Soundtrack to Travel

Hello all! It has been a crazy past couple of months here in the Western New England University Admissions Office. Hopefully everyone is doing well in the aftermath of hurricane Sandy and our thoughts go out to all those who were in its path. Sandy has certainly had an impact on college admissions throughout the country with many schools pushing back deadlines to accommodate those who have lost power or had damage to their homes. Here at WNE, we work on a rolling admissions basis meaning we take applications in a "first come, first serve" manner. First quarter grades are required as part of the application process and for many schools, first quarter is coming to an end within the next couple of weeks. Now is the time to start filling out those applications! Here is a quick reminder of what we need in the admissions process as an undergraduate student (for transfer student admission requirements, please visit this site: http://www1.wne.edu/admissions/index.cfm?selection=doc.16):

1.  Completed application (either the WNE online application or the Common Application)
2.  $40 Application fee
3.  Official high school transcript including first quarter senior year grades
4.  Standardized test scores (SAT and/or ACT)
5.  Essay/personal statement
6.  At least one letter of recommendation

Today is the last day of travel for many of our Counselors. After a grueling 3 month travel season that saw states such as California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, and Pennsylvania covered in addition to all of the Northeast states, our Counselors will be returning to review applications. With all of this territory covered, a great deal of a Counselor's day is spent in a car. Thankfully, our rental cars were equipped with Sirius satellite radio this year which allowed us to rock out to our favorite tunes. Our Counselors were asked which song they heard most this travel season. Here are their responses, enjoy!

Rachael Dietert, Admissions Counselor
"50 Ways to say Goodbye" -Train

Abby Meachem, Admissions Counselor
"Little Talks" -Of Monsters and Men

Chris Wystepek, Associate Director of Admissions
"Everybody Talks" -Neon Trees

Madeleine Bergstrom, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions
"Good Time" -Carly Rae Jepsen and Owl City

Drew Guarino, Assistant Director of Admissions
"One More Night" -Maroon 5

Brian Michaud, Assistant Director of Admissions
"We are Never Ever Getting Back Together" -Taylor Swift

Danielle Langevin, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions
"Wide Awake" -Katy Perry  

Get to Know Your WNE Admissions Staff!

Hopefully everyone had a fantastic summer and is right back in the swing of things in school this year! This is the time of year when we in the Admissions Office are extremely busy organizing and scheduling our travel so we can come see you at your school this fall. In preparation for the travel season, our office recently voted on "superlatives" so you can get a better idea of who will be helping you in the admissions process here at Western New England University. Enjoy!

Madeleine Bergstrom, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

-Madeleine is in her 5th year here at WNE and was voted "most conscientious hotel guest". This pays homage to her experience in higher education, specifically her travel planning, as she has been known to stay in several hot spots including Portland, ME and Portsmouth, NH. She arguably has the most difficult travel schedule due to the birth of her daughter, Ellie (who turns two in November), and because her husband is also traveling in his role for Admissions at another institution. Quite a juggling act!

Daniel Colina, Admissions Counselor and Coordinator for Diversity Recruitment

-Daniel is entering his 2nd year at WNE and was voted "most athletic" in the office. Daniel was a two-sport athlete in college having participated in both basketball and track and field. He recently placed first in the United States Track & Field Club National Championships held in Omaha, Nebraska. His signature event is the javelin, an activity he has participated in since high school. His personal best is 213'10''. Very impressive!

Rachael Dietert, Admissions Counselor

-Rachael is entering her 2nd year at WNE after graduating from the school in 2010. She was voted "best dressed" in the superlative survey. Rachael has been known to shop while traveling for the school and can always tell you where the closest mall is located. She is also a fan of online shopping, bargain hunting, and playing with her puppy Riley!

Matthew Fox, Director of Recruiting and Marketing for Graduate Studies and Adult Learning

-Matt is entering his 13th year at WNE and was voted "most computer savvy" in the office. Matt can always be counted on to solve those tough computer problems and handles the mailing and marketing for graduate school admission. He has been known to be a tough opponent on "Words with Friends" and loves having bragging rights over his co-workers.

