Counselors and students share stories and experiences

This meeting began with open discussion led by Rick Kutz, Assistant Director of the Honors College.  He talked about the ways to choose a college, as well as what to look for along the way.

 The meeting was then turned over to the counselors, current IUP students.  The students each shared their stories of how they began their college searches and how they finally decided IUP was the school for them.

Each of their stories were unique, but they all had two things in common: they all decided to become IUP students and are glad they did.

Heather Hoffman, who applied only to make her mom happy, came to see this school after her top school proved to be too costly.  Once she was accepted she came for a visit and fell in love with it.  She met a variety of interesting people and became involved in many school activities.

Shauna Doyle had a  different problem in her college search.  Her major, Education of Persons with Hearing Loss, was only offered at select institutions.  She narrowed her search down to three schools that had her major and chose IUP on default because the other schools  were too small.  After visiting and falling in love with the campus, she knew she made the right choice.

Not all of the counselors disliked IUP from the start.  James Eastley, a counselor from England, came to the US to visit his girlfriend.  After seeing the Honors College he decided this was a place he wanted to stay.

Jessica Kalivoda also had IUP on her list from the start.  She had to make a decision between Penn State University or IUP.  After seeing the Honors College she decided to apply.  She really liked the personal attention she would receive as a student in the honors college.

Lastly, Larry Paladin spoke to the group.  He knew during high school that he wanted to become a teacher.  After talking to many people in the teaching profession he decided to get more information on IUP since it came highly recommended.   He came to visit the Honors College and knew it was the school for him.  He will graduate next year and says he really liked being a student at the Honors College.

While the purpose of this program was not to recruit students to the Honors College, many students are now  considering it after hearing about it and touring it first hand.