More potential students visit Augustana

The fights for front row seats at Augustana have led to an increase in campus visits from high school students.

According to vice president for enrollment Nancy Davidson, there has been a 24 percent increase in prospective students this fall.

Davidson said this increase is due to an ongoing effort, with an emphasis in marketing, such as advertising via billboards, radio and college fairs. "We have definitely had a busy fall," Davidson said.

Davidson is pleased with the remodeled Web site, which has contributed to the marketing as well.

The goal for the freshman class next fall is 430, but Davidson said now is too early to tell where the goal is standing, as many high school students are in the process of making their decision. "I don't expect Augie to be a good fit for everyone," Davidson said. "Of course, we don't to push them."

Incoming students are interested in the challenging education and value of Augustana. "They are looking for a good education," Davidson said. "They want a great value-- especially with the current economic standing."

Student ambassadors also attributed some of the increase to the number of visitors.

Sophomore student ambassador Becka Bogue said that she had noticed more campus visits this fall than any other semester she had given tours. "I think that is because the economy is struggling right now so people want to know where they are investing their money and that their investment is going to pay off," Bogue said.

The economy clearly has students and parents concerned and thinking more in advance. Davidson said that there is also a 51 percent increase in visits from high school students who are not seniors, most of them being juniors.

"A lot of the students and parents visiting have been very aware of campus expenses and talking about how they're trying to think ahead," junior student ambassador Tonya Olson said. Olson said students and parents ask about the possibilities of not bringing their own laptops or cars in order to save money.

Bogue also related the economy to Augustana's percentage of job placement. "We have such a high job placement and a high grad school acceptance rate," Bogue said. "Students want to have a high chance of getting a job, especially due to our struggling economy."

In spite of the economy, Bogue believes Augustana's higher costs still receive favor over public schools.

"Even though Augie costs more than state schools, I think parents and prospective students realize the benefits of a college that has such a high grad school and job placement rate, and that overshadows the cost per semester," Bogue said. "So people are looking at the bigger picture."

It appears parents and students feel comforted by Augustana's promising job placement rate.

"A majority of the visitors have been impressed and commented on how [the job placement rate] makes them feel confident in the current economic downturn," Olson said.

The ability to meet more people and make more friends is another incentive to prospective students, according to Davidson and Olson.

Olson said that many prospective students she tours are attracted to the smaller campus size. "Many comment on how many students I say 'hi' to while touring - they are impressed with how friendly everybody is," Olson said. "It's funny, but I didn't even realize how many people I say 'hi' to everyday on campus until I started giving tours."

Davidson agreed. "Most people are overwhelmed with the welcoming, friendly campus," she said

The admissions office welcomes ideas on representing Augustana life to prospective students. The admissions team is working to give campus visitors the best representative of Augustana.

"I think students will come based on the overall experience of their visit and the atmosphere of Augie," Bogue said.