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As high school students gear up for the college admissions process, Pepperdine will welcome more than a thousand prospective students to campus this weekend in an effort to pique their interest.
One of the first steps to exposing new students to Malibu and Pepperdine University is the annual Preview Day.
“[Preview Day is] an all-day event for high school seniors where students and their families will have the opportunity to tour the campus, attend academic sessions, talk to students, learn about the admission and financial process, tour a dorm room and receive general information about the university,” Kristy Parades said, assistant director of Admissions and coordinator of Preview Day.
Preview Day will take place this Saturday.
“We expect about 1,200 students and family members to join us,” Parades said. “They have also been invited to attend regular on campus activities, such as the ‘Damn Yankees’ musical performance and water polo games.”
The entire admissions faculty will be involved in the event. The day will start at 9:30 a.m. and include campus tours given by student guides. This is the only opportunity prospective students have to see an actual dorm room arranged by the Admissions Office.
Seminar sessions will feature speakers from the Pepperdine community. Guest speakers include Seaver Dean Baird, Dr. Dan Caldwell, distinguished professor of political science and freshman Jayde Ashford.
There will also be opportunities for students to attend sessions on specific majors. Faculty representatives from each division and major will answer questions and highlight their departments.
Various organizations will also have tables set up around campus to welcome the high school students and their families and to advertise their involvement at Pepperdine.
Freshman Fabiola Ordinez said Preview Day was a large factor in making her decision to come to Pepperdine.
“Everyone was so nice and I really got a taste of what Pepperdine is all about,” she said. “I met other kids who weren’t sure about their college decisions and we realized we were all looking for the same thing in a college.”
However, some students express concern for the crowd that will be on campus.
“It will be a huge change from empty weekends to thousands of people,” freshman Kelsie Pendley said. “I hope it doesn’t affect parking or anything like that. I want people to have a good representation of what Pepperdine is, though, so I hope it won’t be a big deal.”
With 1,200 extra people on campus, it will certainly be a noticeable difference.
“Preview Day is important as it gives prospective students an insight into the Pepperdine experience, it allows them to interact with current students and faculty members and provides them with information about the application process,” Paredes said. “It is the first time for many of these students and their families to visit campus, and we want to show them what makes Pepperdine unique.”
Submitted 11-09-2006
MALIBU, CA
