Applications to IST at University Park are up 54 percent over last year with 327 high school seniors having applied for summer and fall admission, according to the office of undergraduate programs.
About 200 offers have gone out to those students with the school now working to turn those offers into acceptances or “yield.”
“IST has a great record in yielding students—our yield is approximately 67 percent or twice the rate at University Park,” said Stan Supon, assistant dean for undergraduate programs.
To enhance the yield even more, IST has developed some new initiatives. Starting in February, students with offers will be called by members of the recruiting subcommittee of the IST Advisory Board. Jennifer Horrocks, CEO, Vis.align, is leading this effort.
In their conversations, corporate partners will focus on the value of an IST education, internship opportunities and full-time positions with companies like theirs, said Jan Deike, coordinator of recruitment.
IST alumni also will contact students to share details of their IST classroom experiences while later in the spring, members of WIST (Women in Information Sciences and Technology) will follow up with those students who have not yet responded to offers of admissions.
In addition to working at acceptances for the incoming Class of ’05, undergraduate admissions has begun its next push: recruiting the incoming Class of ’06.
The first big recruiting event of the year is the IST Open House, tentatively scheduled for April 9. Staff, faculty, alumni, current students, and several of the school’s corporate partners will be on hand to introduce IST to prospective students and their families.
On the calendar for May and June are receptions in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh areas, home to many possible potential students.
Overall interest in IST is up, said Deike, who has seen an upswing over last year in calls for on-campus visits from students and families and for programs for high school students.
“The word is out that IST is hot—we have a good program, great internships and jobs, and we offer a good return on investment,” Deike said .
