Baylor Has Record-Breaking Numbers for Fall Premiere

by Janelle Bagci, Student Newswriter

Baylor University broke attendance records this year when 1,456 students attended Fall Premiere, a program designed to help prospective students get a glimpse of the academic and social opportunities at Baylor.
In addition to students, more than 2,200 other family members attended Premiere during the weekend of Sept. 17-18. The previous record was set during the Fall 2001 Premiere, when 1,237 students visited the Baylor campus.
"Any way that a student can visit the Baylor campus is beneficial, but a Premiere event offers so many more experiences than a regular weekday visit," said Kevin Kirk, director of campus visits.
Premiere activities began with an informal mixer, which allowed students and parents to have their questions answered by current students and Admission Services staff about the university and campus life.
Following the mixer, Dr. Dub Oliver, dean for student development, spoke to parents about what Baylor can offer students, while prospective students gathered to learn cheers and traditions from the Baylor Spirit Squad and watch skits by Guerilla Troupe, a student comedy team.
Prospective students and their parents toured the campus and the university's residence halls, and attended academic sessions from two fields of study of their choice.
"I feel more confident about what I want to pursue and being able to visit the actual campus helped answer a lot of my questions," said prospective student Sarah Chu.
"A close-knit family feeling is so present for our students, but it also extends to the parents of those students as well," Kirk said. "We want the parents to get to know the university along with the students as Baylor could become a big part of their entire family."
Baylor offers the Premiere event three times, with Winter Premiere scheduled for Jan. 28-29, 2005, and Spring Premiere for April 22-23, 2005. Prospective students interested in getting to know Baylor better can contact Kirk at (254) 710-3066 for more information or visit the Premiere web site at www.baylor.edu/admissions.