As COVID-19 continues to spread, the Office of Admissions has had to create virtual alternatives to face-to-face events for prospective Meredith students. Shery Boyles, Director of Admissions, explains that “there’s nothing like being on campus,” but these virtual events are still effective in “helping students take the next step that is right for them.” One such event is Experience Meredith. Normally a full-day event, Experience Meredith has been split up into four one-hour-long online sessions on separate days. The first virtual Experience Meredith session, held on March 20, had over 200 students register to attend over the course of 36 hours, according to Boyles. Students received information about why Meredith is the right college for them from Boyles, Dr. Jo Allen and current students. According to Grace Sugg, Associate Director of Admissions, a website has also been created that allows prospective students to visit Meredith virtually and have “virtual individual visits with admissions counselors, connections with alumnae and virtual tours.” Students from the Class of 2024 have also connected with current students through a private Facebook group as well as through Facebook Live videos hosted by current students.
Both Boyles and Sugg attribute the quick transition to online Admissions events to the support of the Meredith community. Boyles explains that the Office of Admissions “couldn’t do it without the support of this collaborative campus.” Sugg gives thanks to many “offices and areas across campus including Marketing, Dean of Students, Residence Life, Dining Services, Disability Services, faculty and academic departments such as Study Abroad and current students” for their help in creating these virtual experiences for prospective students.
The Office of Admissions empathizes with the Class of 2024 during this unprecedented, stressful time and understands that they are “disappointed about their senior year and college search” being disrupted, states Boyles. While Admissions wants “to have students on campus as soon as it’s safe,” Boyles wants Meredith to remain a “steady, calm, consistent presence” in the lives of prospective and current students while operating virtually. On behalf of the Office of Admissions, Boyles wishes to remind all future and current students that “we are still here for you,” and that “every storm runs out of rain.”
By Molly Perry, Staff Writer