WMU schedules open house for prospective students
March 10, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- An open house where high school students can do everything from attending a presentation about their intended major to visiting a residence hall is scheduled for Saturday, March 22.
"WMU Preview," Western Michigan University's largest on-campus recruiting event, is expected to draw about 800 students and their parents. High school juniors and admitted high school seniors have been invited. WMU is focusing on high school juniors, since many are already in the process of making the decision about where to attend college.
"High school students start looking seriously at colleges when they're juniors," says Alicia Kornowa, assistant director of admissions and coordinator of the event. "They may not have decided exactly where they're going by the end of their junior year, but research shows they have decided where they're going to apply."
The seniors have been invited so they can finalize their college choice and become more familiar with campus before orientation this summer. In addition to offering tours of the campus, residence halls and Student Recreation Center, WMU Preview will allow prospective students to meet with various University representatives.
Information about the programs and classroom experiences students can expect at WMU will be provided by faculty and staff from each of the University's seven academic colleges. Also in attendance will be non-academic staff members who will provide information on topics such as financial aid and scholarships, residence halls, student services and organizations, Army ROTC, study abroad, and tutoring and other academic support programs.
Registration for the event will begin at 8:30 a.m. on the second floor of the Bernhard Center. Informational sessions will start at 9 a.m., and the day will wrap up by 3 p.m.
"The format allows students and their parents to actually visit the facilities that house the programs they're interested in and talk with current students and faculty members," Kornowa says. "They can plan their day to experience as much as they want."
Besides participating in WMU Preview, prospective students may tour the WMU campus Mondays through Saturday and attend a fall on-site admissions program where they can learn whether they qualify for admission to the University.
For more information, contact the Office of Admissions and Orientation at (269) 387-2000.
Media contact: Jeanne Baron, 269 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu