After months of snow and cold, the sun is shining, temperatures are rising and seniors are coming.
Director of Admissions Daniel McKinney said Monday 47 high school students are expected to arrive Saturday to attend Baker Weekend.
McKinney said the visitors will have the chance to attend an academic and activities fair and can choose to stay overnight at a greek house or residence hall. Entertainment will be provided and brunch will be served Sunday in the cafeteria.
In addition to a theater production of “Angel Street” at 7:30 p.m. in Rice Auditorium, SAC entertainment coordinator Jessica Miner said the evening entertainment will include a performance by Midnight to Twelve, a rock band from Los Angeles, at 9:30 p.m. in Mabee gym.
“We’re going to provide games for the students and visitors so they have something to do besides mingle and listen to music,” Miner said.
Recruitment Assistant Kim Hubbel said she is in charge ofarranging where the visitors will be staying overnight. She encourages underclassmen to host the guests while they are here.
“Dealing with someone close to their age and being able to answer questions about the transition stage … is helpful,” Hubbel said. Hubbel said guidelines the hosts and visitors must follow include a midnight curfew, no alcohol or drug consumption and no traveling in cars. The visitors also have to sign a liability form that informs them of these guidelines and the fact that parents will be called if these are broken. All hosts attended an informational meeting Wednesday night.
McKinney hopes the students who visit will be able to connect with Baker faculty, students and staff.
“(We hope they) have made a connection with someone here that will influence them to mark all the other schools off their list.” McKinney said.
McKinney said unlike the fall, more high school juniors are invited to the event, which means the students attending will be at different levels in their college searches. The only difference for their experience, though, will be when they attend the admissions counselor wrap-up session, during which different aspects will be emphasized to each grade level.
“I would say the juniors that come to this are on a very good decision making time table,” McKinney said. “The seniors who come to this are finalizing their college plans. … This visit could really make it or break it for the seniors in particular.”
McKinney said he hopes that Baker will provide a welcoming environment for its guests, but also one that is real.
“We do not want to put a false front in any phase of our recruitment,” McKinney said. “They need to see us as who we really are.”