It’s hard to believe that the summer is over and SU students are back on campus already. The last two weeks have been quite hectic getting ready for the beginning of the semester. I’ve so many thoughts about what has transpired the past few days. First, I want to say a big “THANK YOU” to the Orientation and Welcome Leaders for an outstanding job this summer: Kali, Corinne, Maria, Kristin, Yanita, Nicole, Brittaney, Bethany, Ish’Shah, Pat, Aaron, David, Lawrence, Ian, and Cliff.
Convocation last Thursday was a great opening to the academic year. I always feel a strong sense of pride and accomplishment as I hand off the freshman class to the University. I was impressed with Dr. Q’s welcome address to the Class of 2014…truly inspirational (and funny, too). Kudos to the Admissions staff for bringing in the largest freshman class in University history…by far. With over 800 freshman this year, we’ve had to scramble to find beds, classrooms, and faculty. But, it all came together and I’m sure it’ll be a memorable first year for our freshman.
Now, it’s time to work with the Class of 2015!
Tags: Orientation and Welcome Leaders, stevenson, Stevenson Admissions, Stevenson University
The beginning of a new era here at Stevenson is under way today. The first football student-athletes arrived on campus this morning and began moving in. Their first official practice will be tomorrow (August 12th) afternoon at the Greenspring campus. We recently announced that we will be joining the MAC Conference for football beginning in 2011. (Click here to read the article). Our first varsity game will be played in September 2011.
P.S. Look for the new Mustangs logo that will be unveiled tomorrow! Go Mustangs!
Tags: football, MAC Conference, Mustangs, Stevenson Admissions, Stevenson University
The application for undergraduate admission for Fall 2011 is now available. We encourage you to use any one of these three methods to apply:
Remember you can start by creating your login or ID, and begin completing sections of the application now. Better to get an early start on things before the hectic nature of your senior year kicks in! This time of year is also an ideal time to write your essays and prepare your activity resume (both of which we love to see here at SU!). Good luck as you begin your college applications!
Tags: Common Application, Stevenson Admissions, Stevenson University, Universal College Application
So, as I stroll into the office this morning and walk down the hallway to my office, little did I know what might await me behind my closed door. To my surprise, as I opened my office, I was greeted by Wild Stang…and Wild Stang…and about 100 more little Wild Stangs! (See picture.) Yes, my whole office was covered in stuffed horses and very SU school spirit dressed cut-outs of two Wild Stangs. My dearest thanks to my ever-thoughtful admissions staff and the O.W.L.s (and SFS, for that matter) for making my morning a memorable one! It was certainly the best practical joke of the summer (if not the year).
Tags: Stevenson Admissions, Stevenson University, Wild Stang
It’s July 22nd and you thought I might go through the whole Tour de France without a single blog. Wrong! Well, here it is. Fittingly, today was the “Queen’s stage” and the leaders pushed themselves in an effort to secure the overall win. They spent 18.6 kilometers climbing up the famous Col du Tourmalet in the Pryenees. Alberto Contador (winner in 2007 and 2009) held on to a :08 second lead as he matched Andy Schleck’s every attack and move today. It now looks very probable that Contador will win his 3rd Tour title (though I was rooting for Schleck!).
Although Lance had a rough first week in the tour, he saved his strength and showed some of that old grit and guts on Tuesday and again today. Looks like Team Radio Shack will win the overall team title, which means we will see Lance on the podium one last time in Paris on Sunday (albeit not in the yellow jersey). Overall, it’s been one of the more exciting and memorable Tours of late.
Catch the last 3 days on Versus. Viva le Tour!
Tags: Andy Schleck, Lance Armstrong, Team Radio Shack, tour de france
Well, the summer heat has come to Owings Mills (yes, it’s over 100 degrees again today) and campus visitors certainly have increased. Now is a good time to visit Stevenson…the weather is great and the campus will be a little busier during July. Our summer tour guides (The O.W.L.s) have recently been helping the incoming freshman through orientation and registration during Mustang Days in June. Now they are really excited about all of the potential Class of 2015 students who are coming to campus each day!
