Admissions adapts: Virtual visits, extended deadlines

Grove City College announced alternatives to attract and engage prospective students and parents during the nationwide effort to limit the spread of coronavirus by social distancing as required by the current climate.

“Grove City’s historic strength is equipping students for their unique callings, and our mission is especially important during this challenging time. Students can count on Grove City College for guidance,” Lee Wishing ’83, Vice President for Student Recruitment said.

At the height of the student recruitment season, in-person campus visits are cancelled, as are college tours, overnight visits and open house events, at least until April 13 or upon further notice. As the College looks to enroll next fall’s freshman class, the Office of Admissions is rising to the challenge absent the ability to connect through conventional means on campus. 

In order to ease the pressure of decision-making during this season of uncertainty, the College announced that it will continue to accept applications for enrollment beyond the established deadline of March 20.  Students are encouraged to apply and submit an application as able.  The new deadline for accepted students to submit deposits is now moved from May 1 to June 1.  

Among initiatives to communicate with prospective students and parents, Live Chat, virtual campus tours and engagement on the ZeeMee social media platform are included.

“Although we prefer seeing prospective students in person, we’re engaging lots of students virtually to help them discern the best path forward as they prepare for the coming year,” Wishing said.

Admissions is offering individual virtual visit options that include a Q&A or interview with an admissions counselor, online class observation and one-on-one meeting with faculty, financial aid appointments and more. They also encourage prospective students to tune into devotional messages streamed through Chapel Ministries.

“Our counselors are contacting students via phone calls, text messages, and email to check in. We’re finding that high school students are eager to talk. We’re offering guidance depending on students’ individual needs and encouraging them to take advantage of our virtual visit opportunities. Engagement is high and students seem thankful that we care,” Wishing said.

One of the most notable alterations to the standard practice is changing Admitted Student Day into Virtual Admitted Student Week. In place of the daylong campus visit and orientation, the Admissions Office is spending a full week online introducing prospective students to campus and continue building a sense of community within the class of 2024.

The event began Monday and continues through Friday, providing daily opportunities to virtually connect every night from 7 to 9 p.m. EST. Two special pre- and post-event academic days on March 27 for STEM disciplines and April 6 for liberal arts, business and education are also part of the week, each requiring separate registration.

Admitted Student Week is hosted through the ZeeMee app, which the Office of Admissions began using last fall to connect current student ambassadors to prospective students.

College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 is hosting virtual conversations to kick off each night, highlighting a different aspect of student life at Grove City College. Prospective students can chat each night with current and fellow prospective students and compete for daily prizes.

Day one featured “Learning at the Grove” and McNulty was joined by faculty from the arts and sciences. Tonight’s conversation will highlight the Chapel Ministries program, followed by conversations on day three with Residence Life. Day four includes a student and lively discussion on extracurricular activities at the Grove. The college’s top ranked Career Services Office – number 12 in the country, according to The Princeton Review – will close out the program on the final day of the virtual campus tour week. For a complete schedule and to register, visit www.gcc.edu/admittedstudentweek.

Check out www.gcc.edu/visit for the latest updates.

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