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Make A Date Helps Future Students, Parents Make Sound College Choices

One of the questions high on the list for high school students is “What will my first day of classes be like?” said Bonnie Yarboro, admissions counselor in the North Carolina State University College of Management’s Office of Undergraduate Programs. Parents typically have a wide range of questions of their own.

“We created a Make a Date with State program that enables both high school students and their parents to get a realistic view of what it’s like to be an NC State student,” Yarboro said.

“Our schedule of activities – including information sessions, conversations over lunch with the College of Management Student Ambassadors and faculty, and campus tours – helps assure that participants get their questions answered. Students get a sense of what that first day of class on campus may be like by joining College of Management ambassadors as they attend their classes,” she said.

“Current students and graduates who participated in Make a Date with State said that the program’s personalized approach had a significant impact on their decision to attend NC State and enroll in the College of Management,” Yarboro said.

“Originally, Make a Date took place during the school week,” said senior Ashleigh Watts, a senior and one of the college’s Student Ambassadors. “When it became apparent to the college staff that it was difficult for students to miss their high school classes in order to participate in the events, they adjusted the program to include weekend and weekday Make a Date options,” she said.

This year, the college scheduled the campus visits for February 14 and 20, and March 14. Forty students attended on February 14 and 65 on February 20. More than 75 students are expected for the final Make a Date session on March 14, Yarboro said. A number of the college’s faculty members will present mini-versions of one of their regular class sessions to provide the visiting high school students with classroom experiences.

“The personal interaction and on-site experience has helped the college strengthen the admissions rate of its accepted students,” Yarboro said. In 2008, 173 students attended a Make a Date event. Of those, 85 percent were members of the fall 2008 incoming freshman class.

Steven Squires, president of the college’s Student Ambassadors, reflected on his own experience four years ago as a high school senior.

“Make a Date is an excellent opportunity for students to make a connection with the NC State College of Management. As a Raleigh native, I didn’t think I’d feel comfortable because I was so close to home. However, I attended one of the Make a Date events and felt an immediate connection with the university. I felt a sense of belonging from the beginning and I had an excellent ambassador to lead me.”

Note: Ashleigh Watts contributed to this story.