Drew Guarino, Assistant Director of Admissions

-Drew is entering his 3rd year at WNE and was voted "Most likely to stay outside a chain hotel" in the office superlatives. He has been known to frequent bed and breakfasts, especially in his Pennsylvania travel territory. He typically has golf clubs in his car so when he is out on the road traveling for WNE he will find time to play a quick round! Drew also loves to take advantage of sports games that are in town in areas that he is traveling in.

Michael Horan, Senior Associate Director

-Michael is entering his 26th year at WNE and was voted "the Counselor with the best ties". Michael often wears the classic Jerry Garcia ties that are extremely colorful and fun! He is constantly complimented on his tie selection. Michael also is known to be the king of post-it notes, as his desk is covered in reminders. As he would suggest, if you write it down, it's hard to forget!

Michelle Kowalsky, Associate Director of Admissions for Graduate Students and Adult Learning & Coordinator of International Recruitment

-Michelle is entering her 8th year at WNE and received the most Counselor superlatives. Among her nominations she received "best packer", and "most miles traveled in one year". Michelle travels internationally on behalf of WNE and has been to several countries and continents. She is very meticulous with her packing, having to ship her materials internationally but she always seems to have everything well-organized and planned.

Danielle Langevin, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions

-Danielle is entering her 9th year at WNE after having graduated with a bachelors from the school in 2004 and receiving her Masters from WNE in 2008. She was voted "social butterfly" of the office by her co-workers. Danielle is extremely personable and makes friends very easily on the road. She frequents such websites as Perez Hilton and People so she can keep tabs on all the celebrity gossip. Danielle is often organizing office functions and gatherings and loves planning activities!

Abigail Meachem, Admissions Counselor
-Abby is entering her 2nd year at WNE and was given the "best taste in music" superlative by the office. Abby can often be found listening to the Broadway station on XM radio and is a huge fan of musicals. She was involved in theater in both high school and college. Abby's talents are quite noticable as her theater experience helps make her one of the most personable members of our staff.

Brian Michaud, Assistant Director of Admissions

-Brian is entering his 4th year at WNE after having graduated from the school in 2009. Brian was voted by his peers as "the food eating champion" of the office. He is known to put buffalo sauce and/or ranch dressing on basically everything he consumes. Brian loves to travel on behalf of the school so he can visit various locations that have been featured on Food Network TV shows and loves to participate in competitive eating challenges. His ability to eat is surpassed by no one else in the office!

Chris Wystepek, Associate Director of Admissions

-Chris is entering his 9th year at WNE after having graduated with a bachelors from the school in 2002 and receiving his Masters from WNE in 2009. Chris was voted as the Counselor "most likely to show up early to a college fair" by the office. He is the co-coordinator of all admissions travel here at WNE and is the individual responsible for planning the ever-tedious car schedule. Chris is extremely enthusiastic about his alma mater and is always very well-organized with his travel.

Charles Pollock, Vice President for Enrollment Management

-Dr. Pollock is entering his 36th year at WNE and was voted as the "most involved on campus" by the office. Dr. Pollock has been with the school since 1977 in a variety of capacities including Financial Aid and Admissions. He is a key figure in meetings across campus including the President's Staff. Dr. Pollock has also been a central figure at our open houses leading a financial aid informational session for both students and parents.

Now that you know a little about us, do not hesitate to say hello when you see us at a college fair or other visit! For more information about where we will be traveling this year, please visit http://www1.wne.edu/admissions/events/ or for international recruitment please visit http://www1.wne.edu/admissions/index.cfm?selection=doc.9551

The Miracle on Wilbraham Road

This past Saturday Western New England University celebrated its first commencement as a 'University'.  This historic event featured  a brilliant commencement speech by Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson who had the unorthodox idea of actually sending a tweet during his speech (no joke--check out his tweet from Saturday, May 19th @neiltyson) ultimately leading to a standing ovation.  President Dr. Anthony S. Caprio had quite possibly the line of the day calling WNE the "miracle on Wilbraham Road" growing from a mere 34 acres in 1956 to nearly 215 acres today.

