Acorn

Drew annual Spring Saturday was held this past weekend, drawing an unprecedented crowd of approximately 200 admitted students and their families.

An open house designed to give admitted prospective students an opportunity to learn more about the University and its opportunities, Spring Saturday has been a Drew tradition since the early nineties.

"Basically, ... we want to give accepted students as much information [about the University] as they want in the day," said Tara Zinna, an Admissions staff member who coordinated the event. "There were a lot of things going on."

Students arrived at approximately 8:30 a.m. After welcome speeches, the prospective students were offered presentations on Drew's First Year Seminar requirement, the Pre-Law and Pre-Med programs and Business Education at Drew.

Prospective families also had a choice between presentations by the Career Center, the Athletic Department and the Off-Campus Study Department.

The Admissions office received approximately six acceptances on admissions offers on Saturday, Zinna said.

"As soon as I stepped on campus today, I knew my acceptance would be final," Stacie MacLaughlin, 18, of Lakewood said. "I thought Spring Saturday was amazing. I have learned more today than the two other times I've been here for a tour."

Question-and-answer sessions were offered to students and their parents in separate forums.

"I attended the parents' panel which was in the concert hall," Carey said. "It was packed, ... [leaving] standing room only."

Feedback from the prospective student panel was equally positive, and students seemed very excited about the prospect of coming to Drew, Carey said.

Spring Saturday was the first time Angela Meyster, 17, of Emerson visited Drew. "Drew has a beautiful campus," she said. "The student panel gave good advice."

"[The campus is] very friendly," New Jersey resident Anna Umasky said. "Everyone is really open and inviting. I've felt really comfortable since I stepped on campus."

Admitted students had an opportunity to attend an academic fair held in Baldwin Gym, which featured representatives from all the majors and virtually all the minors offered at Drew.

Adam Busch, 17, of Ramsey is narrowing down his acceptances, and thinks Drew may be right for him. "It's been a long day," he said. "It was nice to see professors and talk to students. It made the college experience real."

The open house served as a first experience for many of Drew's newly-accepted tour guides.

The responsibilities for the tour guides included two sessions of tours at 11:00 a.m. and 11:45 a.m., arranging parking for the families, and participating in panel discussions for prospective students.

"I was nervous, but I think I did okay for my first time," freshman tour guide Kimberly Baldino said. "The students and the parents seemed really excited about Drew, and I think they left with a positive feeling about the school."

"We had about 35 tour guides turn out to assist with tours, which is a really big number," Zinna said. "Most [tours] were really small and had about one or two families on them. They did a great job."

A small activities fair was held outside of the Commons. Among the groups represented were the Alliance, the College Democrats, the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship and the Muslim Student Association.

"It was one of the best [Spring Saturdays] we've ever had because of the weather," Carey said.

"It was a gorgeous day and certainly showed Drew at its best, but the whole community really came together to help us."

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