The auditorium of Anthony Hall was packed with about 1,500 students and their parents, all eager to participate in MSU’s Science, Engineering and Technology Day on Saturday.
A open-house format directed high school and no-preference MSU students through billboards and guided tours of the 10 MSU colleges participating in the event. This is the seventh year the 10 colleges have combined their open house, but this year the event was more spread out for visitors because of an added tour of the Biomedical and Physical Sciences Building.
Jana Feldkamp and her mother drove from Saline to partake in the programs hosted by the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Feldkamp, a high school senior who plans on majoring in veterinary medicine, saw the open house as a good way to learn about MSU’s program. Although Feldkamp said she was nervous about the number of years of MSU’s veterinary medicine program, she learned a lot from the tour.
“It was interesting seeing the different types of skeletons,” Feldkamp said about her tour of the building.
Lynn Forsblom, director of the college of human ecology, said students and parents asked a lot of good questions.
“They seemed to be focused,” she said.
Forsblom added many of the students who attended the open house are interested in MSU already, but are just not sure of their major.
“It’s a good place to learn about the colleges and the university,” Forsblom said.
Hannah Schellhas, a senior at Lansing Christian School said she came to the event to look at the veterinary medicine and nursing programs and pick up an application to MSU.
Schellhas said she found it informative to talk to a professor during her tour of the Veterinary Medical Center.
“It’s neat to see all the different equipment they have,” she said.
Jennifer Hodges, engineering coordinator for the event, said feedback from MSU faculty and staff members and freshmen who attended the event helps the coordinators understand what potential students want to find out.
But Hodges said the open house is not really part of recruitment for the colleges.
“It’s reassuring people - yes they want to come here,” Hodges said.
