaw (no sarcasm here) I think Stanford should have picked you over other people who never showed a demonstrated interest. But you're at Berkeley, which is an equally great place to study and I wish you the best of luck there. If I got rejected from Stanford even though I participated in all those summer programs I'd probably want to bad-mouth the school too. So it's all cool man.

I actually didn't go to admit weekend so I don't know too much about it. I visited Harvard's admit weekend though and I was turned off by how gloomy and unfriendly they seemed to me. Thus I am here at Stanford, which from what I hear on this board seems like it's going to be one glitzy car promotion type of atmosphere. Whatever, either way there's always going to be bad points of a school. You come looking for paradise and get struck by reality.

By Twojaw (Twojaw) on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 - 07:21 pm: Edit

Well said Stanfordman...it does take a while for the bitter taste to leave one's mouth...but you are right. I merely wanted to point out some of those realities. (And hey...I didn't write that article...Sarah Bell did). Good luck to you and certainly...certainly...enjoy your time at Stanford.

By Twojaw (Twojaw) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 01:33 pm: Edit

Hey Stanfordman...have no fear. When you become that first Asian American Supreme Court Justice(since they're all Stanfordians) we will still remember back when we were all snotty nose freshmen waiting for the best years of our lives to begin at our respective schools. You take care now. Hey...at least Sarah Bell isn't in your freshman class.

By Kupolu (Kupolu) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 04:22 pm: Edit

Honestly, I found Admit Weekend incredibly fun and informative because I *didn't just do the proscribed activities*. I got out and met people. After the first day, I went to San Fran with a group of freshmen and sophomores. I went to random classes that weren't on the list and talked with the professors. The author of that editorial obviously focused her efforts more on finding something wrong with the University than making her trip enjoyable, and it seems she got what she wanted. It's a lot easier to complain than to do something to fix it.

Ugh. End rant.

By Samueladams (Samueladams) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 05:25 pm: Edit

How did you find the profs? One thing I didn't like about Admit is that I think I got a bad impression of it merely because of my own foolery in going there with someone I knew, so I never got to know anyone new from the school. The Academic Expos I sat in on had some cool profs, and people seemed to be into it, but then again I feel asleep in another one. Since I didn't make it to any real classes, did you find the profs really into their work? Were kids in the classes really engrossed in what they were learning; was it more like high school where everyone wants to leave... what was the feel?