Last week we hosted admissions officers and an expert on finding the scholarship money needed to pursue higher education; the former went very well, the latter went too well—with an overflow crowd spilling out the doors at UVI’s St. Thomas campus.
It’s great to see so much interest in learning about the college process. This week we’re hosting more visitors, all of them eager to recruit Virgin Islanders.
First, St. Thomas and St. Croix will host another wave of recruiters, with those scheduled to attend including representatives of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Embry Riddle Mechanical Aviation, Monroe College, University of New Haven, Sacred Heart University, Stevens Institute of Technology, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Air Force ROTC, U.S. Army ROTC, and Walsh University.
Students should check with their school counselors to learn when these representatives will be on their campuses during the day. For St. Thomas and St. John parents who would like to meet these recruiters, you’re invited to do so this week in the Mark C. Marin Center at Antilles School starting Tuesday, Sept. 14, at 6 p.m.
A similar gathering on St. Croix will take place the following night, Wednesday, Sept. 15, at St. Croix Country Day School, also at 6 p.m. No RSVP is necessary.
Also on that Tuesday at Antilles School, an hour later at 7 p.m., Josue Hurtado of Denison University will make a presentation up the hill at Prior Jollek Hall. Students and parents from all schools are welcome to attend.
Since I visited Denison a few summers ago and invited Josue to St. Thomas, he has been a regular visitor. When on-island, he speaks about all Denison has to offer, then schedules individual interviews with aspiring seniors. Those who impress him are then invited to visit Denison at the university’s expense.
In his first year, Josue enrolled a dynamic student from Ivanna Eudora Kean; this year, Josue has enrolled three more St. Thomians, one from Charlotte Amalie, one from Sts. Peter & Paul, and one from Antilles. All have generous aid packages; the last has a four-year, full-tuition scholarship.
No RSVP is necessary to attend; those interested in learning more before deciding about the session can do so at www.denison.edu.
While I could say much more about Denison, the 2011 Fiske Guide to Colleges notes strengths in Natural and Social Sciences, Philosophy, Theater, Creative Writing, Geosciences, International Studies, and Computer Science.
It is also on the growing list of institutions that do not require SAT or ACT scores. If you have good grades and some personal spark to do well in an interview, I urge you to show up Tuesday at 7 to learn more.
When you arrive for these events, please don’t judge me a hypocrite for failing to attend myself. I will be off-island, visiting Lafayette College and Lehigh University; both are outstanding institutions located in northeastern Pennsylvania, within easy reach of both Philadelphia and New York City.
Those eager to learn more are urged to check www.lafayette.edu and www.lehigh.edu, and to tune in to Radio One, AM 1000, at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, when I am scheduled to interview Robert Massa, a Lafayette official of great admissions experience who has spoken often here in the territory.
Chris Teare, College Counselor at Antilles School, is also a member of the Fiske College Guide Editorial Advisory Group, a position which entitles him to one copy of a book to which he contributes.
