Adventures in Admission

Fall travel

I am in the midst of fall travel season.  October is so busy I am in 5 states and I might be home for a total of 5 full day (not all at one time).  This is the time of year I get excited about the students who are starting their application process.  Some students have visited DU as juniors and many more are scheduling their campus visits now during their senior year.

A typical day for me goes from 6:30 AM to 10 PM or later.  I am conducting high school visits and attending college night programs throughout the Midwest.  I am also asked to give presentations for high school junior programs and not-for-profit organizations like College Bound in MN.  

In October there are four national college fairs in the Midwest; Chicago, Milwaukee, St Louis, Minneapolis.  These national college fairs draw students from the home state and surrounding states. The Minneapolis National College Fair is the largest program I attend for DU.  I always invite area alumni and current parents of DU students to join me for the two day event.  If you happened to come by the DU table you would see us 2 – 3 deep with people asking questions and filling out inquiry cards to get more information.  We talk non-stop from 9 AM - 1 PM and from 4 PM – 9 PM.  I am ever so thankful for the assistance from my DU parents and alumni that are with me at these programs.  They add a different perspective and insight that I don’t have.

Presentations offer me an opportunity to reach out to students and families in a different way.  I have a PowerPoint on How to Set Up a Successful Campus Visit, help conduct Mock Admissions Committees, and a Dear Director of Admission Simulation.  These presentations go beyond DU and offer insight into the admission process and campus visit planning.  I am always amazed ant the responsiveness of the audience for these programs.  The students offer thoughtful insight and really seem have a good grasp on the admission process this year. 

As I wind down travel season, it is time to prepare for the optional Hyde Interviews and file review.  Admission is a season that continually changes.  Travel starts at the right time and concludes just when you need a break.   I look forward to seeing many of my Midwestern students at the Hyde Interviews in November and I also am looking forward to reviewing the applications from my territory.  Have a great fall!

Jenn Paar, Midwest Regional Director

Staying healthy

Like many campuses across the nation, DU spent the summer preparing continuity plans for a possible H1N1 flu outbreak on campus.  While we've had several cases reported, it has not significantly impacted our student body this fall.  We still had hundreds of students camp out overnight to buy season tickets to watch our number one ranked hockey team, theatre students handed out beach balls on 16th street mall as part of a senior project, and members of the Alpine Club went hiking, biking and climbing at Independence Pass.

Meanwhile, our staff has been traveling around the world on planes, trains and automobiles - trying to stay healthy ourselves.  We all carry bottles of hand sanitizer with us and wash our hands multiple times throughout the day, as our dry hands will testify!  At one high school I visited in Idaho this past week, their school newspaper reported that they had over 200 students out sick every day for more than two weeks.  I flew in late Friday night and found Denver receiving the first snow of the season - by the time I woke up Saturday morning we already had about 4 inches on the ground.  With the combination of constant travel and the change in weather, I woke up with a sore throat and worked all weekend to get healthy again for a busy week meeting with students and families.  Good thing a constant diet of tea, chicken noodle soup and vitamin C work so well!  Now it's back on the road...

Emily Forbes, Assistant Director of Admission

Fall Travel

The air is crisp, the leaves are golden and we are off to a busy fall travel season.  Each admission counselor is driving or flying around the country and even the world to recruit the best students for the class of 2013.  While it's hard to only be on campus for a few days each month, there is an excitement and energy involved with meeting interested and engaging students every day. 

Next Monday most of us will be back in the office for our fall Open House program where nearly 400 students and families will be coming on to DU's campus to get a sneak-peak at what life is like here for a student.  Students will have the opportunity to spend the night in the residence halls with a current student, eat in the dining halls, go on a tour of campus, meet with faculty members and find out what types of activities are available for students.  It's a fun day for us to start putting names and faces together of student we have been emailing for months or students who are about to submit their applications by November 1 for our Early Action deadline. 

Each fall brings with it a sense of anticipation as we embark on travels and start connecting with students here on campus and out on the road...so, off we go!

Emily Forbes, Admission Counselor