admissions.udel.edu

VAST Projects

• College Fairs
• Prospect Identification
• Open Houses
• Receptions
   

College Fairs

• College Fair programs are primarily held in the fall for seniors narrowing down their college choices, but there are also some in the spring for juniors beginning their college search. College fairs typically take place at local high schools and are similar to trade fairs. Admissions officers and/or alumni represent universities, distribute literature, and answer questions from prospective students and their parents. College fair programs are often held on weeknights and last 2 to 3 hours. Some programs involve students from one particular high school, while other programs may draw students from an entire county or regions. VAST volunteers may serve as either primary or assistant representatives.

  Primary representatives attend these programs alone, whereas assistants help admissions officers at large fairs. Training is required for primary representatives and may be completed by attending an on campus or field college fair training session or by assisting an admissions counselor at a college fair.

  If you graduated within the past 2 years and were a Blue Hen Ambassador or a Spirit Ambassador or if you have recently represented UD at college fairs, no formal training is required. No formal training is required for college fair assistants.

  If you are interested in representing the University of Delaware at one or more college fairs in your local area, please indicate the region in which you are willing to travel on the Enrollment Form on the the Join VAST page. Please also keep in mind that the University does not automatically receive invitations for many events. You may want to contact your local high school to determine when college fair programs will be held in your area. Given adequate notice, we will be happy to register for the college fair and ship the necessary materials out to you.

Prospect Identification

• Prospect Identification enables volunteers to inform Admissions of prospective first-year students in their community. The objective is to express an interest in students who might otherwise have not been contacted by Delaware.

  Volunteers may identify any potential student, but relatives and children of friends, acquaintances, or work associates are the best prospects. They may be identified as early as the 9th grade. Volunteers should: a) determine whether the student is interested in a university like Delaware and that the desired major is offered, and b) complete and mail a Prospect Identification Card.

  Once a student is identified by a volunteer, VAST staff will send him/her an appropriate letter with recruitment literature. The volunteer making the referral will receive a copy of the letter. Students who respond to our letter of interest are placed on the Admissions mailing list for future contacts.

Open Houses

• Open houses are held at various times throughout the year for students and their families. Blue and Golden Saturdays are fall open houses for prospective students, Decision Days are held in the spring for admitted students and Discovery Days are held on three Saturdays in July for rising seniors. You may find out the specific dates for these events by contacting the Admissions Office or by visiting http://admissions.udel.edu/visit/seasonal.

  Volunteers may attend open houses as non-participants for training purposes or they may directly participate in the open house as a panelist or an information table staff member. They also enjoy mingling with guests during breakfast and lunch and throughout the day during these events. Training for participation at an open house will vary according to your role and your previous volunteer experience.

Receptions

• Receptions are held in the fall to encourage prospective students to apply, in April to entice admitted students to enroll and in August to welcome newly enrolled freshmen. Volunteers may attend a reception planned and attended by an admissions counselor or they may host their own.

  If you are interested in attending a local reception for prospective or admitted students, you will need to make arrangements with the admissions counselor who recruits in your local area.

  Attending a new student welcome reception does not require specific training. However you should be familiar with the current admissions process and statistics as well as our marketing themes. Invitations to new student welcome receptions will be sent to all VAST members.

  Hosting a reception is particularly helpful to us if you live in an area outside of our regular geographic market. It is a way for UD to extend a personal touch to those families we normally may not be able to reach. The intent is for you to address the advantages of a Delaware education and present the university to students and their parents in your own style and manner.

  If this type of “hands-on” involvement appeals to you, let us know. Contact the admissions counselor who recruits in your area (see enclosed list), or if there is no counselor assigned to your area call the admissions office at 302-831-8125 or at 800-289-6394. Receptions are subject to approval by the Director of Admissions and training may be required if you have not participated in other volunteer activities and will vary according to the specific event. Some financial assistance may be available from the admissions office for hosting these activities.

  The possibilities for hosting a reception are as wide-ranging as your imagination. You can meet with one student or 20. You may plan a brunch or a luncheon at a good restaurant, an evening dessert reception or even a cookout. Have the event in your home, at a meeting room at your office, your club or at a restaurant.

  Once an event is planned and approved, written invitations may be sent to students by the admissions office or you may request a list of students to invite. These events should be planned well enough in advance so that guests will receive invitations at least 2 weeks before the event.