Horizons Online Edition

Issue date: 10/28/09 Section: News

Alex Fahrenbruch speaks with a high school senior and his parents at the flightline.

On Saturday, Oct., 17, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University opened its doors to prospective high school students who were seriously considering attending, had no problem affording the airfare, and were lucky enough to find a vacant hotel in Prescott. It was a chance for interested students to catch a glimpse of life at ERAU.

Guided tours led by employees of the visitors' center and of housing took groups of students and their parents around campus. Prospective students got to take in the atmosphere of the campus with stops at AC-1, the Loose Deuce, the student union, and the library. During the Open House, rooms in Halls 9 and 2 were open for students to see what they would call home, whether it would be the Mingus suite, the Village suite, or the Village apartment. Students were also given the opportunity to roam around campus by themselves and experience the campus on their own time. Chartwells offered a wide selection of food for students to get a taste of what they would be living off of while in college.

Some of the labs remained open for the weekend so students could get a view of what the classroom environment would be like.

Those that were interested could also take a shuttle to the flightline and see the aircraft fleet. Those that took that guided tour were able to see the Cessna 172 and Piper Seminole. The tour took students to the adjacent A320 simulator, then to the sim lab across the street, where some students were given the opportunity to pilot the simulated aircraft, which mostly ended with disastrous results.

Students who wanted to could also request an observer flight and get a firsthand look at flight instruction and into the flight curriculum.

Academics aside, another big question that prospective students had was "What else can I do here?" The activity fair was set up to answer that question. Several on-campus clubs and organizations set up a table in the Lower Hangar to advertise their clubs to potential members and to show all of what life at ERAU has to offer.

Seminars regarding scholarships and other financial issues were also held to answer the third question in the minds of prospective students and their parents: "How can I pay for this?"

Choosing a college is a difficult decision, and even though the biggest factors that play into that choice are majors and location, little things like the campus life and environment can be crucial.

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