The Cavalier daily :: Thursday, November 5, 1970 :: University of Virginia Library

The University's Office of Admissions
is thought of by many students as an
institution in itself which takes on an
omnipotent air due to the naked fact that
it is the office which affects the fate of
the hopeful applicant.

In a very real sense this is a true
conception. Not only does the admissions
office determine which applicant will be
accepted for study at the University, but
the admissions people play an active role
in determining who will even apply.

This is accomplished through an
extensive recruitment program.
Traditionally, large universities would
send representatives to high school
"College Nights" in an effort to explain the
opportunities their respective schools had to
offer. In recent years the University has
increased its recruitment program of the
recruitment of black students and low income
white students. This increased recruitment
need, further compounded by the full
coeducation of the University, has caused the
admissions people to search for more ways to
reach more high school students than in
previous years.

University Representatives

Presently, the University sends
representatives to small high schools, public and
private, which are not included in the college
night program. Conrad Warlick, Assistant Dean
of Admissions, is a University representative
who serves in this capacity. Mr. Warlick, whose
unofficial title is "Roadrunner," travels the
highways and byways of the state in an effort
to seek out interested and qualified high school
students for possible admission to the
University.

Just last week his job took Mr. Warlick to
two small high school; one Chatham Hall, a girls
boarding school in Chatham, Virginia, and
another, Virginia Episcopal School which is a
boys boarding school in Lynchburg, Virginia.

While at these schools, Mr. Warlick would
talk with the Headmaster to determine the
background of the student body and also to
discover which colleges and universities that
school's alumni have attended in the past.

Opportunities Discussed

Mr. Warlick would then talk with interested
students, irregardless of their age or grade, and
explain the University's opportunities. In so
doing he is always careful to give a realistic
outlook of the University-neither overrating it
nor ignoring its strengths.

In talking to the students, Mr. Warlick
explained briefly the different schools and
possible areas of study at the University, he
discussed the required courses, the Echols
Scholars and Honors Programs, as well as
extracurricular activities such as clubs,
publications, societies, intramurals, and student
government.

Mr. Warlick was careful to explain such rules
and regulations as class attendance, terms and
conditions, and driving. In addition to these
areas of concern, he gave a brief summary of
the Honor System and the rationale behind it.

Students seemed most concerned about
entrance requirements, financial aid, social
opportunities, and student regulations. These
enquiries were always met with Mr. Warlick
deliberately trying to give an objective-yet
realistic explanation.

It would be difficult to access the value of
this recruitment process because the returns are
measured in the long run. There can be no
doubt that something constructive had been
accomplished.

The advantages of this type of recruitment
are several. In one day Mr. Warlick spoke
personally to twenty-five students. He
established relationships with the schools he
visited as well as introduced the University to
prospective applicants. Surely when these
students begin applying to colleges they will
give the University serious consideration.

Viewed as a whole program, the University's
recruitment efforts seem to be quite effective.

No one would argue that there is still ample
room for improvement in the programs for the
recruitment of blacks and low income whites.
But the Office of Admissions is continually
reforming and expanding its programs in an
effort to provide the University with a yearly
input of qualified first year students.