Among the thousands of high school students who flooded onto campus this past weekend with thoughts of post-secondary life beginning in September were more than a few with sights set a lot further into the future.
London residents Bridget Ryan, Emma Markle, David Markle and Jaida Williamson toured the campus during March Break Open House.
With Western actively recruiting graduate students to grow its master’s and doctoral level students, many soon-to-be first-year students indicated they were preparing themselves to continue their education past the undergraduate level.
Mississauga high school student Kayzad Bajina says his trip to Western was to “get a feel for the classroom and campus environment” that would be his home for the next few years, but graduate school was also on his agenda as he looked around.
“I think it’s something you really need to look ahead to,” he says. “I really think your first few years here are simply to prepare you for that end goal.”
Rachel Dies agrees. The Toronto resident is interested in psychology and is also preparing for the graduate portion of her education.
“I want to be a psychologist dealing with issues of mental health, so for me a PhD is a necessity,” she says. “I’m looking ahead to find out what sort of resources are available for me, not just at the university level, but in the community as well.”
With more than 6,000 students visiting Western this past weekend, director of undergraduate recruitment and admissions Lori Gribbon, says it was the largest attendance ever at a March Break Open House.
“I’d say it was a remarkable day,” says Gribbon, with numbers up 92 per cent from last year. “We were thrilled with the interest in Western.”
By surveying the students who came this past weekend, Gribbon looks to continually improve on how Western presents itself during such events.
Toronto residents Janette Howitt and her daughter Lyndsay enjoy a unique learning experience in 3D Anatatorium in the Faculty of Health Sciences.