This spring's A Day on College Hill event for prospective members of the class of 2017 will combine three previously separate programs - the Science Technology Engineering Math program, Third World Welcome and ADOCH itself - into a single recruitment weekend lasting three days and two nights, a day longer than past years.
The changes will make the University's recruitment efforts more similar to those of peer institutions that host prospective students for multiple nights, said Jim Miller '73, dean of admission. Feedback from previous years has indicated that prospective students would like to do more than attend planned events that may not accurately reflect the daily life of a Brown student, he said.
"There was still stuff that was missing," Miller said of the previous iteration of ADOCH. The previous two-day experience did not budget adequate time for students to attend classes, explore Providence and sample the campus in its entirety, he said.
The incorporation of TWW and STEM into ADOCH is "more ... logistical than philosophical," he said, and the combination "allows us to plan one slightly larger, slightly longer event, rather than three separate activities."
The full STEM program will be part of ADOCH's schedule, and TWW events will be folded in, too, he said.
Some students lamented the loss of a separate TWW event.
"TWW was the number one reason that I came to Brown," said Isabelle Thenor-Louis '16. "It makes me kind of sad that they are combining ADOCH and TWW."
Other students felt the extension of ADOCH was a step in the right direction. Dan Rothman '16 said the additional day is "a great opportunity to showcase Brown," though he acknowledged that "it depends on what they do with the extra time."
The ADOCH program will organize the extra day around a variety of social and academic events, Miller said. The revised schedule will also allow attendees extra time to explore and sample a broader range of Brown's resources, including visiting the Sharpe Refectory and attending full lectures.
Pheakdey Son '15, who hosted prospective students during ADOCH this past April, said the previous program felt "very rushed." He added that the extra day will allow hosts to "get to know the students a little bit better."
But Son said the additional day could deter current students from volunteering to host because "it will be a bigger responsibility."
Miller acknowledged that the changes "will require the students to step up," but said he has faith in the desire of current students to welcome their future peers. "The Bruin Club is very enthusiastic," Miller said.
Sameer Sarkar '16 said he would not be discouraged by the additional time commitment.
"My host during ADOCH played a big role in my decision to attend Brown, and I would like to do the same for a prospective student," Sarkar said. But due to other obligations, Sarkar said he hopes the event is well-coordinated because he is "happy to entertain somebody, but not 24/7."
In past years, the three recruitment programs have brought more than 1,200 students and parents to campus, Miller said, and a similar turnout is expected this spring.
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