Seniors in high school are usually overwhelmed by college ads, newsletters and offers, but it’s completely up to the seniors where they actually visit and apply. Blackburn College has an annual preview day for potential incoming freshmen to get a feel for the campus and its community. High school seniors and juniors are invited to take a campus tour and attend presentations by staff and faculty.
This is an important time for the admissions department to show off the campus to prospective students. Admissions representative assistant Samantha Cranmer said, “I’d say it’s pretty important. We get a lot of prospect students come in and learn more about the school. They usually come back for their own tour days.” During Fall Preview Day, Cranmer ate lunch with the prospects, gave them tours of the campus and even showed them her room as an example of where they could live in the future.
Incoming graphic design major Alyssa Sutheard said, “I love the campus, and I like everything everyone’s told me about it. The professors here seem really cool.” Sutheard is from Jacksonville, Illinois, and is planning to start at Blackburn next fall. She learned of the campus through a friend that used to attend her high school, sophomore creative writing major Mikaela Moorman.
Incoming English major Katlynd White said “[The campus] is pretty. My initial impression of Blackburn is that it’s a very knit together community, and my overall feel of the campus is a comfortable, relaxed vibe. I’m excited to come here.” White is from Cutler, Illinois, and learned about Blackburn through traveling admissions counselor Kami Vallero who visited White’s high school, Trico Senior High School, in Campbell Hill, Illinois.