It’s springtime, and today the campus will be swarming with something more than caterpillars – spring testers.
Spring Invitational is a tool for recruiting new students and a way for high school seniors to acclimate themselves to the University, schedule classes for next fall and take a series of placement tests.
“It is one of the programs at LSU that lends itself to yielding students,” said Andy Benoit, director of recruiting services. “Students that come to the program have a great experience and are given many worthwhile opportunities that they value greatly.”
Students will take a series of placement tests, including chemistry, physics, foreign language and math.
Participants will also have an opportunity to explore the University’s campus and get a sneak preview of what college life at LSU is like.
Amanda Villarrubia, ambassador chair of Spring Invitational, said activities for prospective students include informational sessions concerning the Honors College, student aid and scholarships, PAWS, on-campus housing and various meals courtesy of the University.
A special event for the prospective students will include performances by Tiger girls, cheerleaders, STRIPES, ambassadors and the Hip-Hop Coalition, Villarrubia said.
“Thursday night is when we get to have fun with the [prospective] students,” Villarrubia said.
Cara Bevinetto, pre-med freshman, said Spring Invitational gave her the opportunity to have an inside look at college-residential life.
“Plus I got to stay in the dorms with one of my friends and got to see what the dorms were like,” Bevinetto said.
Scheduling classes is part of the orientation process for the prospective students.
Some students said the chance to have advanced scheduling was enough to get them excited about Spring Invitational.
“One of the major reasons I wanted to go to Spring Testing was the opportunity to schedule classes early,” said Megan Treme, mass communication freshman.
Treme said she scheduled Mass Communication 2010, which is normally a difficult class for an incoming freshman to secure.
The programs offered at the invitational also show students some of the incentives the University has to offer.
Villarrubia said Spring Invitational can play an integral role in influencing students’ decision.
“I know when I came through Spring Invitational, I absolutely fell in love with LSU,” Villarrubia said. “Everyone was so nice, and things could not have been any nicer. I felt like the University welcomed us with open arms, and I want these students to feel the same way.”
 
Contact Justin Fritscher at [email protected]