'Lots of smiling faces': 4,000+ visitors turn out for Open House 2018
Wenxing Luo (right) travelled to Montreal from Zhuhai, China. | Photos by Sarah Buck and Fan Zang
A forecast of freezing rain and 10 centimetres of snow didn’t deter the more than 4,000 visitors who attended Concordia’s Winter 2018 Open House and Portfolio Day on Saturday, February 10.
Recruitment manager Savvy Papayiannis says the vibe was very positive.
“There were lots of smiling faces and people getting into the Open House spirit. Our visitors were clearly having fun at the event, and feeling the excitement of planning for September.”
With the undergraduate admissions application deadline just around the corner, Winter Open House is “incredibly valuable” for students who are finalizing their plans for September, Papayiannis adds. “They really appreciate one last opportunity to get a full experience of what it’s like to be a Concordia student.”
Concordians Mehdi and Cynthia greeted prospective industrial engineering students at Open House.
Papayiannis says the day’s events are especially important for future fine arts students, whose programs require them to submit samples of their work.
“Portfolio Day is a key opportunity to get some last-minute confirmation that they are on the right path when it comes to showcasing their artistic vision.”
Application assistance
Always popular at Winter Open House is the chance to apply on the spot – and this year was no exception, says Papayiannis.
“Students and their parents really love the idea of submitting their application right then and there, with a little help from recruiters.”
Staff were on hand to help with the technical aspects of applying online, and to help students make decisions about which programs to include on their applications.
Catching a ride
This year, Concordia offered rides for those travelling from Quebec City and Gatineau. “We removed the barriers of cost and distance,” says Quebec recruiter Matthew Fishman, who organized the charter bus service.
“We picked them up in the morning, drove them to Montreal, and brought them back at the end of the day. Some students told me they wouldn't have made it otherwise, and being at Open House confirmed their decision to attend Concordia in the fall.”
Enrolment Services staff Tracy Hamilton and Karin Sutter welcomed guests. | Photo by Sarah Buck
Online and interactive
As well, the scope of the “virtual” Open House expanded this year, with a live video question-and-answer session. “Many of our prospective students from India, the US, France and other countries followed along very closely online,” says Papayiannis.
The response was great, she adds, noting that recruiters carried on conversations with future students on social media throughout the day. These were interspersed with live interviews featuring current Concordians and student services staff.
Missed Winter 2018 Open House? Not to worry! Check out this round-up of resources.
Submit your application for fall undergraduate admission by March 1, or apply on the spot with guidance from advisors at the Welcome Centre. No appointment is required.
