Acorn

A new program from the Office of Admissions invites Drewids to share the love with students at their hometown high schools.

"The best way to get information out about Drew is to have students let fellow students know about the university," junior Lauren Kane, one of the Peer Recruitment programs creators and an intern at the office of admissions said. "If a student is having a good time here they're the best ones to carry that message."

Assistant Dean of Admissions Kerri Small and Assistant Director of Admissions Mary Clare Cullum also assisted in creating this program. In a recent campus-wide e-mail, admissions asked students: "Do you love Drew?" The e-mail described this new, student-led Peer Recruitment program and welcomed students to "give your peers a first hand perspective on what life at Drew University is really like."

"We're working on a way to get students involved in the recruitment process," Kane said. "Students are always excited to go back to their high schools. Now, they can let other students know about Drew as well."

Sometime this week -- a second campus-wide e-mail will contain more information -- there will be an extensive information session on the program. Student interest was pretty high, Kane said. Admissions has already received approximately 30 responses and they are hoping for more.

The program encourages students to bring a little piece of Drew with them while visiting their old high schools over school breaks, particularly Thanksgiving and winter breaks.

"When students go back to their high school counselors," Kane said, we want them to say 'Hey, I'm excited about this place.' Students will offer first hand experience, and informational Drew pamphlets."

Admissions has three other student-led programs, in addition to professional recruitment programs. Students can participate in the tour guides, ambassador and the Multicultural Student Outreach programs, and soon, the Peer Recruitment program. Admissions itself "stepped national recruitment up a level," Kane said.

"We have professional staff that goes to colleges throughout the country," Kane said. "Since our students are from all over, they can do the same thing, but on a more personal level."

Kane believes this is a great way for students to get involved and said it would have affected her in her college search, a few years ago.

"All the schools I applied to had students come visit my high school. It definitely affected my choices," Kane said. Drewids will have the same opportunity to extend their personal experiences to prospective students.

Freshman Mayara Carneiro thinks it's a great idea. "I found out about Drew at a school fair," she said. "I basically grabbed papers from all the tables and put them in my bag."

With this new program, Kane hopes the experience will be a little more personal.

Freshman Stacy Sailer echoed that opinion. "I'd have so many great things to say," Sailer said. "And a lot of people are going to want to go back to their high schools and show off."

Kane wants to see every kind of student get involved, adding, "It really gives a chance for students to brag about our school, while getting the word out."

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