Interdisciplinary studies senior Kelsey Lash gives Inside MSU tour attendees background information about the campus outside of the MSU Main Library on Monday, Jan. 21, 2013. The program offered potential freshman and family members the opportunity to see the campus and ask other students and advisors questions about financial aid and on-campus life. Danyelle Morrow/The State News
High school senior John DelTufo and his father, Nick DelTufo, drove 11 hours from Mendham, N.J., to see MSU’s campus for the first time. After reading a substantial amount about MSU online and in pamphlets, Nick DelTufo said that MSU lived up to the hype.
“Sometimes you go to a college campus, and it’s a really big letdown,” Nick DelTufo said. “But (MSU) was everything that we thought it was going to be. And riding 11 hours, you want it to (be worthwhile.)”
The DelTufo’s were just two of more than 180 people who attended the Inside MSU event Monday.
Inside MSU is a program that gives prospective freshman the opportunity to learn more about everything MSU. They are given a presentation at the Union, a 40-minute tour of campus and a meal at Brody Square.
“This is an opportunity for students to come out and see campus on a weekday while class is in session,” said Mike Kolar, assistant director of the Office of Admissions. “(They) kind of get an idea of what the student body is all about, what a typical day at Michigan State is all about.”
Kolar said the campus visit often is the tipping point for helping students decide on a college.
“The campus visit, time and time again, shows that the campus visit fosters commitment for the applicant as far as matriculating to an actual freshman on our campus.”
Kolar said it’s important that students and families — especially those that come from out of state — get the opportunity to tour the campus after admittance.
“We’re finding out that many of these students and families, just their first time on campus, went ahead and applied based on Michigan State’s reputation,” Kolar said. “Once they get admitted, there’s more of a point to come out because they know that Michigan State is an option for them in the fall, after their senior year.”
Interdisciplinary studies in social science senior Kelsey Lash has been showcasing the campus as a tour guide for Inside MSU during all four of her years on campus. She said she enjoys being able to inform potential incoming freshman about the ins-and-outs of MSU.
“This university has a lot to offer, and I felt that by being a tour guide I’d be able to improve upon my communication skills, talking in front of large audiences,” Lash said. “It’s just infectious when you’re around people who really care about the university. It makes being a tour guide and coming in and doing this type of job easy.”
John DelTufo said he wants to go to a bigger school because of the social aspect, and MSU fits the bill for him.
“I liked (the tour) a lot,” he said. “It had a lot of information about all of the different opportunities that’s here.”
Support student media! Please consider donating to The State News and help fund the future of journalism.
