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Introducing Poole College’s Class of 2015

Orientation days have ended for the first class of freshmen – 414 in all – entering Poole College under its new name. One final session, though, is scheduled for July 25, for students transferring to the college from other universities.

Who are Poole College’s new undergraduate students? For one thing, 32 percent were in the top 10 percent of their high school classes, where they earned a 4.23 weighted high school grade point average. Their average SAT score was 1170. Forty-two percent are female; 58 percent, male. And more than 76 percent had studied Spanish in high school.

They’ve got talent, too, according to surveys completed as part of their enrollment and orientation processes. The 2015 cohort includes musicians – piano, violin, guitar, vocal, ukulele and trombone – and varsity athletes representing the full range of sports: tennis, men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, softball, swimming, lacrosse, volleyball, baseball, track and field, plus golf, wrestling and cheerleading, and more.

Leadership development has also been high on their list. A number of the new freshmen were high school student body and senior class presidents, and several founded clubs, including a sign language club, FCA and Model UN. Others were active in Beta Club, Business Club, Environmental Club, DECA, African American History Club, Spanish Club, to name a few.

What led them to NC State’s Poole College of Management? Here are a few of their responses:

As soon as I toured the campus and the College of Management, I knew it was where I wanted to go I loved NC State!

I have always loved the atmosphere that I find at NC State. I came to the ‘Make a Date with State’ and felt absolutely comfortable with the professors and other students there. All in all, it just feels like a good place to be.

I’ve been a fan of NCSU since I was very young and loved the Poole College of Management when I visited.

I was looking for a big school that was close to home and had a good business program. All that I wanted in a college was available at State.

Now that they’re here, what are their goals? The students reported that they’re looking at careers in accounting, as a CPA; architecture, brand management, international business, military, sports marketing, contractor, real estate, fashion, graduate school (getting an MBA), law school, entrepreneurship, financial planning, dentistry, insurance, sales, politics, coaching, piloting, corporate leadership, collegiate teaching, working for the FBI, and more.

They also have personal goals for their time at NC State: Meet new people, make the Dean’s List, participate in Greek life, study abroad, obtain an internship, mature, stay focused, study hard, beat everyone in my dorm room at ping pong, enjoy myself, make new friends, be independent, explore Raleigh, always be on time, expand my horizons, learn how to live away from home, get my laundry done, be responsible, have the time of my life.

And where is home for these students? Some came from as close as Raleigh – 19 percent are from the Triangle area. Others are from communities up and down both coasts of the U.S., including states bordering the Gulf of Mexico, and many of the states in between – 26 states in all. Nearly half 40.95% – had lived outside of North Carolina at some point in their lives, and nine percent had lived outside the country. More than half – 69.85 percent – had traveled abroad, including Africa, Australia, France, China, Costa Rica, England, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Vietnam, Peru, and Canada.

The new students began the transition from high school to college with the help of advisors and staff in the college’s Office of Undergraduate Programs and the college’s Peer Leaders, as well as faculty and staff who join in for evening receptions held for parents.

Orientation sessions, led by Dr. Lauren Brown – who co-teaches with Dr. K. Leigh Forell the M100 Professionalism, Diversity & Academic Success in Management class that all freshmen attend – coordinated the busy orientation schedule. It included an overview of the college, its majors, minors, dual degree options and study abroad, student organizations and other opportunities to get involved in the life of the college and the university. The final activity: registering for the fall first semester courses. That’s where the Peers Leaders came in. They have been in training to not only serve as mentors and a familiar face for the new students as they get used to campus life but also to help students work through the process of registering for courses, setting them on the path toward graduation.

Note: the statistics cited in this story reflect student enrollment at this time. Official college enrollment information will be available after the start of the fall semester.

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Students in the students posed for a photo with their new Poole College t-shirts, after learning about Hamilton Scholars and study abroad options as part of their freshman orientation.