More than 1,700 of the top high school seniors accepted to LSU will converge on campus today for Spring Testing.
During the next three days, these prospective students will be tested in calculus, chemistry, computer science, French, German, Latin, Spanish, math and physics, trying to earn college credit.
According to the Office of Recruiting Service’s Web site, Spring Testing is an orientation and testing event designed for students with exceptional academic records and achievement scores. While here, students will have the opportunity to take advanced-standing exams for college credit, receive academic counseling from LSU faculty advisers and schedule classes for summer or fall before other incoming freshmen.
According to the Web site, “participation is by invitation only to students who have an ACT composite of 26 (or SAT of 1170) and an academic GPA of at least 3.00. All students who attend Spring Testing must be admitted to LSU.”
These students will be ushered around campus by the LSU Ambassadors, who will be orienting them to the campus and recruiting them to attend the University.
“This is definitely the largest group of [high school] students we have on campus at one time.” said Kelli Webber, adviser for the Ambassadors. “We’re still trying to recruit these students. The ambassadors serve as orientation leaders.”
According to the Spring Testing itinerary, attending students will participate in a variety of events intended to attract them to the University. Today, they will have the opportunity to take a photograph for a student ID card, take guided tours of the campus and the residence halls and attend a complimentary welcome picnic at the French House.
This all leads up to tonight’s “Preview 2004” in the LSU Union Ballroom, where students will be officially welcomed to the University and will meet up with their ambassador.
Other social events associated with Spring Testing include Thursday’s showing of “School of Rock,” a drive-in movie on the Parade Grounds, and Friday’s “Groovin’ on the Grounds” concert.
“It’s a big ice-breaker for the new freshmen to get to know each other,” Webber said.
Webber said the Ambassadors are essential to the success of Spring Testing, but that all University students who come in contact with spring testers can do their part to recruit them to LSU.
“Spring Testing is a recruiting event,” she said.
Spring Testing begins today with registration starting at 1 p.m. in the Cotillion Ballroom in the Union. It officially ends Friday at approximately 4 p.m.