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Prospective students look for right fit at CSUS preview day
CSUS preview pic1
Prospective California State University, Stanislaus students tour the university's Turlock campus.

For scores of high school students, one concern reigns supreme: getting into college.

And not getting into just any college, of course, but the right college.

On Saturday, California State University, Stanislaus opened its gates to more than 400 prospective students and their guests, offering visitors a chance to see if the university is truly right for them.

“I wanted to know more about the campus,” said Alex Senior, 16, of Lemoore. “... It’s nice.”

“Not only is the college nice, the surrounding community is very nice too,” said John Senior, Alex’s father.

The event gives prospective students a chance not just to see the campus, but to get up close and personal with professors and deans. Sometimes those discussions delve into the complexities of the field – from theoretical physics to James Joyce – but oftentimes students just want to learn a bit about their program of choice.

“We highlight our academics,” said Gabriela Nuño, assistant director of Enrollment Services at CSU Stanislaus. “That’s the number one reason we see students are attracted to a campus.”

Sandra Glover, 20, of Manteca, hopes to transfer to CSU Stanislaus from Modesto Junior College. She was first enticed by the college’s business program. But, like many students, Glover isn’t driven by academics alone.

Glover had narrowed her decision down to CSU Fresno and CSU Stanislaus, but ultimately settled on Turlock’s university because of the closeness, size, and feel of the campus.

“It fits me better,” Glover said.

Similar aspects of CSU Stanislaus were echoed by Provost James Strong as selling points in the day’s welcome speech.

“CSU Stanislaus has a great faculty, a beautiful campus, and is a manageable size,” Strong said. “It’s a great place to get an education.”

The annual Preview Day isn’t just about wooing prospective students though. It’s also about helping students prepare themselves for the college, offering information on housing, financial aid, and ensuring borderline candidates look their best on applications.

For some lucky students who applied before Oct. 9, Preview Day represented a first chance at the seemingly-mythical admission packet, available to pick up in person for automatically-admitted freshmen. The packet contained a certificate of congratulations, next steps to enrolling, and an offer of admission.

For the students who choose to accept those offers and walk through the doors to college, a life changing experience awaits, said James Tuedio, interim dean of the College of Humanities and Social Science.

“One of the important things about going to college is it’s an experience that wakes you up as a person,” Tuedio said. “It expands you to the world around you.”

To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.