The fall is off to a great start as we are already starting to meet students at college fairs and hand out alumni-endorsed applications. Your efforts are invaluable to the College and to these students, as many of the students you encounter would not otherwise hear about the wonderful opportunities Saint Mary's has to offer. We have a great number of exciting updates, success stories, and juicy tidbits for you to take on the road to college fairs. Enjoy, and as always, GO GAELS!
Linde Waite '06
Admissions Officer, Alumni-Admissions Program Coordinator
(925)631-4930 or
lwaite@stmarys-ca.edu.
COLLEGE FAIRS STILL OPEN
College fairs for the fall are still open for volunteers! Click here to sign up.
NEW AMBASSADOR RECRUITED BY AAP MEMBER
The admissions office is proud to welcome a new student ambassador, Brianna Merihue. Brianna was a student from Warren High School in Downey, California. Along with her desire to speak to new prospective students and families, Brianna exemplifies how influential AAP telephone calls can be in the spring.
"I was sitting in my kitchen one day during the final semester of high school, and the phone rang. My mom answered, and told me it was an alumnus from Saint Mary's College of California," Brianna says. "I answered, and the voice on the other end introduced himself as Joe Siler, alum of '62." Brianna admits that at the time, she had absolutely no idea where she wanted to go to school. In fact, Saint Mary's wasn't even one of her top choices, but Joe Siler's phone call sparked new interest in the college in Moraga. "He told me all about his experience, and how he even sent his daughters to Saint Mary's. I figured if he liked it enough to send his kids there, it must be a pretty awesome place."
Brianna chose to enroll in the fall of 2006, and is currently a sophomore in the student ambassador program. Brianna is also an Integral major and co-editor in Chief of the Gael Yearbook. "I definitely wouldn't have given Saint Mary's another thought until I got that phone call," she states. "Now I'm so glad I did!"
OLIVER HALL RENOVATIONS CONTINUE
New updates for Oliver Hall are underway. The new cafeteria will allow for students to customize their orders by using touch-screen technology. Students will also be able to scan their ID cards upon exit from the kitchen instead of at the front door. This allows commuter students who wish to bring their bag lunches and eat in the original Oliver Hall or expanded Dryden Hall, or buy food items a la carte. Also on the menu are organic foods bought from local farmers, and an expanded food selection. These improvements mark the beginning of a larger renovation to be completed by August 2009.
PODCASTING PROJECT UNDERWAY
The admissions office website will feature over 25 informational podcasts from different departments on campus. From Business to Theatre, Speech and Debate to Study Abroad, students and faculty members sit down together and describe the purpose, benefits, and overall experience of that major. At college fairs and in your daily encounters with students, encourage them to go online and listen to these interviews! The final project should be available online in November. Stay Tuned.
NEW STAFF IN THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE
We are happy to welcome new additions to our staff. Click here to get to know Kevin Miller, Damien Fantongia, Jaime Fernandez and Juan Contreras
ALUMNI-ENDORSED APPLICATION
We are strongly encouraging the use of our online application. Please help us in this effort by waiving the application fee of a prospective student. Simply instruct the student to apply online at: www.smcadmit.com. When they come to the payment screen they may enter an alum's name, graduation year and phone number. This will allow the student to submit their application without paying the $55 application fee. Past data shows that students who apply with alumni endorsement have a higher rate of enrolling to the College if accepted. Please help us find talented students in your area, and encourage their online application.
WE WANT YOUR FEEDBACK!
We want to hear from you. If you would like to submit stories for the newsletter or let us know how things are going on the road, contact Linde Waite at (925) 631-4930
