With a warm atmosphere and student-led tours, the University of Rhode Island welcomed 2,888 prospective students and family members into the university community on Oct. 6 at the first of two open houses.
The open house’s turnout was higher than last year’s by 639 people, according to Erin Earle, the director of undergraduate enrollment and new student transitions and visitor experience.
“One of the most striking aspects I noticed was the incredible Rhody pride,” Earle said. “From the [URI] President [Marc Parlange] to the faculty, staff and current students, there was an unmistakable enthusiasm for showcasing all the wonderful opportunities at URI. Attendees expressed their gratitude and were truly impressed by the warmth, helpfulness and kindness of our community.”
Many students who came to the open house were either entering eleventh or twelfth grade, or ready to further their education after taking a gap year, according to Lisa Giudici, first year experience coordinator.
“One of the biggest things in which I saw on Sunday [at the open house] is that the prospective students took a step back and considered ‘where do I want to start first?’” Giudici said. “That model that we have set up really helps people.”
The event began at 9:30 a.m. with an address by Parlange, and then attendees chose to go on a campus tour or explore the university themselves, where prospective students could meet with representatives from student service departments.
To learn more about next steps in the college process, prospective students attended admission workshops, went to student panels and met with representatives from specific campus departments.
Potential students were able to meet with their different academic schools and also explore booths with clubs in it so they could imagine themselves here before they arrived on campus, according to Giudici.
The event was very successful, according to Earle. She said that URI put on a great event during great weather, and that it brought the community together in celebration of prospective students and families.
Many families and prospective students felt a lot better after leaving campus, according to Giudici. They thought the event was organized and run with enthusiasm, according to their responses in a Google Form. Attendees described students who ran events as bubbly and caring.
“URI is always of interest for prospective students in New England, the tri-state, DMV areas and beyond,” Earle said.
The open house introduced prospective students to the URI community before they officially begin the next step in their academic journey.
“Last year, URI had a record number of applications, which is amazing,” Earle said. “We are hoping for similar numbers this year, and are on track to break that record again.”
For more dates and information on URI’s application process, prospective students can visit the undergraduate admissions page .