The one thing I didnt enjoy this weekend was the financial aid talk. Its just depressing to see close to 70K on an overhead for one years cost...then again thats going to be about the same at all but a few schools (state schools).
Kry, I dont think that Kelloggs admit weekend is going to be better or worse than anyone elses. I think that really what gets people to fall head over heels for a school is the people they meet. Not just the students and faculty but most importantly the other admits who are going to be your classmates. Everyone from my future classmates and their significant others to the different deans and alums we met, everyone was great. (there were 200+ people so I didnt meet everyone but I met more folks than I can remember) I think its one of those feelings you get when you are at the school, you can see yourself there with all those people. A lot of the students who attended other events said they had a good time at all of them but none really made them feel as much at home as Kellogg. Then again they were also at Kellogg not someplace else so people who ended up someplace else may not have felt the same.
You are right though that having the first is a huge help, people form a very high expectation and really picture themselves at a school. I know one person who was canceling their trip to admit weekend to GSB because as he put it, why waste the money and vacation time since this is the perfect place for me. And a bunch people said they were withdrawing other applications were removing themselves from waitlists, or were rejecting other offers. They might have enjoyed another schools admit weekend just as much but they made their decisions this weekend. Yes there are a lot going to other weekends and waiting on decisions still but being first is definitely an advantage.
During the closing ceremonies I was at a table with my wife and three other couples, one guy was still torn and all the wives including him were pushing him on Kellogg while we were all like see what fits your needs best. I think that was the biggest difference for a lot of schools, talking with students' significant others they were saying how the kind of felt forgotten about at other admits after going to DAK. It seemed that single people were the ones who were the most undecided, the significant others all pretty much made their opinions known. I am sure Faceman would back that up.