Deserving prospectives visit campus

By: Kyle Christensen
Features Editor

Almost any college student can tell you that coming to school to get that higher education degree can cost a pretty penny. Fortunately for each new batch of accepted students every semester, Monmouth College has offered a helping hand to a few exceptional individuals with its yearly merit days’ monetary allotment and campus visitation.

Merit days allow a select handful of outstanding potential incoming students to have the opportunity to enjoy an extensive one-day walking tour and preview of the school’s educational facilities.

According to Kristi Hippen, associate dean of admission, “The purpose of merit day is to invite our merit scholars and families to campus to become more acquainted with the academic opportunities available to them at MC.”

Students are deemed eligible for merit scholar recognition during the application process, if they meet the essential criteria of obtaining a composite ACT score of at least 25 and ranking in the top quarter of their high school senior classes. Those applicants are then notified approximately two weeks later that they are not only accepted to the college, but have qualified for scholarship privileges (typically ranging from a minimum $8,000-$9,000, which, upon being re-granted through the student’s four-year matriculation, places its overall value at $32,000-$36,000).

The merit day visit, however, is perhaps the most intriguing and unique aspect of achieving this accolade. Merit scholars arrive on campus early in the morning and sit in on a course pertaining to their intended majors, as well as meet with professors of these departments. Tours of the buildings and grounds are provided, and a merit recognition luncheon formally congratulates each student on his or her accomplishment. Financial aid sessions are also made available to the students’ parents to receive information regarding funding and payment options. In addition to sampling scholastic life at Monmouth, representatives from numerous extra-curricular and athletic groups are on-hand to respond to any queries regarding these organizations, and admission counselors provide necessary information related to finalizing the students’ enrollment. Typically, these groups per day remain at no more than 12 to 15 students. “We purposely keep the group small to allow for maximum individual attention throughout the day,” explained Hippen.

This more laid-back, less pressure-intensive experience has proven to be a more beneficial approach than different uses for these merit days of the past. “Several years ago students were invited…for an interview with a faculty panel and to prepare a writing sample to either receive or increase the amount of the merit award. We’ve been using the current merit day format for a couple of years and have found that our prospective students are having a much better time,” stated Hippen.

Monmouth College will be hosting its final merit days for the school year on Friday, Feb. 9 and Friday, Feb. 23.