Anyone go to "Exploring Educational Excellence"?

[SlitheyTove]

D1 is registered for the "Exploring Educational Excellence" evening (where we expect essentially entertainment and enlightenment, eventually, but not eats. And why aren't Earlham, Emory, Eckhard etc entered? ) with Brown Rice U of C etc etc. She now has a conflict, and would get to the evening late. Have any parents attended one of these? Could some kind soul let me know the format for the evening, and/or how long it runs, so we can decide if it's worth it for her to show up later?

[vicariousparent]

Went to one last year...IIRC, they had a 1 hr powerpoint where the reps take turns describing their schools, and then they went to their respective tables, where they were mobbed by crowds of students. We mostly just attended the powerpoints and then left. The powerpoints were like abbreviated info sessions that you'd get on a college visit. If you sign in, they will put you on their mailing list and at least for Rice, it will count towards "demonstrated interest".

[geek_mom]

We attended a couple of these things; one of them included Rice and Cornell, so it might have been the one you're talking about. Like vp says, they're just dog and pony shows by traveling admissions reps. Signing in demonstrates interest and marks you for junk mail. The information they give in their presentations is about 90% infomercial and 10% admissions advice -- not much different from what you can find by spending the same amount of time on their Web site. If you have specific questions about one or more of the participating colleges and prefer to ask them face to face, that opportunity exists at the end. If your daughter is ready for an interview, sometimes they schedule interviews within the same day or couple of days.

IMHO these things are mostly useful for students who know very little about the colleges that have invited them... and, of course, for the colleges that participate. Not a bad thing, but certainly no reason to stress over showing up late.

[computersaavy]

I agree with everything that's been said. I went to this program when it hit my region of the country as well as one or two other simliar programs that grouped together some high caliber schools. There were hundreds of kids (try to picture a hotel ballroom filled with row after row of seats). Each of the schools gave a nice slideshow presentation. Afterwards, the admission officers entertained questions at individual tables, but it was impossible to even get close! Each table was mobbed by students.

It was definitely not a substitute for visiting in person any of the schools that I was interested in attending. However, if you're someone who has absolutely no idea about where you want to go to school and are willing to go anywhere in the country, it might be beneficial.

It's a no stress evening to be sure. My parents insisted that I NOT wear jeans (would not make a good impression they felt). HAH!!! I could have worn anything...nobody would have noticed.

[SlitheyTove]

Thanks, all. The driver is for her to learn something about these schools and see if any of them appeal, so the early part of the evening is the most useful. I'll see how her evening goes, since it'll be a 20 minute drive from her earlier commitment to the E^3.

[GolfFather]

There's going to be one just a few miles from where we live.
Might as well go.
Beats a six-hour drive to a campus info session for a college that we don't know if we'll be "serious" about yet.
Seems to have better reviews when this topic came up two years later:

Exploring College Options/Exploring Educational Excellence

[Youdon'tsay]

I'll add that in addition to the dog-and-pony show, at the end, each presenter does a minute or two about some aspect of admissions that is common to the schools, such as applying ED vs. EA vs. RD. Or what we want in the essay. I found that the most entertaining aspect. Although most of it wasn't new to me, it's a good reinforcement for the kid.

And while there's a mob scene at the end, ds and I were patient and eventually got to ask our very specific questions, which was very helpful.

[GolfFather]

^^^^

Great, thanks.

[RobD]

We went to this last week and last year. Started at 7:30, ended about 9; you'd certainly be able to sneak in the back discreetly if you got there late.

Made D2 cross Columbia off the list last year & cemented Brown on the list. Made me want to go to Rice & made us both realize that Cornell has a serious winter This year Chicago became intriguing. The tips at the end were helpful especially since D is in the middle of apps. Although the Cornell lady was blunt & told the parents to prepare themselves that this would probably be the last year their kids would live at home. You could hear all the moms (me included) gasp. Meanie

[SlitheyTove]

Egad! An eons-old (OK, exaggeration ) enquiry exhumed!



(We didn't go. She applied elsewhere ED....in keeping with the "E" theme. )