Admissions office prepares incoming freshmen class amid COVID-19
Photo by Sydney Pressley.
As COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly and drastically change many lives, the incoming class of 2024 is making the best of it as they prepare to start their journey at Lee this fall.
“We’re making personal connections with these students, making sure they feel heard in their disappointment of not being able to finish their last soccer season or attend their senior prom or even walk at their graduation,” said Admissions Counselor Corrin Wallace. “We’ve made a lot of calls to this upcoming class, and by them being at home, we’ve reached quite a bit of them. Through this, we’re able to assist and guide them through the admissions process and make sure they’re on the right track for the fall.”
While Lee Day unexpectedly went virtual this year, the event allowed for the admissions team to cultivate relationships with students online.
“Planning for the event was exciting, and our team couldn’t wait to reach these families in such a different way,” said Wallace. “We were pumped to finally be able to see the students we’ve worked with all semester.”
Though Lee Day is not designed for an online platform, admissions made it their goal to ensure students still felt connected to campus.
“Virtual Lee Day was definitely new territory for us, and I was thankful for the opportunity to Zoom with students and parents,” said Wallace. “It was actually a lot of fun to be able to connect with them in such a new way. There was a sense of comfort in each call, which made the connection with families even greater.”
For prospective students, choosing to go virtual with Lee Day still allowed them to become more familiar with Lee’s campus and community.
“Lee Day Live was very informative and made me appreciate Lee’s campus, students and faculty for their effort to give me a successful college tour,” said incoming freshman Sarah Mooneyham. “Virtual Lee Day helped me see how much Lee cares and aims to connect its student body.”
The admissions team is working closely with students to ensure a smooth transition and increased involvement on campus before the semester starts.
“Lee has assisted me in getting ready for college in so many ways, and the staff at Lee has always communicated with me and created relationships with me,” said incoming freshman Kylie Estrada. “[Admissions Counselor] Ashley Wilson has been a great help and always made sure I’m aware of all the upcoming events, and throughout this uncertain time, she has made sure to check on me.”
Many future students are already counting down the days until their #LeeUArrival, as they look forward to what the next four years hold for them at Lee.
“I look forward to the positive Christian atmosphere that I will be immersed in,” said Estrada. “Lee has already been so kind to me and made me feel at home — I can’t wait to be there and make connections with my professors and peers.”
As prospective students continue to finalize their schedules, gather decorations for their dorm rooms and expect move-in weekend, faculty and staff are anxious to welcome these students in the fall.
“We all share the same passion for Lee, and we want students all over to experience what happens here. It’s a special place, and we believe in it,” said Wallace.
