The following article was sent by Recruitment & Marketing in York’s Department of Admissions.
More than 5,000 prospective students and their families are expected to arrive at the University’s Keele campus on Saturday, March 13, ready to experience an extraordinary adventure at York’s March Break Gala 2004. Undergraduate faculties are pulling out all the stops to dazzle and delight our guests during the day-long event.
York’s Glendon campus is holding a March Break Gala on Sunday, March 14. Love it or hate it, everyone will be interested in "The Great Debate" – a panel of experts addressing the rise of reality TV. Guests can take the decorating challenge or a campus tour with a twist.
Keele campus
York Admissions, nine of York’s faculties and eight student service departments are joining forces to produce the campus event of the season. The gala gives prospective students the perfect opportunity to get to know current students and staff at more than 80 events, performances, lectures, film screenings and sneak previews of York’s 200+ programs. Guests can tour the campus and experience first-hand York’s residences, laboratories, classrooms and studios. The day wraps up with a free concert by one of Canada's rising young bands, Not By Choice – live at The Underground. Winners of a draw held at 2pm will be given a limo to the door of the concert and a backstage visit with the band.
Students and parents will be impressed by the five-star greeting they’ll receive from ambassadors along the route to the welcome centre in Vari Hall. As well as ambassadors making participants feel welcome, York’s soccer team will be demonstrating their winning moves in the colonnade and York cheerleaders will be pumping up the crowd in the Rotunda. Roar with the York Lions mascot or soca to the live steel drum performances.
Each Faculty is hosting its own event whereby students can meet professors, leading-edge researchers, top scholars and members of the University’s culturally diverse student body. Here is a brief sampling:
- Phoenix mission to Mars – Mission members will be on hand to chat with students
- Eco-Art and Media Festival – Event is happening in the Faculty of Environmental Studies
- Reality U – A Faculty of Arts production will be shown on how to survive first year
- Science and Engineering Zone – Students can solve a biological puzzle and use a telescope to find a hidden message
- Law School Admission Test (LSAT) – Students can try sample questions
- Schulich School of Business – Representatives describe how they are selecting their 2004 entering class.
- Music and dance – Performances to be given by York students
Other highlights include two keynote speeches:
- Paul Delaney, senior lecturer in York’s Department of Physics & Astronomy talking about whether or not we could, or should, colonize Mars
- Sandra Levy, York alumna (BA ‘90, LLB ‘95), two-time member of the Canadian Olympic Field Hockey Team and director of corporate affairs and donations at Magna International Inc., describing how her experiences and choices led to her success
Because making the transition to university affects parents as well as students, Admissions is running a Parent’s Retreat program this year. A panel discussion will examine life on campus, finances, safety and housing.
Click here for a full list of events on the Keele campus. For details about Glendon’s gala, visit their Admissions Web site.