Springtime is the busiest season for tours at Dickinson College. This April, however, was a record-breaking month for admissions tours, as the Office of Admissions hosted over 1,200 student visitors.

According to Stephanie Balmer, vice president of Enrollment and dean of Admissions, the visitors were a combination of admitted students and high school sophomores and juniors beginning their college search process. When accounting for parents and guests visiting with these students, the Office of Admissions estimates that there were at least 3,000 people in total coming through the office over the past month.

Dickinson gives many options to prospective students, such as the Decision Dickinson and Made to Order days and day visits, which were held early in the month of April. These options give students the chance to sit in classes, interact with students and faculty and observe the intellectual life of college. One such preview day is Decisions Dickinson, an accepted student preview that was held on April 12. According to Molly Boegel, associate director of Admissions, this preview day alone brought 200 accepted students and about 400 parents and guests to campus. This day included a full academic open house, and even a BBQ on Biddle Field as part of the Red and White Day.

Boegel was very excited about how well the Admissions staff and other members of the campus community handled this busy time of year.

“We have an inspiring faculty, a robust academic program, a beautiful campus, rich tradition, impressive alumni, and student outcomes, and interesting stories to share and families walk away with an appreciation for what sets Dickinson apart from its peers,” Boegel said.

Boegel also said that the Office of Admissions has received positive feedback from traditional and special campus tours. Student tour guides have also been excited about the amount of visitors coming to Dickinson. According to Abby Zimmerman ’17, the rise in tours has given many tour guides more experience and confidence in what they do.

“As a new guide, the influx of families has been a little overwhelming but the only way to get really comfortable with give tours is to practice,” said Zimmerman. “I would say it’s definitely been intimidating, but I totally needed the experience. I definitely don’t feel like a new guide anymore.”