Harvard kicked off its annual pre-frosh weekend yesterday as the Yard was once again inundated with maps, quizzical faces and hundreds of red folders.

More than 850 of the nearly 2,100 students accepted to the class of 1998 will spend the weekend at Harvard, trying to decide where to matriculate.

The Admissions Office is not using any special ploys to sell Harvard to the prospective students, said Senior admission Officer Patricia B. Callaghan '89, who is in charge of coordinating the pre-frosh weekend.

"The school has a great deal to offer, and we want the prospective students to choose by having a realistic. view of the school," Callaghan said. "There is no pressure for them, and we want them to see the students and the faculty as they really are."

Pre-frosh who signed up to participate in the Minority Weekend were placed with students of the same ethnicity. A number of ethnic programs, including a carnival sponsored by the Caribbean Club and a picnic by the Freshman Black Table, will take place on Saturday.

Athletes are not necessarily placed with other athletes. "it would hurt athletes' eligibility with the NCAA to place them specifically with athletes," Callaghan said.

Students who said they had already decided on Harvard offered varying reasons for their decision.

Charles A. Vick of Alexandria, Va. cited Harvard's "abundant resources and endless opportunities" as the deciding factor for choosing to attend.

Louis D. Monoyudis o Las Vegas, Nev. said that Harvard has always been his first choice--but that his decision was made easier because he was "waitlisted almost everywhere else."

Academics are the main draw for Anne H. Charityof Richmond, Va., who plans to study linguisticsand comparative literature.

"Harvard is one of the few colleges that offersGe'ez, a classical Ethiopic language that I havestudied for two years and want pursue duringcollege," Charity said. But not everyone is set onHarvard just yet.

Mark A. Vick, Charles Vick's twin brother, saidhe's seriously considering Brown University. "I'mnot sure if I want to continue my education withmy brother or try branching out by myself," hesaid.

James M. Cocola of Geneva, N.Y. said that he's"80 percent" sure that he will be attendingHarvard. Although he was accepted early, he planson waiting "until the last minute" to send in hisreply. For many students, economics play a role inthis decision.

"I'm deciding between Boston University andHarvard , since B.U. offered me a full meritscholarship. But I'll probably come here sinceB.U. is not Harvard," said Rachel E. Schneller ofNeedham , Mass.

Many students deciding between Harvard and Yalesaid that Harvard has more to offer.

Vivan M. Lee of Fairbanks, Alaska said theHarvard dorms are "really incredible" compared toYale's. Layne S. Staley of Englewood, N.J. said"the women at Harvard look a lot better.