Local students check out ‘backyard’ university

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By Heather Travis
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Rain and wind didn’t stop thousands of prospective students and their families last weekend from touring The University of Western Ontario campus.
 
 
Prospective students and their families dodged rain drops and wind gusts during walking tours of campus for March Break Open House.

For some Londoners, the annual March Break Open House was an opportunity to see what was always in their backyard.

More than 6,000 visitors spent the start of the week-long vacation at Western. Lori Gribbon, Director, Undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions, says this is consistent with last year’s attendance.  
 
Drawing fewer numbers than in the fall, Gribbon said students get an opportunity to spend more time with faculty, staff and students.
 
Grade 12 student Alexandra Inguanse of London wandered through the Social Science Centre to imagine what it would be like as a Western student. She wants a career in social work and feels enrolling at her hometown university will set her on the right path.

“I might as well take the opportunity to stay. It makes sense financially and for my education.”

Sitting in lecture theatres and talking to professors and students answered many of the questions for her mother Cecilia, who wanted to know “how the system works.”  
 
“Many people think they know a lot about Western because they’ve been on campus for maybe a summer camp, athletic event or concert, but really they just know the tip of the surface of what we have to offer,” said Gribbon.

When René Vanheule finished his studies at Fanshawe College, he knew being a computer programmer wasn’t for him. He wanted a career making a difference in other people’s lives. He will start in the nursing program at Western in September.

“I needed something that had a humanitarian overtone,” he said.
 
The Faculty of Health Sciences used Skype, online software for video and voice calls during its introduction to connect with master’s student Michelle Allain, who is interning at the World Health Organization’s Department of Ethics, Equity, Trade and Human Rights. Allain spoke to prospective students about opportunities in the undergraduate and graduate programs.

Alumni Dan and Kate Revington of Aurora successfully recruited one son to Western and were trying to do the same with their younger son Robert. The family visited the Faculty of Arts and Humanities during the open house.

“Because we both came here and we have an older son here, we leave it up to our boy to zero in on what is important to him,” said Dan.

Having a family history at Western, Robert wanted to familiarize himself with his parents’ alma mater. He spoke with first-year English and French Linguistic student Alex Carrillo to find out what it is like at Western.

     
 

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