Yesterday saw an influx of map-carrying students and parents on campus to spend A Day On College Hill. ADOCH, hosted by the Bruin Club and the Office of Admission, is a program designed to introduce accepted members of the Class of 2010 - and their parents and families - to the Brown community.
This year, more people than ever are receiving Brown's welcome: the Bruin Club, which helped organize the event, expects over 900 prospective students and nearly 700 parents.
"We've gotten more RSVPs this year than we have any other year," said Joshua Livingstone '08, an ADOCH co-coordinator. Livingstone said the University saw a particularly dramatic increase in the number of parents attending ADOCH, as only about 600 parents - at the time a record-breaking number - attended the event last year.
The ADOCH coordinators have taken steps to accommodate the additional parents. "We planned more events than ever for parents this year," Livingstone said, mentioning highlights such as a concert in Grant Recital Hall and a series of faculty lectures called "Meeting of the Minds."
Livingstone said he could not think of a reason for the rise in parental participation, but he said he is glad to have the parents here.
Julia Riddle '08, co-chair of the parent registration committee, said she thinks parents of incoming first-years feel increasingly invested in their children's education as college tuition prices rise.
"It does make sense that parents want to be a part of their child's experience," Riddle said while taking a break from greeting parents at Sayles Hall. She admitted that the high number of parents made her job "stressful" but said she was still having a good time.
"They're behaving really well," said Adam Kroll '09, the other co-chair of the parent registration committee and a member of The Herald's design staff. Riddle agreed, but she said "some are a little overprotective."
Donna Cann, mother of Aubrey Cann '10, said she planned to attend programming for parents, adding she already knows she could stand to give her daughter a little more space. She described dropping off her daughter at the student registration center at Faunce House. "Aubrey said, 'Stop following me. You can go now. Leave,'" Cann said.
She said saying goodbye was difficult, but she felt better knowing her daughter was in a place she had wanted to attend for over two years - and a place where all the people are friendly.
"There are so many people here to help us," Cann said. "From the first time we visited to now, everyone has been so welcoming and inviting."
Among accepted students - both those who already know they are coming to Brown and those who are still deciding - the mood was one of mingled excitement and enthusiasm. Most are eager to meet other accepted students who might be their future classmates.
"I saw two huge circles of students introducing themselves on the Main Green," Livingstone said.
"I'm pretty excited to be here," said Zach Chapman '10, who drove down from New Hampshire with a friend. He was busy introducing himself to fellow students while waiting to be led to a residence hall.
Leslie Lipsick '10 said meeting people is one of her top priorities while at ADOCH, but she acknowledged that "it's kind of awkward."
Riddle said she thinks many of the accepted students share Lipsick's sentiments.
"I haven't come across any who are totally relaxed," Riddle said, adding that people still seemed to be enjoying themselves and were looking forward to the upcoming events.
Kroll agreed. "Everyone's really positive," he said. "There's a lot of positive energy."
