Admissions, part 1: Students, alumni both drawn to rich content

The literal path to Emory runs underneath the Haygood-Hopkins Gate. The figurative one? Well, that's a bit more complicated. But the new website for undergraduate admissions is a great place to start, bursting with exciting, informative conent for students, parents, and alumni alike.

The Office of Admission for Emory College of Arts and Sciences’ newly redesigned website features enhanced content and interactive elements including a forum to connect prospective students with current undergraduates.

The undergraduate admission site organizes major areas of interest into sections about academics, student life, Emory's campus, and Atlanta, as well as admission and financial aid. Also included are links to information about admission to Emory’s graduate and professional schools.

“Whether students are just beginning their college search or looking for that final bit of information that will help them decide where to enroll, it is essential that we make sure our site is up-to-date, informative, easy to navigate, and fun.” said Dean of Admission Jean Jordan.

Jordan's description of the site is accurate. It’s actually pretty easy to get drawn in while surfing it. Video content is prominent on most pages, and the stories told and images displayed are compelling enough to appeal to most anyone with an interest in Emory.

Also scattered throughout the site are 58 profiles of students and alumni, featured to help prospective students understand what Emory is like—showcasing academics, student life, faculty, and athletics, to name a few things. According to Paula Londe, senior marketing manager, alumni successes were highlighted to show how a liberal arts education, like the one they received at Emory, served as a foundation for their careers.

“Research with our prospective students taught us that profiles make Emory relatable—they can see themselves here and feel like students like them choose to attend Emory,” Londe said.

For alumni, one of the best—and easiest—ways to get involved with student admissions is the through the Alumni Admission Network (AAN), a program of the Emory Alumni Association (EAA). More than 1,000 alumni are already part of the AAN, which is always open to new members.

This spring AAN members will be calling graduating high-school seniors to congratulate them for being admitted to Emory as part of the undergraduate Class of 2013. The personal touch of an alumni call is always welcomed by students and can sometimes be the tipping point in a decision about whether to attend Emory.

Admitted-student calling is just one way alumni can reach out though the AAN to the next generation. AAN members also represent Emory at college fairs, host parties and other get-togethers for admitted students, serve as local resources for students and much more.

For a downloadable overview of the AAN and description of volunteer opportunities, click here. For more information about how to get involved, contact Laura Zimmerman, the EAA’s assistant director for regional programs at ljzimme@emory.edu.—Eric Rangus