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Discovering Dickinson


On Oct. 10, approximately 400 prospective students and family members got an in-depth look at Dickinson that went far beyond the traditional campus tour. With its student- and faculty-led discussions, customized information sessions, wide array of tours and events and an interactive forum, the 2011 Discover Dickinson Fall Open House shed considerable light on both the academic and social aspects of campus life.

The 146 participating families delved into the academic arena by attending information sessions about the area of study that most interested them: humanities and the arts, the social sciences or the natural sciences. They also visited unique centers and learning spaces on campus, which include the state-of-the-art archaeology lab; the newly remodeled Center for Sustainability Education; The Trout Gallery, which now shows several works by Picasso; and the Milton B. Asbell Center for Jewish Life. [Story continues below.] 


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  • Alan Paynter, assistant director of admissions (left) shares a laugh with a prospective student.
    Alan Paynter
  • Stephanie Balmer, vice president for enrollment and marketing & communications and dean of admissions, delivers the opening address in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium as President William G. Durden '71 looks on.
    Stephanie Balmer
  • A prospective students listens thoughtfully.
    Taking It In
  • President William G. Durden '71 welcomes prospective students and their families to campus.
    President Durden
  • Approximately 400 people—representing 146 families—attended the event.
    In and Out
  • This sibling of a prospective student came equipped with her own campus-tour soundtrack.
    Plugged In
  • An art & art-history major leads a tour of The Trout Gallery. The gallery is currently exhibiting a selection of works by Pablo Picasso.
    The Trout Gallery
  • Family members gather for a campus tour. The tour was led by a member of the Liberty Cap Society.
    Campus Tour
  • Sarah Skaggs, director of dance, speaks to students who are interested in pursuing a degree in the fine arts.
    Sarah Skaggs
  • Dickinson has been renowned for its creative, attractive and sustainable landscaping. In 2008, it was named one of the most beautiful campuses in the region.
    Flora, Fauna
  • Parents speak with President William G. Durden '71 (back to the camera).
    Engaging Conversation
  • Families gather in a Kaufman Hall hallway, prior to entering the Center for Sustainability Education's new suite.
    CSE
  • No campus tour is complete without a stop by Old West.
    Old West
  • Keith Fischer ’02, assistant director of admissions (left), and fellow alum President William G. Durden '71 speak with family members after the opening address.
    Keith Fischer '02
  • Family members took tours, wandered the grounds and popped in on some of the campus' new and interesting learning centers.
    Strolling
Alan Paynter, assistant director of admissions (left) shares a laugh with a prospective student.Prev ImageNext Image

The visitors also experienced daily life on campus when they ate lunch in the Dining Hall with students and attended a question-and-answer session with current students, who shared their real-life experiences at Dickinson. The families also stopped by the Goodyear studios or the Dickinson College Farm, swung by the Dickinson College Bookstore and got a snack or cup of joe at the Quarry. And while at the coffee shop, many met with President William G. Durden ’71, who visits The Quarry weekly so students can stop by and bend his ear.

But the most popular session was the interactive forum, a unique group interview that allowed 50 pre-registered prospective students to not only to get answers to their most pressing questions, but also to interact with fellow high-schoolers and members of the admissions staff.

“It’s a dynamic experience and an opportunity for prospective students to make connections with one another and really push themselves out of the traditional interview box,” said Tara Vasold Fischer, on-campus programs coordinator, who earned a psychology degree at Dickinson in 2002. “In the midst of numerous traditional interviews, this is a refreshing change. No other college that we are aware of offers something like this.”

By MaryAlice Bitts Jackson
Photos by Carl Socolow ’71