Greetings and congratulations on a successful recruitment season! Thank you so much to all of you who worked endlessly to help us create our newest class for the fall 2008. I'm happy to report that as of May 1, the Admissions Office had its highest number of deposits to date, and we are cruising into summer. Much of this succes is owed to the efforts of our alumni who called and met students beyond the reach of the Admissions Office. You did an incredible job this year, collecting more than 900 cards at college fairs and contacting nearly 2,000 admitted students by phone or e-mail. We also recorded a record amount of alumni-endorsed applications. THANK YOU for being such valuable members of the SMC community, and I look forward to working with you again in the fall.

 

Yours for Saint Mary's,

Linde Waite '06
Alumni-Admissions Program Coordinator

 

Michael Beseda reports that 2008-2009 is a record year for incoming freshmen enrollment deposits and that 41 percent of those deposits come from students of color.

Read more.

 

On Saturday May 10, the Alumni-Admissions Program held its first annual training in Costa Mesa, California at the Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant. Thank you to those who attended. Seven members from Los Angeles to San Diego listened to a presentation by Dorothy Jones, Dean of Admissions, about institutional marketing and enrollment goals. Afterwards, there was a lively discussion and new ideas about how alumni can channel marketing techniques when recruiting students. We also covered college fair protocol and spring call scripts, and have already filled slots for 18 fairs. This will become an annual event in Southern California for the heart of the AAP base to reunite and learn more about new opportunities to assist the Admissions Office and Saint Mary's College.

 

Did We Miss You at the Southern California Training?

A general AAP and alumni volunteers session will be held on Saint Mary's campus during reunion weekend, Friday, July 18-20, 2008 for the classes of '58, '63, '68, '73, '83, '88, '93, '98, and '03.

Click here for more information about the weekend.

 

This year, the Admissions Office created a social network for our admitted students to encourage them to enroll at the College. Much like Facebook or MySpace, students are able to connect with others considering Saint Mary's from 24 states cities and 11 countries. This network encompassed 325 admitted freshmen and transfer students, and 56 current SMC students, staff and faculty members.

 

Each issue the AAP Newsletter highlights one of our outstanding members. This issue's profile is of Amanda Goei '04 from Colorado. This is her first year as an AAP member. "When I stepped on campus after my first tour, I immediately knew I would be attending -- and through my four years I was given more and more proof that it was the perfect place for me."

 

As a religious studies major and art minor, Amanda drew upon the many skills she learned at SMC (especially Seminar) and applied them to her career. After graduating from SMC, Amanda spent three years as a theology teacher and Campus Minister at St. Lawrence Academy in Santa Clara, California. Currently Amanda  is studying for her master's degree in religious studies at Regis University. In her first year as an AAP member, Amanda personally attended 2 Colorado college fairs and contacted more than 60 admitted students.

 

Her best advice to new students: "It sounds so simple, but being open to new experiences and people can be very hard and yet it is the best opportunity we can give ourselves."

 

The Office of Admissions would like to thank Amanda for her continued support of our recruitment activities. Her contagious enthusiasm, knowledge and genuine passion for Saint Mary's are true gifts to the College and every student she encounters.

 

Although participation in college fairs dipped slightly this year, phone calls were up and alumni-endorsed applications are at an all-time high. See below for more information about AAP contributions compared to previous years.

Believe it or not, fall recruitment is just around the corner. Many college fairs are already posted online. Check now and throughout the summer for fairs in your area.

See the college fair schedule.