Student Recruiters Play Instrumental Role in Making Preview Day a Success at Mississippi College

Preview Day gave Brandon Welch and Chloe Mathias a taste of what life at Mississippi College is all about. Now MC students, they both serve as Scouts for the event.

What Brandon Welch remembers most about his Preview Day experience at Mississippi College was how he felt driving away from the Clinton campus.

“I remember leaving with a huge smile on my face, excited for college life, and assured that MC is where I am supposed to be,” the sophomore biology/pre-med major from Bogue Chitto said. “When I attended Preview Day as a high school student, I knew instantly that I had found my home for the next four years. I was introduced to so many aspects of campus that I fell in love with – the caring faculty, beautiful scenery, and peers who were easy to connect with.

“Being greeted by students who were eager to tell me all about their campus home was welcoming to a nervous student like me.”

Chloe Mathias remembers being challenged at Preview Day to see if she could envision herself spending her undergraduate years at MC. After careful consideration, her answer was a resounding “Yes!”

“Being able to attend Preview Day gave me a good taste of what MC truly is and what my life as a future Choctaw could look like,” said Mathias, a freshman accounting major from New Orleans. “This allowed me to see the type of students that attend, the professors that teach, and the activities that happen day-to-day – from going on a tour to attending a mock class.

“I saw how much the MC students were family and decided that I wanted a college experience that meant being seen and known.”

Hundreds of high school juniors and seniors, potential transfer students, and their family members from across the Southeast will have an opportunity to see themselves at the Christian University during Spring Preview Day Saturday, March 2.

Angie Hardin, director of admissions and enrollment operations at MC, said the importance of Preview Day to the institution can’t be overstated. Consider: more than 60 percent of all undergraduate students who enroll at Mississippi College have visited the campus previously.

“Visiting a school can make or break a student’s decision to attend that school,” Hardin said. “When visitors come to our campus for Preview Day, it becomes obvious that we are all about the students. Our faculty and staff are very friendly. We care about the students. It’s an environment that can draw them in and make them want to be here.

“When students come to campus, they see how beautiful our surroundings are and that helps them picture themselves going to school here.”

Preview Day is one of Mississippi College’s biggest recruiting events – so big, in fact, that the Office of Undergraduate Admissions now offers it twice in the fall and in the spring. Those unable to attend March 2 are welcome to sign up for the second Preview Day on Tuesday, April 9.

No matter which event they choose, potential undergraduate students can find out why the Christian University is becoming a preferred destination for those who wish to discover the person God created them to be.

“It’s a great opportunity to see all things MC and the wide range of student life experiences,” Hardin said. “They get to know the admissions team and spend time with our award-winning faculty, staff, and current students.”

Attendees will hear from MC President Blake Thompson, attend a mock class, tailgate on the Quad, visit the cadaver lab, and take a tour of the state’s oldest institution of higher learning led by MC student “Scouts” like Welch and Mathias.

Hardin said Scouts go through a rigorous interview, testing, and training process to ensure they are well equipped to host groups of visiting students and parents.

“We could not recruit students to Mississippi College without our Scouts,” she said. “When they conduct tours, they share their experiences at MC with potential students and their families, show them all of the places that make MC unique, and answer all of their questions. It’s an incredible way for them to get to know one another. Many times visiting students have become lifelong friends with their Scouts.

“Scouts also spend an hour each week in the Admissions Office writing notes to prospective students about events coming up at Mississippi College or thanking them for coming to visit. They build grassroots relationships that begin with these campus tours.”

Mathias delights in cultivating talented new students for Mississippi College.

“I look forward to seeing so many new and eager faces as they visit MC, maybe for the first time,” she said. “As I recall on my Preview Day, there were so many emotions and nerves, but as the day went on, I felt peace as I narrowed in on what college I felt was right for me. I hope the same for attendees of this Preview Day.

“It is so exciting to be a student that has the influence to shape how students view the school, and I hope that I can be the reason that someone chooses MC to be their home because of our school’s love for Jesus and commitment to education. I hope prospective students can see how much students love this school and call it home, just as I do.”

Welch said he is looking forward to being among those who will enthusiastically wave signs, jump up and down, and welcome the visitors to campus for Preview Day.

“I am excited to meet all our potential incoming students,” he said. “Getting to meet the incredible individuals who all have their own unique stories and aspirations for the future and telling them how MC can assist in fulfilling those dreams is my favorite thing about the event.

“I would love to see students settle in and feel a level of comfort and excitement about starting their college journeys with us at MC. I want to see the parents leave assured that MC will grow their students in ways that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Preview Day is a sneak peek into so many wonderful adventures yet to come.”

Check-in will begin at 8 a.m. on the Caf patio. Preview Day will kick off at 8:30 a.m. with a welcome from the president, School deans will speak and a panel of students will field questions from attendees.

Representatives of on-campus student organizations will tell prospective students about the new adventures that await them at MC, and parents will have an opportunity to obtain financial aid information while student attend mock classes. The day’s activities will culminate with a tailgate on the Quad and a tour of MC’s state-of-the-art cadaver lab.

Participants should wear comfortable clothes and shoes and bring their best Choctaw attitude. For more information, call the Admissions Office at 601.925.3800.