They’re everywhere.
It’s the guy sitting next to you in economics, sandwichedbetween his parents. It’s the girl posing for pictures in front ofThe Arch.
They’re wandering around the Fraternity Quads in packs on Mondaynight. They’re the future of Northwestern — and they haven’tstopped arriving yet.
About 900 high school seniors came to campus Monday throughWednesday for Preview NU, an annual event to give students who havebeen accepted to NU a glimpse of college life.
One group of prospective students attended a day-only programwhile two other batches of prospies attended overnight programsthis week. A third group of overnight high schoolers is due Mondaynight.
Preview NU included four sets of overnight prospies in 2003, butadmissions officers scaled back for this year after only 25visitors attended the fourth program a year ago, said CarolLunkenheimer, dean of undergraduate admissions.
During the course of their stay, prospies sit in on classes,tour the campus, attend academic information sessions and hang outwith NU students to try and decide whether they will be coming backas freshmen in the fall.
High school seniors Lul Tesfai and Lauren Isom studied a campusmap at Norris University Center while waiting anxiously to bematched up with their student hosts. Although they had both justarrived Monday morning, they said they already had a full day ofinformation sessions and touring.
“Northwestern seems so big and diverse,” said Isom, of Dayton,Ohio. “Everyone’s been really helpful. As soon as I stepped oncampus, people were willing to show me around.”
For high school seniors debating between schools, Preview NU canbe the deciding factor. Tesfai, who hails from Upland, Calif., saidshe had attended similar programs at Scripps College in Claremont,Calif., and at the University of California, San Diego.
“They all give you the same kind of information, but actuallybeing on campus has given me real insight into college life atNorthwestern,” she said. “It seems like an amazing school.”
Mandy Klearman said she hung out with students at NorthMid-Quads and Allison Hall on Monday night and attended psychologyclasses on Tuesday with her mom.
Although she was deciding between several schools, after comingto Preview NU Klearman said she felt confident enough to make achoice.
“This was the deciding factor for me, and I’m definitelychoosing Northwestern,” she said. “It’s not one particular thingthat struck me. It’s just the feeling you get when you’re on campusand you know that it feels right.”
