Where in the world is... "Admissions Nicole?"

Think Spring!

Where in the world was I for the past week and a half? 

My first official day of my spring recruiting took me to Salem, WI to Central High School and I had an amazing visit.  Ms. Pfeffer asked if it would be okay if they could move me from the conference room to the cafe-torium because they had a large group for me.  I walked in to a FULL cafetorium of approximately 70 students!  One-third of them were seniors who were already admitted to Parkside.  I followed up and reminded them to sign up for one of the early Ranger Day orientation dates.  The remaining students were all Juniors.  I was happy to see the majority of them were registered for the April ACT.  We filled the entire hour and a half with UW-P info and Q&A.  They all had great questions - way to go Central!

On Tuesday of this week Trudy Biehn, the new advisor from the School of Business joined me on a full day to the College of Lake County in Grayslake, Illinois.  We had a busy morning as we met students for a transfer-student fair.  Then we met-up with UW-P professors Dr. Mike Manion and Dr. Dirk Baldwin for a meeting with the CLC Transfer Director and Coordinator to discuss the great transfer agreements we have with CLC.  Trudy and I grabbed late lunch and went to set up for the Illinois College Expo (ICE Fair) at CLC's field house.   We were so busy at the ICE fair we almost lost our voices!  It was a buys and productive day.

The next morning at UW-Parkside, we hosted 40 high school counselors for breakfast to update them on various programs, services and the new suites and union being constructed on campus.  Then I was off to Mukwonago High School for their 21st Annual College Information Night and Panel - they had the largest turnout that I've seen to date.  Dr. McGair and his staff did an excellent job with this event. The next morning I had my high school visit there and several students who attended the event the evening before, came to chat with me that morning. 

I took today off, to get ready for the holiday weekend and spend time with family...and it's a blizzard outside!  What to do?!  Make a "snowbunny," and then keep thinking SPRING!!!

Speaking of spring!  Most high schools are in Spring Break next week - so remember what I had said in my earlier posts, and VISIT!  UW-Parkside is back in session next week, so it's the best time to see us as a living and breathing campus, rather than during the more quiet season of summer session. 

See you on the road,

~ Nicole

Are You LinkedIn?

These days it's easy to get caught up in social networking sites like Myspace, Facebook and countless others, but a couple months ago I joined a professional networking site called LinkedIn. 

It's been amazing connecting with fellow UW-P alumni and professors from my years here at the University!  It's also a great professional networking tool. 

Many of our upper classmen are starting their LinkedIn site as they use it to establish contacts through their internships and various other experiential learning opportunities they are participating in while at UW-Parkside.  I love seeing all the amazing careers and companies that our students (and alumni) are now connected with!

If you're an UW-P upper classmen prepping to graduate, a working professional looking to  network or a UW-P alumna/e or know someone who is, get on LinkedIn - you may even connect with a former UW-P professor or two as well!  Feel free to add me as a contact too - my LinkedIn connection is located top left of this page.

See you on the road,

~ Nicole

Let's Talk!

My spring recruiting really kicks into high gear from now until early May.  If you live in Northern Illinois, Northwest Chicago 'burbs, Kenosha/Racine County (West of I-94), Walworth County, Jefferson County, Rock and Dane County - most likely, I will be coming to a high school near you!  Attached is my high school visit and fair schedule for this Spring 2008.  Search through (you can open the document do a cntrl + F word search by entering your HS name), to see if I'm coming to your school and get a pass to come visit with me.  If I'm not coming to your school, contact me here and let me know where you're at - most likely we have another counselor coming or I'd be happy to chat with you about UW-P over the phone - or better yet, come and visit campus for an appointment and a tour!

Come visit with me - let's talk UW-P!

Download admissions_nicole_spring_08_schedule.doc

See you on the road,

~ Nicole

PS:  UW-P SWAG ALERT! If you mention "The Admissions Nicole" blog at one of my high school visits this spring (college fairs do not apply), you may just get one of the fun UW-P prizes you can take to the beach this summer (as supplies last)!  (Begins March 20th). 

Fabulous February!

Ok, so I know it's March - it's supposed to be getting warmer, "so why is she talking about February?"  I think some folks think that Admissions Reps hibernate in the winter - that's a myth.  Yes, during the months of January and February you won't find us on the road recruiting as much, due to the harsh Wisconsin weather and the fact that there are few off-campus recruiting events scheduled.  We often are planning for Spring high school visits and programs.  If we are invited to an off-campus event we jump at the chance to attend because during these Winter months we have cabin fever, and this winter was no exception!

