Discovering a Community

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Alan Paynter, assistant director of admissions and coordinator of multicultural recruitment, moderates a panel discussion during Discover Diversity at Dickinson. Photo by Matt Atwood '15.

Prospective students and families experience the Dickinson community firsthand through fall visit programs

by Lauren Davidson

On Friday, Nov. 7, 35 students, hailing from Florida, Illinois, Wisconsin and the Northeast, arrived at Dickinson for the Discover Diversity Open House. Designed for promising high-school seniors from diverse backgrounds and first-generation students, the visit combined an overnight stay with a traditional open house.

“Sometimes prospective students of color come on campus and don’t have the opportunity to see or feel the community that we have built at Dickinson,” said Celeste Hippolyte ‘15, the admissions’ multicultural-recruitment intern who was involved in planning and running the program. “The Discover Diversity program aims to resolve that. It really helps them ‘discover’ what was already here but what they may not have been able to see if they didn’t take part in this program.”

Participants had dinner with Dickinson students, attended a customized panel discussion and enjoyed a performance showcase and party open to both visiting and current students.

“I hosted a young woman from Newark who said that she had never been around such positive people,” Hippolyte said. “The students at Dickinson showed her love and support, and because of the warmth that she immediately felt upon arriving to campus, she plans on applying Early Decision.”

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Several tours in progress during the last Fall Open House. Photo by Matt Atwood '15.

On Saturday, more than 100 additional prospective students and their families arrived on campus for the last of three Discover Dickinson: Fall Open House programs. The itinerary for the combined programs included sessions on Dickinson’s distinctive approaches to the social sciences, natural sciences and arts and humanities; campus tours; a discussion with current Dickinson students; and a conversation about admissions and financial aid. Students also could participate in a Forum (optional group interview), as well as enjoy happenings around campus, like the Red Devil football game and art exhibits in the Trout and Goodyear galleries.

Additional visit options are ongoing and highly encouraged for students and families interested in the opportunity to experience life at Dickinson firsthand.

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Published November 11, 2014