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting several students and parents in the past two weeks from Maryland, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. It’s great to see students from all over the country coming to see what Stevenson is all about. (P.S. that’s a shot of the new gym which is nearly completion for the Fall 2010 semester!)
Tags: Orientation and Welcome Leaders, Stevenson Admissions, Stevenson University
Today was a really good day at the conference. I helped present a session on social media and recruitment along with Gil Rogers from University of New Haven and Arturo Carrillo from The George Washington University. They were both really great to work with and the session seemed to be very well received. I highlighted our usage of Facebook (especially Wild Stang and the admissions staff ), as well as our faculty blogs. Hopefully, the many attendees (they actually had to bring in another 50 chairs and it was still standing room only!) came away with some good ideas and methods to put social media to work for their admissions and recruitment efforts. Thanks again to Hobsons (and Stacy!) for the opportunity to present at this year’s conference!
Tags: ConnectUniversity, Hobsons, Social Media, Stevenson Admissions, Stevenson University
After a very busy spring here in the Stevenson Admissions Office, I was finally able to get away for a few days of vacation. We headed south on I-95 to Hilton Head Island, SC. If you have never been there, then I highly recommend that you visit sometime. It’s very beautiful…beautiful beaches and scenery. As a golfer, unfortunately, I did not have the chance to play while there…but the courses are gorgeous and I hope to return soon and get some rounds in. Harbourtown is worth the time to visit. We climbed the lighthouse, had a tasty seafood dinner at the Crazy Crab (gotta love a name like that!), shopped, and looked at all the big yachts docked in the harbor. Perhaps one of the coolest things was a band playing a concert at the small outdoor amphitheater (under a hug, old tree…imagine a “liberty tree” setting), which was made up of three teenagers. They rocked. Period.
I must confess that we did succumb to the quintessential (and all-time great) tourist trap…a.k.a. South of the Border. Once, just once in your lifetime, you should stop there.
Tags: Crazy Crab, Harbourtown, Hilton Head Island, South of the Border
I am looking forward to seeing the first members of the Stevenson Class of 2014 arrive on campus tomorrow for orientation. Mustang Days always promise to be a wonderful introduction to SU life for both students and parents. With a record freshman class this year, I am sure it’ll be quite busy.
For more information, click here. Also, before you arrive…get to know our fabulous Orientation and Welcome Leaders. They will be your hosts during Mustang Days, and they’re here to help you learn more about Stevenson.
Tags: Mustang Days, Orientation and Welcome Leaders, Stevenson Admissions, Stevenson University
Last Thursday and Friday we held our annual planning retreat. It’s always good to take some time to reflect on the admissions cycle that is coming to a close, and also look ahead to the coming year. This year we decided to make a change of venue from the Eastern Shore of Maryland and head across the state to Garrett County. We met at a house near Deep Creek Lake, which is a beautiful place this time of year.
This year we discussed what our recruitment plans will be for the Fall 2011 class. We talked about our fall travel plans, as well as some on-going improvements to our visit program and tour guide program. Additionally, we reviewed our communication plan (look out for those publications and emails!), the SU website, application review and our essay questions, and some other areas of focus for the coming year.
One evening we all watched the documentary film, “In 500 Words or Less“, which follows the lives of four different students through their senior year of high school as it relates to their college search and their ultimate choices where to attend. Click here for more info about it.
Aside from some good food (Canoe-on-the-Run cafe was very good) and good ice cream (Lakeside Creamery rocks!), the highlight of the retreat was our team building adventure at Wisp Resort’s whitewater course run by ASCI. I think everyone had a great time, and it was so good to see the admissions staff having fun, overcoming some fears and anxiety, and bonding together…all while getting soaked and tossed around in a man-made river at the top of a mountain!
Mark and Brandon wore digital video cams on their helmets, and here’s the link to a brief video Brandon edited of the “rafting trip”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DerxqC9pCJk
Hopefully I’ll have some pictures to share soon. All in all, it was a productive and enjoyable retreat this year.
Tags: ASCI, Stevenson Admissions, Stevenson University, wisp resort