Admitted students and their families joined current students and faculty in filling Corey Gymnasium in Park Center on Saturday for SUNY Cortland’s annual Accepted Students Open House.
To kick off the day SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum, SGA President Khyla Diggs, and Director of Admissions and Enrollment Planning Jose Feliciano welcomed students and their families to campus by speaking in the Park Center Alumni Arena.
Bitterbaum, president of the college since 2003, expressed his appreciation for the energy of the event, emphasizing that the success of the college and its ability to attract students relies heavily on current students encouraging others to consider SUNY Cortland as a great place to pursue their education.
Bitterbaum also highlighted the high demand to attend SUNY Cortland, noting that for the upcoming fall, the college received over 18,000 applications, yet only had space for 1,350 students.
“I think the key for potential students is, can they envision themselves being and going to college here,” said Bitterbaum. “They want to meet students in their potential major, meet the faculty, have a meal in the cafeteria, and say, ‘you know, this is a place that I can see myself at. It’s a place where I can have a really excellent four-year journey.’”
Following the welcome remarks at the Corey Gymnasium, faculty, staff, and students discussed the opportunities available within their departments and programs—from majors to student clubs and organizations—during the Academic Programs, Student Services, and Clubs Fair, which ran from 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Ada Kesselman, a high school senior from River Vale, New Jersey, was one of the 800 admitted students that attended Saturday’s Open House. Kesselman not only got to attend the open house event on Saturday but also got a personalized experience on Friday through the SUNY Cortland English Department.
Kesselman had the opportunity to sit in on the English class, ‘Shakespeare,’ taught by Dr. Willnide Lindor on Friday. She also got to spend the day with two current students in the English Department—Kaileigh Phillips, the author of this article, and Marissa Stone—to ask questions and get a personalized feel for the department.
“I was able to talk with professors and current students within my major that helped me to get a better understanding of what my major requires,” said Kesselman. “I definitely feel more comfortable with my commitment at SUNY Cortland after Friday and the open house. Seeing the campus and the people I will be with [in the fall] made me so excited.”
Jason and Andrea Kesselman, Ada’s parents, attended Saturday’s open house with their daughter. They said they were pleased with the opportunities offered to their daughter during her visit.
“The ability to meet all of the professors in person as well as get a true feeling of the current students at SUNY Cortland and the students that plan on attending Cortland [was important],” said Jason Kesselman. “It was also great to see the extracurricular activities that Cortland has to offer.”
Marrisa Deluca, a SUNY Cortland senior majoring in graphic design and digital media, worked the event at her major table. Deluca hosted the art/art history and graphic design/digital media table with professors, Marten Barnaby and Brian Thomas.
Deluca made a particular impact on a potential student who visited her table as a biology major, hoping to switch to graphic design and digital media when arriving in the fall. Deluca got the opportunity to explain, to both the student and her mother, the process of majoring in graphic design, college life as a whole, what it’s like living away from home, along with additional complex topics.
Deluca mentions the student and her parent both seemed to leave the conversation pleased and reassured with what was said.
Deluca also emphasizes the importance of not only professors and faculty being at the programs and clubs fair but also current students within those departments.
“Prospective students can gain a more realistic perspective on what it’s like to be a college student through current students, as professors only see things from their own viewpoint, not from a student’s perspective,” said Deluca. “Current students can portray to prospective students what the aspects, other than academics, of college are.”
“At the end of the day college isn’t just about the classes and course work, it is also about the experiences: the atmosphere, the off-campus/city environment, the connections and friends made along the way, and all of the on and off campus events.”
Admitted students have until the first of May, also known as National College Decision Day, to officially commit to the college of their choice.