While Fall Preview Day opens the university’s doors to prospective teenage students, other interested parties were also busy kicking the academic tires.
English professor Christopher Keep was quite busy during Saturday’s Fall Preview Day speaking to prospective students. A record-breaking number of students – more than 10,000 – took part in a number of campus information sessions.
“I want a place where I know she can feel safe while learning,” says Janis Miller, mother of would-be student Nicole Guitar.
The Wasaga Beach residents were two of more than 10,000 registered attendees who flocked to campus Saturday for the annual Fall Preview Day.
“It feels a lot more personable, despite how big it is. The feeling is right,” says Guitar. “I want to take science and in speaking with the professors, they were able to answer the questions I asked.”
Alyssa Marentette agrees. The professors seemed to have all the right answers.
“In talking to the professors, they seemed to very involved with the students. They were very focused on you, talking to you one-on-one about what you wanted to get from the program, and not so much what the program offers in a general sense,” says Marentette, who is looking towards Engineering and French at university.
The classic look of the older-style buildings, along with the overall atmosphere of campus was a pleasant surprise.
“I like the feeling of school spirit you get here. Everyone seems to be more involved in campus life,” says Marentette.
Lori Gribbon, Director of Undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions, says the record-breaking registration – up more than 17 per cent from last year – signals strong interest in what Western can offer.
Through increased traffic at Western’s booth at the recent Ontario Universities’ Fair, Gribbon says she was able to send e-invitations to a larger number of students. She also tried Facebook ads for the first time.
“Generally we are finding that interest in Western seems to be up this year and we feel that this is as a result, as well, of many of our current students sharing their experiences here with their friends and families,” says Gribbon. “There are no better voices for us than our own students.”
When looking for a university, Calgary resident Meghan Powell says she wants to be assured she can take specific classes, but the atmosphere is just as important considering campus would be home for the next few years.
“I feel that Western is a terrific school, with a lot to offer to the students,” she says, noting Fall Preview Day was set up perfectly for getting the information she needed. “Everyone was very informative about how the school is run.”
Fellow Calgarian Kady Hunter, who is interested in attending Brescia University College’s Food and Nutrition program, also knows what she wants in a university.
“I am looking for good program options and a campus atmosphere that feels right for me,” she says.
“I want a campus that offers varied extra curricular activities that appeal to me, and a residence that I can also see myself living in for a year.”