The University of Mary Washington welcomes prospective students and their families to campus this fall for a series of open houses designed to offer a firsthand look at academic programs, student life and the admissions process.
Saturday sessions are scheduled for Sept. 27, Oct. 18 and Nov. 8. The free events are open to high school juniors and seniors, and transfer students. Seniors who have already applied can also register for an expedited review for an on-the-spot admission decision.
Each program includes guided tours, opportunities to speak with faculty and current students, and sessions on financial aid, academic offerings and extracurricular activities. Families can also explore the surrounding city of Fredericksburg, which features historic landmarks and tours, specialty shops and restaurants.
“Visiting campus is one of the most important steps in the college search,” said Dean of Admissions and Associate Vice President Melissa Yakabouski. “Open houses give students and families the chance to talk with faculty and current students, see the facilities and get a real sense of what it’s like to be part of the Mary Washington community.”
UMW students often describe campus visits as pivotal too. For many, those visits introduce the traditions, close faculty connections and active campus life praised in national surveys. “It’s very easy to feel part of the community,” one student told The Princeton Review, which gives Mary Washington top marks for its health, student support and counseling services. That sense of belonging is a UMW hallmark noted by students in interviews and questionnaires collected by ranking organizations, including The Princeton Review, Fiske Guide to Colleges and Money, which all named Mary Washington among the nation’s best in recent editions.
Along with national recognition, UMW touts the individual student experiences it offers. Families can explore the University’s “Make it Matter” webpage, which shares stories of students and alumni connecting academics with personal passions through internships, research, leadership opportunities and careers. Visiting campus offers a way to see those experiences in action.
“A campus visit can help families see which college feels like the right fit,” said Director of First Year Admissions Sarah Lindberg. “At an open house, you’ll tour classrooms, the fitness center, dining facilities and a residence hall, while learning about academics, athletics and student life.”
Lindberg and Yakabouski have decades of experience working together to help prospective students and parents navigate the college search. Both emphasize that there is no single “right” way to approach the process, but visiting campus – whether through a tour or an open house – is always a good step.
“It can seem like a daunting task,” Yakabouski said of the admissions process. “One of the biggest misperceptions is that there’s a single course families have to follow. In reality, there are many ways to approach it. A visit to campus, especially in the vibrant fall season, is a great way to get started.”
Registration for open houses is available now, and a dedicated UMW admissions webpage with information on tuition, financial aid, career planning and deadlines is updated year-round. Staff are also available at (540) 654-2000 or admit@umw.edu to answer questions, with FAQ’s provided on a parents and families webpage.
Leave a Reply