Midd preps for preview days

Author: Polly Johnson

With April comes the arrival of spring, flip-flops, shorts and ... admitted students deciding in a scant two days whether Middlebury is the place they want to spend four of the most important years of their lives.

This year, April preview days will take place on April 10 and April 17 and will include a variety of activities and information sessions, including classes that parents and students are welcome to attend, faculty and student panels, a group lunch in Kenyon Arena and performances by student singing and dancing groups.

Associate Director of Admissions Kathy Lindsey spoke about what they anticipate for this year's preview days, a very exciting time for the school. In terms of numbers, Lindsey noted that "the number of people who attend has stayed pretty steady from year to year. We're expecting to have about 100 to 130 families the first Monday, and then we're expecting slightly more on the second Monday, when we might get up to 160 families." She attributes the greater number of attendees on the April 17 date to the fact that admissions decisions go out tomorrow and April 10 might be too soon for those who are undecided.

In terms of what will take place on both Mondays, Lindsey said, "We encourage everyone to go to class in the morning, and the faculty are great about welcoming visitors, especially in the freshmen and sophomore classes." Parents and students are encouraged to attend early-morning classes so that they can be at the Center for the Arts concert hall in time for President of the College Ronald D. Liebowitz's welcoming speech, which will begin at 11 a.m. Lindsey noted that Liebowitz rearranged his schedule so that he could attend both sessions, where "he makes himself available to questions which is really great - he always takes the time to open it up to the audience."

The rest of the day brings a faculty panel where such issues as academic programs and advising are discussed, a student panel in which the newly-admitted students can ask all those burning questions that they would never ask in front of their parents and a group lunch in Kenyon Arena, complete with entertainment provided by the stage band Sound Investment.

The night before, newly-admitted students are invited to stay in host student's rooms. The admissions office tries to place the visitors with first-years, since they are closest in age to the admitted students. That Sunday night, entertainment will be provided in The Grille, which Lindsey notes is one of the best parts of the trip for the students, since "every year more people turn out for that, even current students. It is a really nice mix of visitors and current students and gives visitors a really nice chance to see how wonderful our students are."

Overall, Lindsey is excited for the two days. She said that the trips always "end up being a really great demonstration of how enthusiastic our students are and how they support what other students on campus do." She also encourages all first-year students who are interested in hosting a student to do so.