<p>I just finished my first year at Northwestern University and I, as well as a few of my friends did pre-programs at Northwestern and I can honestly say that it’s quite an advantage and generally a lot of fun.</p>
<p>Reasons why I liked it:</p>
<p>-The programs are the best icebreakers for entering a new school (especially if you’re like me, and aren’t going to know a soul going there). So instead of going through the awkward “Hi, how are you, what’s your major, i’m from blah blah blah blah, and i like goldfishes” crap New Student Week, you get it all out of your system via pre-programs.</p>
<p>-This leads into the fantastic advantage of being comfortable already with the concept of constantly meeting randoms and conversing with them, because you’ve had a whole wonderful week of doing that crap. </p>
<p>-You make a ton of friends…pre-programs are pseudo-cultish (in a good way) in the beginning. So when you walk around campus New Student Week, a bunch of your pre-program friends are saying “hi” to you. You’re mistaken for a hot and popular sophomore and suddenly, you’re just one hell of a well-known kid because so-and-so knows you, and so-and-so will introduce you to their dorm buddies…and so on and so on. It’s one hell of a social plague.</p>
<p>-Most importantly, as cheesy and hallmarky as this is going to sound, doing Pwild, FUP and all those other pre-programs calls for fun times and great experiences. I mean, pooing in the woods with Timmy the dance major and blah blah has got to be unique in some sort of pleasant or unpleasant way that’ll forever start off another four years of your life interestingly enough.</p>
<p>-Also, I’m going to sound a bit cold, but you’ll see your friends at home come break, and frankly, one week isn’t going to make a difference with the whole separation melodrama, as you’ve had the entire summer for that.</p>
<p>-Plus, a lot of my friends are counselors for these programs. And although I’m biased, I find them to be pretty chill and funny people.</p>
<p>Okay, I’ve served my time being the nerdy counselor. I haven’t done charity in a bit, so I figure this would count.</p>
<p>Oh and for ADMISSIONS…I’m not quite sure as to how selective they are, but there is a limit as to what each program can take. So they fill up fast…but I don’t recall knowing anyone who hasn’t gotten in.</p>
<p>Hope that helped. :)</p>