For many students on Asbury’s campus, most days towards the end of the spring semester consist of routine events such as studying, eating and meeting up with friends. These routine days form the basis of each college student’s experiences.
In order to give prospective students an accurate perspective of what a student’s life looks like on Asbury’s campus, Asbury University will host its Spring Preview event from March 27-29.
The three-day event will give 55 prospective students and their families a chance to view and experience what living and studying on Asbury’s campus consists of.
“The main purpose is for [prospective students] to experience the day in the life of an Asbury student,” said Camille Sigrist, Admissions Coordinator for Campus Visits and Events. “They can experience from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday going to class, going to chapel, going to talk to a professor, eating lunch in the dining hall or even breakfast with their overnight host.”
Through a variety of activities such as meeting with admissions counselors, student ambassadors, professors and coaches, students will have the opportunity to hear a variety of perspectives on campus.
In addition to a tour of campus and the opportunity to talk to faculty and staff about scholarships, majors and other opportunities, students will be able to make personal connections with student ambassadors and current students.
“I think that one of the things that prospective students are looking at most or what they’re most interested in experiencing is a one-on-one conversation with a current student,” said Sigrist. “To give them opportunities to do that we are putting student ambassadors in breakout rooms with admissions counselors. They themselves are hosting students. Students are going to be able to connect with current students in the classroom.”
While prospective students and their families will have plenty of time to meet with professors and coaches and to attend classes, Sigrist says that it is the student connections that make this event memorable.
“They want to see a tour, they want to see the buildings, they want to talk about scholarships, but the thing they are looking for most is a personal connection with a current student,” said Sigrist.
In order to make prospective students feel more welcomed, Sigrist says that current students can acknowledge the visitors on campus.
“We get that a lot in our feedback surveys of ‘I got to meet a student’ or ‘everyone was so nice here, someone stopped me on my way to class.’ I think that the more current students can be aware that this event is happening and smile, they want you to say ‘hi’ to them. If you make a connection with them in class, invite them to coffee. They don’t have to stick to the event schedule.”
The Spring Preview event is one of three preview events that take place each academic year at Asbury University. While each preview caters to potential students of all grades, the Spring Preview is especially important to high school juniors who are still in the process of considering potential colleges.
The goal of Spring Preview is to show prospective students an accurate representation of daily life on Asbury’s campus while allowing students to create their own schedules with open hours for exploration of what Asbury has to offer.
“I want them to feel like Asbury could be a potential home and that they belong here,” said Sigrist. “I want them to leave feeling like they were able to connect with someone on campus and feel like they have more clarity on where God wants them to go to college.”
Photo courtesy of AU Strat Comm.
