April 12, 2006

A Big Slice of College Life

Jason LaMar, director of information services, addresses a family's concerns about computer requirements during Monday's Slice events.

It takes an entire college community to recruit a student.

And the Ohio Wesleyan community came together on Sunday and Monday to host 225 admitted students and more than 500 total guests for the Slice of College Life admission event.

"My perspective – and I believe I speak for the office — is that while the admission office puts this program on, it takes everyone in the campus community to make it a success," says Laurie Patton '95, senior associate director of admission. "Everyone from buildings and grounds to housekeeping to faculty was helpful and the mood on campus was supportive for our prospective students."

Those prospective students came from nearly half of the states. The states included Missouri, Hawaii, Vermont, West Virginia, Maine, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Virginia, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Georgia, Wisconsin, Indiana, Colorado, California, Illinois, New York, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia and students coming from these states accounted for more than 58 percent of the enrollment.

Students were treated to a few new twists this year including more student performances – including rock bands The Alarms and Hennigan – and a very well-attended session on study abroad was added this year. "The Internet Café was another new addition for this year, and they were busy on Sunday," says Patton.

The event is not unique according to Patton. "Schools across the country do these types of admitted student events. It is an opportunity for students to revisit Ohio Wesleyan as they are making that final decision on where to attend college. And we hope that they choose Ohio Wesleyan."

— Toby Boyce