Potential students visit, consider campus

Fresno State better than other schools at attracting students, they say

By Douglas Sulenta
The Collegian

High school seniors and junior college transfer students from around California gathered on campus Friday and Saturday to explore Fresno State and its viability as a potential college campus.

Students and parents said they were happy to be given such an extensive tour and were showed attention they didn’t receive at other campuses around California.

Still, Fresno State Day drew a crowd slightly smaller than Fresno State administrators were expecting.

“Next year we will switch back to the old date at the end of October,” said Bernie Vinovrski, the associate vice president for enrollment services. “It’s still early in the admissions season and we’re still out recruiting at campuses.”

Kristen Watson, a high school senior from Hollister, said she was happy with the program Fresno State had presented.

“The opening speeches were inspiring. Everybody was funny and very friendly,” she said.

Watson said she was considering Fresno State because “it’s away from home, but not too far away. Plus they offer a lot of majors and if I decide to change mine, it seems like it would be easy here.”
Her father, Dan, was also pleased with the event.

“Well, I like what I’ve seen so far. It’s obvious the administrators are proud of the school.”

He said he wasn’t exactly happy to see his daughter leave home because “you never want your child to leave,” but he was satisfied with the atmosphere.

Cory Molloy, an agriculture instructor at Poway High School in San Diego County and an alumnus of Fresno State, brought six of her agriculture students to Fresno for the event.

“I’m trying to show them how awesome it is here. It’s a really great opportunity for the students to come up and explore the campus.”

She said the guided tour of the agriculture department is an extremely attractive facet of the event.

Amanda Paradis, a student at Poway High School said the event had definitely influenced her decision and strengthened her resolve to come to Fresno State. She said the long line of students that has come to Fresno State from previous graduating classes at Poway also had an effect on her.

“Our ag teacher went to Fresno State. A lot of the seniors from last year and the year before and the year before that are here,” Paradis said. “Most of us are interested in an education in agriculture. I like it and I’m really thinking of going here.”

Erika Ramsey, a prospective nursing student from Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria said “my mom went here and they have a good nursing program. It’s far enough away from home but not too far that I couldn’t come back if I needed to.”

Those in attendance said they were pleased with the program Fresno State had tailored for them.

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