The year is off to a busy start in the Northwestern admissions office, and no one’s sweating the extra work.
NW is experiencing an increase in student interest for the 2014-2015 academic school year.
Prospective students cite various reasons including the addition of the DeWitt Learning Commons, the renovation of the Rowenhorst Student Center mini-gym and the renovation of Vermeer Dining Hall as well as the introduction of RED 101 Admitted Student Days.
“Though there are many things that contribute to why students find themselves interested in a college, I think there are some specific changes this year that have had a positive impact for Northwestern,” Kenton Pauls, Director of Admissions, said.
“The physical improvements to campus have been really significant for our incoming students,” Pauls said.
Pauls also said that the RED 101 Admitted Student Days should make a positive impact on enrollment.
Red 101 Admitted Student Days were created to better serve the students and their families as they look for a college to fit their needs.
“The need to change how we approached spring admissions events was really one that was recognized over the last few years as we began to realize that Scholarship Days were diminishing in effectiveness,” Pauls said.
By the end of the semester, the admissions office is hoping to have hosted a total of 400 prospective student visitors.
According to Tamara Fynaardt, associate director of public relations for NW, the new RED 101 Admitted Student Days are not only for those students with high GPAs.
“The days are not a competition anymore; they’re more like a mini-orientation or college preview,” Fynaardt said.
Elizabeth Huseman, a NW admissions counselor, echoed Fynaardt’s assessment.
“All students who are accepted to Northwestern are invited to attend one of the five dates,” she said.
The first set of the RED 101 Admitted Student Days was on Jan. 19 and 20, and it brought 71 visiting students to campus.
According to Huseman, the first event was a success.
“The first RED101 was fantastic,” Huseman said. “Students and parents said they enjoyed the various aspects of the day.”
Each RED 101 Admitted Student Day allows visiting students the opportunity to get to know current NW students, attend Praise and Worship, spend a night in the dorms, eat lunch in the cafe, experience First Year Seminar, meet professors and coaches and tour the campus.
Also, according to Fynaardt, each attendee is rewarded the RED101 Grant, which is a $1,000 renewable scholarship for attending.
The next RED 101 Admitted Student Days will take place Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, Feb. 16 and Feb. 17, March 23 and March 24 and April 13 and April 14.
