<p>On the first day of orientation we went to an auditorium where the main speaker, before beginning his speech, addressed the audience, telling us that he saw a lot of angry faces in the crowd and that if we were not accepted to our first choice schools we were going to have plenty of time ahead of us to prove what we are made of.</p>
<p>I think the speaker was right on with his reprimand, but I felt somewhat saddened when I heard the speaker, a person associated with the school, essentially admit that our school is a school where people who did not get accepted to their first choice schools go to. The speaker didn’t lift my school spirit, which I believe was part of the point of the orientation.</p>
<p>Do you think the speaker was more honest than he should have been?</p>
<p>I got the same speech at my orientation. Frankly, my school IS one where students go when all other choices run out. (Amusing, I got into several Ivy Leagues. I just didn’t go because of cost.) Yes, it’s harsh to say, but keep in mind who he’s saying it to: these are the brats who are going to complain all year that the school isn’t up to par with their standards. Essentially, he’s saying, “Eff you guys, you still chose this school so suck it up.”</p>
<p>Really, I disagree with people saying that, but sometimes reality needs to be stated.</p>
<p>Considering his job is to portray a positive image of the school he probably was a little too honest.</p>
<p>But if his job and also the fact that most college students aren’t deep thinker/philosophizers wasn’t factored then I think it’s perfectly acceptable that he not only said that there is plenty of time to “work your way up the ladder”, but also implied that work and competition is not the end all be all of life.</p>
<p>In regards to AtomicCafe, UA was actually my only choice Could’ve gotten into better, but had no interest in such. (Didn’t factor into my decision, as it was my only choice, but the aid package they offered me was incredible!)</p>
<p>I don’t really have an on-topic thought on this issue, though. Sorry.</p>
<p>Nope…but people basically only apply to my school if they want to go there. It’s a Jesuit college, so it’s got the whole religious thing going on (and not like BU or Georgetown), it’s small, it’s not top ranked (although it is featured in the new Princeton Review book of the 271 best colleges in the Northeast)…but I chose it because it’s perfect for me, and that’s how most students there feel.</p>
<p>At my orientation we had to go through mandatory diversity and sexual harassment plays/assemblies. This one play was about this girl being raped and some other stuff about sexual harassment and safety and stuff. It was so. Damn. Awkward. And then afterwards we had to go into rooms with the people on our floor group and talk about it for a hour. Also awkward.</p>
<p>Sorry, Another_Adam – I could have phrased that so much better. Most of my friends DID choose UA as their only school for multiple reasons (I actually enjoy being here and would have chosen it over my other options without factoring cost), but as you point out, many of us could have gotten into better, and that’s what I think I was referring to.</p>
<p>I get the feeling that all colleges have students who don’t want to be there, think they’re better than the majority of the school, and so on. Sometimes those awkward speeches are necessary. As for the sexual harrassment speech… well, no idea what to say to that!!</p>
<p>Lol they did this exact same thing at my older brother’s orientation. (I think I wasn’t supposed to be there since I don’t go to the school and am not enrolling, but nobody kicked me out.) He goes to a good school though, idk why they started off with a “we know none of you really want to go here” speech.</p>
<p>My orientation this summer was kind of opposite, and I thought it was silly. Frankly, for a lot of people, the school is a financial safety, but they went on and on about how everybody was there because they’re sooooo brilliant. </p>
<p>This, however, was not the most ridiculous thing that happened at orientation. The tray of hotdogs was covered in parsley as a garnish. I have no idea what the catering people were thinking.</p>
<p>^ Parsley garnished hot dogs? That sounds like an oxymoron.</p>
<p>I remember in my freshman orientation, awhile ago, I set a fire in the dining hall (accidentally) and had the entire kitchen staff running around and screaming. I didn’t know you shouldn’t butter the toast before sending it through the toaster. Lesson learned.</p>
Could’ve gotten into better, but had no interest in such. (Didn’t factor into my decision, as it was my only choice, but the aid package they offered me was incredible!)</p>