Classes begin tomorrow and already planning for the future

Orientation wound down today with our annual activities fair on the quad. With classes starting tomorrow, new students had a chance to learn about how they might choose to spend their time outside the classroom by meeting with reps from many of the clubs and organizations on campus. The weather was great and the quad was packed!!

With our entering first-year and transfer students busy with orientation the last few days the admissions staff spent Tuesday and Wednesday holed up planning for the next admissions cycle. We spent time discussing recruitment plans, our new on-line application, meeting with our colleagues from financial aid, career development, and first-year programs, among others, to be sure we have the most up to date information to share with prospective students and their families.

We'll be visiting close to 600 high schools around the world, attending over 200 college fairs, offering off-campus interviews in about two dozen locations and delivering information sessions in 14 east coast cities...yes we will be busy this fall!!

We have 3 new staff members joining the counseling team this fall....Alison Sherlock, Admissions Counselor; Michelle Carrara, Coordinator of International Admissions; and Kait Gentile, Sr. Asst. Director of Admissions. We'll be updating our meet the staff page shortly, so check back for the most update information in the next couple of weeks.

See you on the road this fall!!

Ed

All things international

Last week we welcomed a group of prospective students from Thailand to campus for a day long visit. This group of students will be sponsored by the Thai government as they complete one year at an independent high school in the US and then four years in a bachelor degree program at a US university. The students had a great visit to WPI and had many questions for the admissions staff and current WPI students. The students will be attending high schools across the country and we hope to see many of them submitting applications to WPI in the coming months.


Thai Students Outside the Bartlett Center


This morning we hosted a breakfast for the new student pre-orientation for all incoming international students. Approximately 100 international students arrived on campus over the last couple of days. They represent over 35 different countries from around the world. The students will have the next week to adjust to a new country and a new school before classes begin next Thursday. We are excited to welcome this wonderfully diverse group of students to campus to began their university studies. For the first time ever over 10% of the incoming class will come from outside the country.


We aren't slowing down either...our international recruitment plans for this fall include travel to Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, as well as the Caribbean. More details will be available on the web soon. If you are wondering if we'll be heading to your home country just drop us an e-mail at admissions@wpi.edu.

Ed

New Application

So what do we do over the summer in the Office of Admissions? Well we are in the midst of a major redesign to our on-line application. We'll have a new attractive and user-friendly application for you in the coming weeks. For all of you anxious to start your applications for next year hang in there. We'll be launching the new application in early September.

If you just can't wait visit http://admissions.wpi.edu/application.html for other application options.

Ed

Looking to connect with other students considering WPI? Search for WPI groups, such as "I'm from the Northeast and I'm interested in WPI" or "I'm from the West and I'm interested in WPI" on Facebook.

Off-Campus Receptions and Interviews

As the new class arrives the admissions staff is already busy making our recruitment plans for the Class of 2013.

We've just finalized our off-campus evening receptions across the northeast. If we are going to be in your area I hope you will join us.

We'll also be offering interviews with admissions staff members across the US and around the world. The domestic locations have been set for the fall, and the international locations will be posted shortly. If you would like to set-up an appointment please contact the Office of Admissions at 508-831-5286.

Hope to see you this fall....

Ed

PS - Manny who?

One week and counting

Just a week from today our incoming international students will be arriving on campus. We look forward to welcoming approximately 100 new international students from over 30 countries. Just few days later, on Sunday the 24th, all first year students will be arriving on campus. This is an exciting time of year for all!! See you all you new students next week....

Top Colleges for Getting Rich

Check out yesterday's Forbes.com article entitled "Top Colleges for Getting Rich".

WPI was ranked #9 in the country!! While the college experience is about so much more, the article and rankings demonstrate that WPI is a great investment for one's future. The article doesn't actually focus on starting salaries for graduates, but instead looks at earning potential later in life. The rankings are based on the pay of alumni with 10 to 20 years work experience.

WPI alumni (in the 10 to 20 year bracket) came in with a median salary of $114,000 to earn us the #9 ranking on the list.

Best of luck in LA Manny....

Life Sciences and Robotics Engineering

We kicked off our Academic Visit Days with a bang today. Over 100 visitors came to campus to hear from professors in the life sciences and robotics engineering.

Robotics engineering you say? Yes, last year we introduced the first bachelor degree program in the nation in robotics engineering. We are expecting approximately 30 students in our incoming class to join the program next month.

Want to learn more? Check out an interview with the Director of the program, Professor Michael Gennert.

Want to learn more about the life sciences and other academic offerings? Head to one of our academic visit days over the next couple of weeks.

Ed