In all nearly 650 students graduated with the distinct honor of being a part of this inaugural University class.  Graduate Michelle Wiggett, who finished with a 3.96 GPA as a Criminal Justice major with a concentration in Terrorism & Homeland Security, was chosen to speak on behalf of the students.  She did an excellent job describing the vast changes that have occurred at the institution in her four years.  Wiggett commented, "As the first year started to take shape, we each looked for our passions and found our purpose.  Many went on to switch majors, change career goals and continue to find their true identities."

Best of luck to the graduating class of 2012 as they continue to serve Western New England University proudly as its newest alumni!

2012 Commencement Speaker Announced

Western New England University is pleased to announce the commencement speaker for the class of 2012. This year's presenter is Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, a famed astrophysicist. Dr. Tyson is currently the Fredrick P. Rose Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space. Dr. Tyson also works as an astrophysicist for the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. He can often be found on television, as he has hosted the show NOVA scienceNOW on PBS since 2006, and is a frequent guest of the Colbert Report (appearing on the show 8 times in 7 years), Real Time with Bill Maher, and The Daily Show with John Stewart. 

Dr. Tyson once served on the Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001. In 2004, he sat on the President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy and was awarded the prestigious NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal which is the highest civilian award presented by NASA. 

We are honored to have Dr. Tyson speak at commencement in the Alumni Healthful Living Center on Saturday, May 19th. He will receive an honorary Doctor of Science degree from Western New England University. For more information about Dr. Tyson, please check his Twitter account (@neiltyson) or his website.

Congratulations!

        It’s the time of year when high school seniors all over the country are anxiously waiting next to the mailbox for one thing…a college admissions decision. Here at Western New England, we’ve sent out many letters containing the news that YOU could become part of the Class of 2016. Congratulations! We are so excited to meet the people whose applications we’ve been reading for the past few months. We hope that you choose to accept our invitation to become a Golden Bear!

        Your enthusiasm and achievements (academic and otherwise) have impressed us. Getting to know you through your applications has been such a wonderful experience for me, a relatively new admission counselor, and the rest of my office. Now, we hope you take the time to get to know more about us. On Saturday, April 14^th we have our final Open House of the year. It’s a great way to see the campus for yourself and have the opportunity to meet faculty, staff and current students. In addition, we offer a Day Visit Program in which you can shadow a current student in your major. If you’ve ever wondered what a day in the life of a WNE student is like, this is certainly the way to find out! Find out more about these programs here.

        If you’ve been to campus and seen all that you could possibly want to see, we encourage you to read our blogs and check out the WNE Class of 2016 Facebook page, managed by our own Golden Bear. The Facebook forum is a space for you to find out more about your potential classmates. We hope that you ask questions about clubs, student activities and things to do/see in our area. This is going to become your second home and we want you to feel welcome before you even arrive on campus!

        Again, we extend our congratulations to you and your family for all that you have achieved during the past four years. We hope that you choose Western New England as the place to make the most out of the next four. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our office. We can't wait to welcome you, the WNE Class of 2016!

-Abby

Quacking on St. Patrick's Day

This past weekend a team from the Western New England University Admissions Office competed in the 30th annual Easter Seals Charity Volleyball tournament held at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. The tournament was split into four different divisions and team EMAS Ducks (our team name) was entered in the recreational bracket. After playing six "regular season" games, the team finished with an impressive 5-1 record, winning five in a row after dropping a tight first contest.

Once the playoffs started things began to heat up for the Ducks. After disposing of the first-round opponent, the team struggled early in the championship game, quickly getting down 13-4 to a team consisting of NBC Connecticut staff members who were also the two-time defending champions of the tournament. After huddling together to bring back the focus, the Ducks went on a roll rattling off point after point to tie and eventually take the lead. With a few tense moments, the team finally got to game point and staff member Lianne Hansen was able to place a shot nicely down the sidelines to get the final point! The EMAS Ducks took the championship by a score of 21-19 capping off an incredible comeback. 

