With graduation on the horizon, there’s still time to consider MC at March 29’s ‘Meet Maryville’ event
March 11, 2025
The clock is ticking for high school seniors, and the doors are beginning to open for the juniors a year behind them, but the MC Office of Admissions has a message for both: Maryville College is an ideal destination for anyone seeking a higher education home.
That’s not a claim Admissions staff members make lightly, and on March 29, they’ll present their case for its authenticity at the final “Meet Maryville” event of the 2024-25 academic year. The triannual event, held twice in the fall and once in the spring, is a preview day designed to help students get to know the institution, discover academic and potential career paths, experience a taste of student life, and verify for themselves the fact that Maryville College is the place they belong.
“We love hosting ‘Meet Maryville,’ because it never fails: Seniors and juniors who have been considering enrolling here get to campus, and they see for themselves what a great move that will be,” said Dr. Alayne Bowman, vice president of Admissions and Financial Aid. “There’s nothing more breathtaking than the campus in spring, and to walk the campus and tour the buildings and meet faculty members and current Scots is always the reassurance that they’re making the right decision.”
“There’s just such a wonderful sense of community and history here — we’re rich in traditions, and the legacy of 206 years of serving students influences everything we do,” added Kelly Massenzo, director of undergraduate admissions at MC. “At the same time, we pride ourselves on the ways we anticipate and plan for the future. Technology and innovation have completely transformed the workforce in our country, but thanks to departments like the Maryville College Career Center and the forward-facing work of so many of our faculty members, we provide an education that well prepares our students for modern careers.”
At Meet Maryville, Bowman said, potential students and their families can talk to those faculty members, meet current students, get to know staff members and take a closer look the possibilities that Maryville College offers. In addition to exploring programs of study at the Academic Division and Student Life Fair, potential Scots can review the myriad of campus clubs and organizations that enrich student life outside of the classroom. “Meet Maryville” begins at 10 a.m. in the Alumni Gym, and the day will also include information sessions on financial aid options and scholarships, including the full-tuition McGill Scholarship, which is awarded to high-achieving applicants.
In addition, representatives from various auxiliary on-campus organizations and departments will be available to provide information about such programs as Mountain Challenge; the Military Student Center; Disability Resources and Accessibility; Athletics; Study Abroad opportunities through the Center for Global Engagement; academic support services; faith and community engagement involvement; and more.
“College is about so much more than just going to class, and at Maryville College, we’re honored to provide everything potential students need to build a home here,” Bowman said. “We want them, and especially their parents, to understand that while they’re here, they’ll be taken care of, but they’ll also have unlimited opportunities to discover the passions and paths that engage and excite them.”
The March 29 event will also include Q&A sessions for parents and students; tours of campus; lunch in Pearsons Hall; and afternoon activities that include introductions to enrollment counselors, tours of on-campus residence halls, and information about STEMFest, a family-friendly, all-ages, science-themed carnival that will take place the following day.
“If any of our families are staying overnight and want to return the next day for STEMFest, we encourage them to,” Massenzo said. “That’s just one example of how there’s always something going on at Maryville College, whether it’s academically oriented, an athletic event or something designed to offer students entertainment and leisure options.”
Check-in for Meet Maryville takes place at 10 a.m., followed by a welcome address by College President Dr. Bryan F. Coker, also in the Alumni Gym. Afterward, attendees can browse the aforementioned fair, where faculty and staff members of the College’s nine academic divisions will be on hand to answer questions and provide information.
“We realize that with graduation only two months away, seniors and their families may be feeling some pressure to make a decision about colleges as soon as possible,” Bowman said. “We want them to know that there’s still time to explore their options, and that one of those options should be with us. Choosing a place for higher education can be daunting, but we have no doubts that when students and their parents come to campus and get to know us at Meet Maryville, they’ll realize what we already know: That Maryville College is a place where careers are set, lifelong friends are made and future possibilities are endless.”
Additional opportunities
For students and family members who cannot attend Meet Maryville, the Admissions office offers several other options to visit campus.
During the academic year (September through April), the Office of Admissions offers tours by current students who serve as MC Ambassadors Monday through Friday at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Summer tours (May through August) are offered at 10 a.m. Monday through Friday and 5:30 p.m. on Thursdays. (The College is in the Eastern time zone.) The office will also offer an additional Saturday tour this semester at 10 a.m. Eastern time on April 5.
“While we love getting to know potential Scots at our Meet Maryville events, we encourage them to still schedule an individual visit with us at a later date, because those can be much more personalized,” Massenzo said. “Getting to know the programs of study is one thing; actually sitting in on a class that relates to their areas of interest and talking to faculty members who teach in them is next-level. There’s truly no better barometer of whether Maryville College is the ideal destination for them than on a tour of this amazing place.”
For more information about “Meet Maryville” or scheduling a campus tour, please call 865.981.8092 or visit maryvillecollege.edu/visit.