I'm going to a Brown University info session in my town. It's my top choice school, and I've visited the campus twice and fallen in love with it and everything. I've also talked before to the admission officers that are coming to speak at the presentation.
Now, my parents want me to make a big impression on the officers and want me to wear the Brown sweatshirt that I got from their bookstore to make me seem interested and excited about applying to Brown. I think that that's over the top showy, and that I would be better off wearing normal clothes, I guess you could say.
I just wanted to hear different opinions on this, whether or not it's better to stand out or just remain one of the faces in the crowd for this info session.
Your parents are mis-informed. If I were you, I'd stay home and do homework. Brown does not track your "interest" or enthusiasm. It's an info session. Unless you need more info, stay home.
I've given dozens and dozens of these sessions for a Brown peer school. We never even have sign up sheets. I'm giving one tonight at my home school district. It's info only. I'm not tracking a single soul.
Here's what Brown thinks: "You're enthusiastic about possibly applying to my school? Good. That's expected. But won't assist you as we evaluate you."
What will impress the admissions officer is not the sweatshirt, but what you have to say.
And T26E4 is wrong. Yes, it's true that Brown doesn't track interest by your attendance at an info session. But admissions officers remember people. They absolutely remember students they meet as they travel around the country. That is their job. I've talked to admissions officers at Brown who remember students they've met in their travels, look out for their applications and advocate for them in committee. I am amazed at their ability to remember these kids, but they do -- because one of the main things they are doing as they travel is recruiting impressive kids, so they are on the lookout for those.
F&R: i can see your point. I admit my reply was too over-generalized. If I were a traveling admissions officer for Brown, I would be on the look out for eye-popping candidates as well. That being said, I think a person of actual substance would be more likely remembered than someone who was over the top in enthusiasm w/o the underlying substance.
My regional admissions officer did remember me from the info session he did at my high school, so I would go if you can. However, don't wear the Brown sweatshirt - you'll look like you're trying too hard. If it's just a casual info session, wear jeans and a nicer shirt or something of the sort. Things you'd wear to school, but a little on the nicer side (no sweatpants, etc). Make an impression by asking a specific question or introducing yourself afterward, not by what you wear.
Thank you very much to everyone... I actually had questions I wanted to ask them, which is why I'm going to the info session. I just disagreed with my parents on wearing my sweatshirt because I did think that it would be too showy :P
and bruno14, how do you like the PLME program? off topic I know, but it's a program I'm interested in.
I love PLME. If you look back in my posts, I've talked a lot about it in several different threads. Feel free to ask more specific questions if you have them.
