Getting personal with undergraduate admissions

Students and their families take pride in their successes begun at Wright State.

In an annual ritual encouraged by schools and nervously anticipated by parents, high school seniors around the nation are undergoing one of the most exciting and life-altering experiences in their lives: choosing a college.

At Wright State University, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions plays an active role in the process for thousands of students each year. Understanding that this is a very personal and difficult decision for students and their families, the office is constantly looking for new ways to connect with them on a personal level.

“We’re really excited to be offering new opportunities to reach students based on their interests,” says Cathy Davis, assistant vice president for undergraduate admissions. “In addition to our Raider Open House in February, some of the events planned, in collaboration with departments across campus, include smaller-group events specifically for engineering, honors, transfer and Hispanic/Latino students.”

“The honors student event is centered around the 100th anniversary of the Titanic. We’re inviting some of our admitted students who qualify for our honors program to attend a one-on-one question and answer session with the deep-sea explorer and discoverer of the Titanic, Dr. Robert Ballard,” says Davis.

“The students will also visit our Honors Community and talk with current students. We think it will really help them better understand what their experience will be like if they attend Wright State,” explains admissions representative Megan Robertson. “It’s a small event, limited to the first 50 students who register.”

Most of the events are by invitation only, though all interested students are encouraged to attend the Raider Open House on Saturday, Feb. 25, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Wright State Student Union. (Visit www.wright.edu/raideropenhouse to learn more and register.)

Also, the general public is invited to attend Ballard’s public lecture on Mar. 1 at 7 p.m., as part of the university’s Presidential Lecture Series. (Visit www.wright.edu/lecture for more information.)

Introducing a new website this fall, admissions is actively working to promote new events and help students with their decision-making process. They’re also using popular social media channels and videos.

“The site is driven with the student perspective in mind. It’s student voice in videos, student voice in profiles, dynamic content. It’s intentional to draw from the student experience into the academic experience,” says Jennifer McCamis, associate director of operations for undergraduate admissions.

Admissions has been receiving great feedback from students relating to their new videos and social media channels. “These enable a fast and personal response,” says McCamis.

Visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions’ new website at http://www.wright.edu/admissions. You can also connect with Admissions on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wright-State-Admissions/144257942269255) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/RowdyRaider67).

VIDEO: Watch one of the “Favorite Spots on Campus” videos created by Admissions to help future students and their families get to know Wright State’s campus.