Prospective students get taste of college life

Parents and high school seniors from across New Mexico, Texas and several other states gathered at Eastern New Mexico University on Saturday for a lesson in attending college.

The annual Green and Silver Day is a chance for parents and their children to learn pointers on financial aid and what they can expect from university life.

For prospective students, it’s also a chance clear up at least some of the confusion of adjusting before actually arriving on campus next fall.

Josh Wood, of Hobbs, is considering to attending ENMU and might major in psychology.

“I thought it was pretty good. It helped to clarify some questions in deciding what my major is,” Wood said. “I came here about a week ago with my dad. He showed me around because he graduated from here. I think the school is really nice.”

Two hundred people attended the one-day event.

“We have a couple that I met from Colorado,” ENMU President Steven Gamble said. “A lot are from Texas. I bet you we have 30 to 40 from there and maybe some from other states.”

Parents and seniors were treated to a skit, door prizes, money matters class about financial aid and scholarships. Parents also attended a class called “Ready, Set, Go,” that centers on safety and other important personal issues for parents and students.

“It shows commitment to college,” Gamble said about the seniors and parents who came out. “Either way, even if they don’t come here to Eastern, just for the seniors to think about college is good,”

Seniors also got a chance to meet professors in their majors and talk to them to determine if that area of study is really what they want.

“I do like that ENMU is a small school,” Wood said. “All the classes are more personalized because your working with your instructors.”

Stephanie McClary, enrollment services coordinator, said Green and Silver Day is a great way for seniors to come and see what ENMU is about.

ENMU students volunteers helped welcome parents and seniors and talked a little about what it like going to Eastern.

“We introduce parents and seniors to the academic programs at ENMU,” McClary said. “The organizations, other departments and programs that service students. We also give them campus tours and eat lunch together.”

“This is our third year of bringing in the high school seniors of the area, state and region” Gamble said. “Hopefully they have good thoughts about Eastern.”

Gamble said each year the Green and Silver Day gets bigger due to attendance of grandparents, parents and seniors who make their way to Eastern.

“Probably about two thirds of these students have their parents with them and some have grandparents,” Gamble said. “We think that is wonderful because college students of today really need the support of their family.”