Congratulations to the Admissions team on their impressive St. Patrick's Day victory. A special thanks must go out to team captain Brian Michaud who organized the fundraising for the event. In all, the Admissions team raised over $300 for the Easter Seals charity, which will go to help people with disabilities or special needs in the Fairfield County section of Connecticut. The rest of the team was comprised of Chris Wystepek, Michelle Kowalsky, Rachael Dietert, Danielle Langevin, Abby Meachem, myself, and coach Madeleine Bergstrom. Check out some great photos of Saturday's action!

Team EMAS Ducks: (L to R): Logan Byrnes FOX CT News Anchor, Rachael Dietert, Brian Michaud, Danielle Langevin, Madeleine Bergstrom, Lianne Hansen, Abby Meachem, Drew Guarino.

 Team captain Brian Michaud getting ready for his serve.

Pre-Tournament photo back (L to R): Madeleine Bergstrom, Michelle Kowalsky, Chris Wystepek, Drew Guarino, Brian Michaud, Danielle Langevin, Lianne Hansen, Abby Meachem, Rachael Dietert.

Team huddle prior to the championship game vs. NBC Connecticut.

The team after winning with FOX CT anchor Logan Byrnes and their victory frisbees.

From their Minds to the Marketplace

Recently a group of Western New England University students in conjunction with professor Glenn Vallee, PhD, created projects in the classrooms at WNE. Now? These products may be winding up on the shelves in stores across the country! Check out this clip to hear more about how WNE Engineering students are working with their classmates in the College of Business to not only develop new, essential products, but to also come up with a strategic marketing plan for how best to implement these products into a target audience.

http://vimeo.com/36859871

Western MA: A Hot Place to be in Higher Education

In my readings today, I came across an interesting article on the growth of higher education institutions in the Western Massachusetts area. Western New England University is prominently mentioned due to its recent name change, implementation of majors such as neuroscience and arts & entertainment management, as well as the founding 75 students in the College of Pharmacy's first class. Check out the link to read more about how Western MA is quickly becoming a hot area to be a college student!

http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2012/02/post_36.html

Admissions Associates in Action!

Check out our very own Admissions Associate Danna Mazzola on Mass Appeal, a show on Channel 22 News in Springfield, MA. Danna is a junior at Western New England University and is interning for Channel 22 for the semester. I know after watching this I was ready to eat! Congratulations Danna and job well done!

Cooking with Danna

Spring Semester Coming Right Up

I feel like every post I make I keep saying how amazing it is that the year has gone by as fast as it has. I think if it's possible that this year went by faster than last year! Students will be arriving back on campus here at Western New England University this weekend to start classes next Tuesday for the spring 2012 semester. I thought that I would take this opportunity to discuss some of the visitation programs that our school will feature during this semester.

Day Visit Program (http://www1.wne.edu/admissions/index.cfm?selection=doc.26)

-This program is an opportunity for accepted students to shadow a current student for the day. They will be matched up by our office and we do our best to match up based on majors. Accepted students will go to classes, lunch, and any extracurricular activities their shadow has for the day to personally see what it is like to be a student at WNE. Please call 413-782-1321 to sign up.

Open Houses (http://www1.wne.edu/admissions/index.cfm?selection=doc.28)

-WNE is offering three open houses during the upcoming semester which are all held on weekends. The dates this semester are Saturday, February 18th, Saturday, March 10th, and Saturday, April 14th. Our March 10th open house is also our accepted students day where visitors will have the opportunity to sit in on a mock classroom, have a financial aid session, and/or attend a clubs & activities fair. ONLY accepted students will be invited to attend this open house so circle this one on your calendars! The April 14th open house is primarily for current juniors in high school.

Campus Visits (https://www1.wne.edu/admissions/tour_registration/)

-We offer tours Monday through Friday throughout the year. Visit the above website to see our tour times for the day and to sign up for your visit. We will also offer tours on select Saturdays throughout the semester. Check the site to see which Saturdays WNE will be open for business!