Early in February on a very very cold Saturday UW-Parkside's Sacred Circle Organization with the assistance of Parkside Adult Student Alliance and Student Activities hosted "Honoring Our Children Pow-Wow" in the UW-Parkside Fieldhouse.  It was an awesome event and my second time attending.  UW-Parkside admissions office had a table there and our Campus Ambassadors Shoua and Stephan also were there at our table.  The turnout was great.  Various staff, many students, administrators and community members attended.  My husband who had national guard duty that weekend couldn't attend so my sister and her husband who watched our daughter for us that day brought Gia and she had fun seeing all the dancing, drumming and went home with a few book and hand made sweaters and hats that I purchased from native american vendors.  The students who planned this event were there from the early morning hours past 11 p.m. that night and the event went off so well.  They worked so hard and I hope they continue this great event.

Later in the month (another cold Saturday) it seemed a little bit warmer and lot more fun again in the Parkside field house!  This event was the Kenosha Expo which showcased the diverse array of businesses, services and attractions that Kenosha has to offer.  The Parkside booth featured information for Alumni, the community and admissions information.  The Admissions portion was held down by myself, our director Matt Jensen and Campus Ambassadors Shavon, Jessi and Kaytee.  University Relations portion was held down by John Mielke, Lara Mason and Beth McGee.  I was so glad they were there because I was getting over laryngitis!  Ranger Bear called in sick because he had strep throat, thank goodness, because there's nothing worse than a contagious bear.  Plus, he always steals our thunder.  Who wants to talk admissions when he's around?   My husband brought our 2-year old Gia, and she got a balloon and got lots of bear hugs from the other mascots there.  She thought it was like Disneyworld, so she was in heaven.  It's really a cool event if you live in the area.  I live in Kenosha and still find a business or service that I didn't know about and there are lots of contests and things to do for the kids - plus it's an excuse to get out of the house on a cold winter day!

The first weekend of March featured the Alumni Day for the last home basketball games of the year.  It was our daughter's first Ranger Basketball game and we were joined by my UW-Parkside college roommate Stephanie and her daughter Elsa.  We had the girls dressed in matching UW-P green shirts and they made it all the way through the womens' game and most of the mens' game.  Both teams won over Bellarmine.  Go RANGERS!  It was fun and we hope to make in an annual tradition with our girls.  To the left is a picture of my friend's daughter Elsa "a.k.a. Cookieface" and my daughter Gia "a.k.a. Pizzaface" - known together as "UW-P Ranger Bleacher Bums."

Now that March has hit I have my high school schedule ready to go - so now that I'm  about to start traveling, maybe the warm weather will kick in!

See you on the road,

~ Nicole

Knowledge for College #9: Attention Seniors - Spring is the Season for Second Visits!

It's Spring!  I know it doesn't feel like it, and the groundhogs' six weeks aren't passed just yet, but on the college planning calendar, this is spring! 

If you're a high school senior you should have made your first visits to your prospective colleges, applied for admission and have heard back from your first and second choice institutions and filed your FAFSA.  Now ask yourself, for your top two that you've been admitted to, have you made a final in-stone decision?  If you have any remote reservation between your two schools it is a smart choice to make a second visit to both.  Most likely your first visit was through an organized open house program or a campus tour and meeting with an admission counselor. 

This time around, do not be afraid to contact each schools' admission offices (usually best to contact the admission representative/counselor you have been working with) and do not be afraid to request the following of both schools:

1. Shadow a student for a day (within your desired major).
2. Meet with a professor and/or academic advisor from your desired major.

Be sure to give at least a 1 to 2 week advance notice when you place such a request for scheduling purposes.

These experiences of observing classes, the nitty gritty every-day atmosphere, and meeting the people that will be instructing and guiding you through your program are key factors in gaining an understanding and comfort level with an institution.

Other helpful tips on your second visit:

When on campus be sure to grab a campus newspaper to see what important issues are facing students -  most likely they will be facing you when you arrive next fall!

Be sure to try out the food in the cafeteria, especially since you will be eating it for the next 4 years!

When should you make your second visit?

If you are under a time crunch to commit to schools (some schools require a partial tuition deposit or commitment decision)*, you may have to do it as soon as possible.  If you are not headed off to some beach for spring break, that is the perfect time to visit because we are in school during most high school spring breaks.  If you are going away during break, then try to come during a spring teacher in-service day.  Do come before finals (visit before the end of April, as finals and review week starts in early May).

*PS: While UW-Parkside does not have a required commitment/deposit deadline we do like students to set up their RangerMail/Solar Account.  If you know you will need to live on campus it is crucial to send your $50 housing deposit and contract as soon as possible!  No tuition deposits are required at UW-Parkside!

See you on the road,

~ Nicole