PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Each spring, hundreds of students who have been admitted to Brown descend on campus for a weekend of introductory activities, information sessions and bonding so they can decide whether Brown is the right school for them.

A Day on College Hill, or ADOCH for short, traditionally sees a few hundred teenagers and family members travel to Providence to interact with the Brown community at meet-and-greets, assemblies, performances and dorm-room fun in advance of decision day in May, when prospective students must decide whether or not to enroll.

This year, the Office of College Admission doubled its travel grant program funds, allowing ADOCH to offer fully subsidized travel for the event to hundreds more students from low-income families. As a result, demand to attend was so high that the University is hosting events over two separate weekends.

“Our commitment to attracting and enrolling more low-income and first-generation students is evident in the doubling of our budget for travel grants to attend ADOCH,” said Logan Powell, Brown’s dean of admission. “Those grants allow us to pay for the entire cost of travel to and from Brown for these amazing students."

ADOCH’s first weekend, which also welcomed students admitted early decision for the first time, kicked off on Sunday morning with walking and trolley tours, a few rounds of Brown-themed Jeopardy, sports on the College Green and more. The second weekend, on April 22 and 23, coincides with the annual Spring Thaw Powwow, organized by the Brown Center for Students of Color and the Native American Heritage Series. The powwow invites all students and community members and this year will welcome a number of admitted Native American students who will travel to College Hill for ADOCH and stay with current Native American students in the residence halls.

Sophie Book, an undergraduate who coordinated social media for ADOCH this year, said the event's eclectic mix of events "highlights so much of what makes Brown distinctive."

“The program is carefully planned so that prospective students can really experience Brown in a short amount of time,” she said.

Book never got to attend ADOCH herself, but she’s noticed that the high school students who do attend overwhelmingly decide to matriculate — and she can see why.

“So many people go above and beyond to make Brown feel like home for the incoming class,” she said. “It’s one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had at Brown.”

Photographer Nick Dentamaro captured highlights from the first weekend of events.