A taste of life at Concordia
Recruiter Emily Fjeldsted (right) was among some 55 staff members on hand to answer prospective students’ questions about Concordia. | Photo by Concordia University
With the March 1 deadline for fall 2014 admission fast approaching, Concordia’s Student and Enrolment Services has once again hosted Admissions Information Day.
The February 15 event allowed 1,200 prospective Concordians and their families to get answers to last-minute questions — or even apply to the university on the spot.
This year, Admissions Information Day moved beyond the basics of application-assembling to give would-be students a taste of the Concordia experience.
“As well as that critical ‘Can I get in or not?,’ it provided a chance for people to see what Concordia has to offer,” says Matthew Stiegemeyer, director of student recruitment in Student and Enrolment Services.
Some 55 staff members and 45 students were on hand to answer questions about Concordia. To that end, the event included information sessions about moving to Montreal, the Institute for Co-operative Education financial aid and studying abroad.
The volunteers also showcased the vibrancy of life at the university. In the atrium of the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex (EV Building), Co-op students held poster presentations while their peers from jazz studies played guitar.
Fine arts students exhibited paintings and prints, and a team from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry demonstrated the science behind ice cream.
“Concordia is a big, diverse community”
According to Stiegemeyer, “These student-developed projects demonstrate the breadth of what the university offers in science, the performing arts, visual arts and beyond. The enthusiasm and high energy our current students contribute is part of the draw for future Concordia students.”
Visitors got a taste of that enthusiasm and energy as they mingled with the crowd.
“The vibe was fantastic,” says Janice LaGiorgia. LaGiorgia — a fourth-year honours psychology student and vice-president of the Garnet Key Society, a group of 12 academic high achievers committed to community service — welcomed visitors at the EV Building’s Ste. Catherine Street entrance.
“Concordia is a big, diverse community of people studying different things,” she says. “But a lot of us are outspoken, and we do cutting-edge research. That’s what unites us.”
The university’s welcoming reputation is one of the biggest draws for Cade Larén, who came to Admissions Information Day to learn more about the communications and journalism programs.
“I have a few friends who graduated from Concordia, and they all told me the staff is very supportive and very understanding — that they try to help students as much as possible,” says Larén.
Student recruitment coordinator Savvy Papayiannis, one of the event’s principal organizers, believes the widened scope added to its value.
“It’s hard to take it all in just by doing the research on your own,” she says. “It’s helpful for future students to come to campus and ask questions, to hear our students, alumni and faculty members share their stories.”
Prospective students who missed Admissions Information Day can still apply for fall admission.
Concordia’s Welcome Centre will remain open until 7 p.m. through Thursday, February 27, to assist them with the process, says Papayiannis. “We are still there to help students with the next steps.”
Find out how to apply to Concordia University.