Accepted students visit SMC campus
By EMILY BRAMMER
News Writer
Many accepted students confirmed their decisions to attend Saint Mary's next fall as they toured campus and met with faculty and administers Sunday on Accepted Student Day.
After Mass in Angela Athletic Facility, Saint Mary's President Marilou Eldred formally welcomed the students along with Director of Admission Mary Pat Nolan and Board of Governance President Kim Jensen.
"Accepted students need to have that chance to come back one more time to confirm their decisions," said Nolan. "And they're very excited to see where they're going to be for the next four years."
Saint Mary's students gave the potential students a tour of campus which included a trip through the new Student Center and Noble Family Dining Hall.
"Students were really amazed with the new facility," said Jensen. "They're excited to know that it will be available to them next year."
Afternoon events included two sessions of open houses sponsored by Student Activities and Academic Affairs. Faculty and staff in the academic departments spoke with interested students, and all student life offices such as Campus Ministry, Residence Life and other clubs and organizations presented students with information.
"This is the first year that we have expanded [Accepted Student Day] for more student involvement," said Nolan. "The sessions are now set up more like Student Activities Night, giving them the opportunity to actually go around and talk to representatives of academic departments and student life activities."
About 155 families from 21 states traveled to attend the day's events.
Accepted student Gemma Edwardo currently attends Vincentian Academy in Pittsburgh. She applied to Saint Mary's because she was interested in experiencing education in an all girls environment. She said Saint Mary's impressed her because she felt it has a family atmosphere.
"The students here seem just as nice as everyone says they are," said Edwardo. "I think it would be easy to make friends here."
Most importantly, accepted students left with a strong sense of resolution.
"It solidified the choice of students who were already serious about Saint Mary's," said Nolan. "And those that were on the fence walked away with the feeling that this could be their home away from home."
Lauren O'Brien contributed to this article.
All News Stories for Monday, April 7, 2003
