I'll be starting the same day as you. I've spoken to someone that is down there right now. You get put up in one of a few different extended stay hotels that are pretty close to each other and you get your own room. It seems that if you apply yourself by paying attentions, studying, and doing any other work that you will be fine. From what I've read it seems that the people who don't take it seriously and screw around, go out to the bars every night instead of studying etc.. are the ones that fail out.
I wouldn't look at anything before going down there so you don't confuse yourself, or learn the wrong material. Remember, plenty of people have completed that training before you.
I'm pretty sure everyone starts out on first shift their first week, then after that you could be on second or third. Seniority goes by Age, and I'm not sure if being down there earlier than others from your location affects it or not, I don't think it does. Im not really sure, but I believe it goes by age of everyone that got hired at the same time as you, even if they may not be at the REDI center at the same exact time.
I was told that I would receive the information from the REDI center the week of September 8, I'm sure you probably heard the same thing?