UpDate - Vol. 12, No. 38, Page 2
August 5, 1993
Students see special preview of college life at Delaware

     The tents are up, the balloons are flying, the carillon is playing
classical music and everyone is wearing Sunday best for Delaware Preview
Days.
     "It's college. It just says college. You'd have to be in a daze not to
get goose bumps just looking at the spectacle of it all," said Harriet
Saxton, associate director of admissions and coordinator of Preview Days.
     Delaware Preview Days is designed to woo high school students to the
University. All of the colleges, representatives from their faculty,
department chairpersons and administrators are on hand to meet, greet and
present the best that the University has to offer.
     Rising seniors, who will graduate from high school in 1994, are
invited to the event, along with their parents.
     This year, Delaware Preview Days have been held on July 23, 24, 29, 30
and Aug. 4. The final two are scheduled today and tomorrow. On July 24 a
special preview was offered for prospective African-American, and Latino
students. In past years, approximately 900-1,000 people have visited campus
each day.
     This is the sixth year for Delaware Preview Days, Saxton said, and the
effect it has had on students is noticeable. Out of the 1,945 students who
attended Delaware Preview Days last year, 1,274 applied for admission. Over
98 percent of those who attended the days in 1992 and filled out evaluation
forms said the day helped improve their concept of the University. And, in
some cases, the event completely changed their previous perceptions into
favorable ones.
     Students attending Delaware Preview Days this year will spend the
morning touring the new Bob Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center. Later,
they assemble on the Mall at 1 p.m. for refreshments and informal visits
with faculty and staff. From 2-3 p.m., there are presentations by the
admissions staff and a popular presentation by a student panel that covers
academic, social and athletic aspects of student life at the University.
From 3-4:30 p.m. there are guided tours of the campus.
     "Delaware Preview Days is one of the most successful events we have,"
Saxton said. "The admissions office organizes it, but it takes a
University-wide commitment to pull it off. We rely on a lot of student
volunteers, too. The results have been significant."
                                        -Beth Thomas