Orientation #1

Hi!

My name is Jessica Wright and I'm the Campus Visit Coordinator at Bluffton University. I'm also a 2007 graduate of Bluffton and took post secondary classes here in high school, so I've been at Bluffton a LONG time!!! Most of your interaction with me would be during the process of setting up a campus visit and then once you get to campus, be that for a personal visit or a special visit day. Reminder: if you'd like to register for one of these options, you can call our office or fill out an online visit request form at www.bluffton.edu/admission/visit .

Occasionally, however, I get to leave the office and fill in for an Admission counselor at a college fair or awards ceremony. I love these opportunities to meet all of you and answer your questions! This week I have been out at a few schools, and I'm reminded of how lucky our counselors are to get to help you through the otherwise daunting process of college-searching. Take advantage of the opportunity to visit your top schools and develop relationships with the staff who will be helping you out the next one or two years! We are certainly excited to get to know you.

Today is our first summer orientation, so campus is buzzing with excitement as this first group of 50 students meet each other and register for classes. Our staff is involved in the day, however much of the day is Admissions handing these students carefully over to the people that will take care of them for the next four years as they work towards that bachelor's degree. A couple weeks ago, as I observed graduation festivities, I saw so much more than students getting degrees, though. I saw students who had, over their four years at Bluffton, discovered causes to work for, made friends they will always keep in contact with, and created experiences that will live on in their memories and Bluffton's history.

Someday I want to talk about our Student Ambassadors at Bluffton University, who you will encounter on a visit and might even get to be if you decide to attend Bluffton! But, that will have to be saved for another day. It's time to go back to Orientation!!!