Thousands of prospective students and their families will visit campus Saturday to learn more about the University.
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions is coordinating the event which will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thomas Griffin, the director of admissions, said he expects about seven thousand attendees at the event.
“As of [Tuesday afternoon], we have 6,980 [registered attendees], so approximately seven thousand registered to attend,” Griffin said.
The largest crowds are anticipated late in the morning, Griffin said.
”The maximum number of people around campus should be between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.,” Griffin said.
Due to the number of people expected to attend, the Open House will not be a formal event.
“With 7,000 people possibly coming at all different times, there is no kickoff in Reynolds Coliseum or anything. People will just come and there will be welcome tables set up,” Griffin said.
Although mainly held in Talley Student Center and Carmichael Gymnasium, the Open House will also affect other areas of campus.
“Other buildings around campus [will be] open to showcase different departments of colleges,” Griffin said. “There will be tours running throughout the Open House, and there will be a couple of residence halls that will be showing rooms as part of open house as well.”
According to Griffin, only one program will run after 1 p.m.
“[The] Natural Resources will be around until 2 p.m. [in Jordan Hall],” Griffin said.
Despite the size of the event, Griffin said it should not greatly affect students living on campus.
“The hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. … If they wake up in time to see the football game at noon, then it shouldn’t really affect them very much,” Griffin said. “It should be a lot of people around Talley Student Center area. There will be lots of parents and students wandering around campus, but it shouldn’t be a big impact.”
Some student organizations will be also present and recruit prospective students.
“Our University Ambassadors student group will be leading campus tours. All of the colleges’ ambassador groups will be involved in campus activities, and one of the ROTC groups helps with parking,” Griffin said. “Student groups will also be performing … during the open house. Some student groups will also set up some tables to tell prospective students about their organizations.”
Ambassadors will be one student group working Open House.Caitlin Lowe, a senior in agricultural business management and plant biology, said her group will target prospective students.
“We are going to have CALS info sessions and two breakout sessions, particularly pre-vet and pre-med, for students who are interested in pursuing those after undergrad,” Lowe said. She also said CALS offers pre-vet and pre-med support, but it does not offer pre-vet or pre-med as a major.
Lowe also said CALS ambassadors will be at the Open House to help incoming students find a comfortable place in the University.
“As students and ambassadors, we promote State, but we really want to talk to students and see if this is a good fit for them,” Lowe said.
Open House is not always necessary to attract students. Aaron Wells, a junior in civil engineering, enrolled at State because of the engineering program.
“I just went to orientation. That was the first time I had ever been on campus,” Wells said.
Griffin said making an impression on students is what the Office of Admissions hopes to achieve with prospective students.
“The main thing we want to do is give them a good impression of N.C. State,” Griffin said. “And then allow them to explore more information about particular areas that may be of interest to them.”
