BCIT recruitment session continues to draw increasing numbers
Prospective students gather to learn more about BCIT at Big Info. Photo courtesy of Scott McAlpine
Prospective students gathered at BCIT on October 24 for the biannual Big Info event. The event lived up to its name, bringing in approximately 3,600 visitors.
Many of BCIT’s departments participated, showcasing the institute’s wide variety of programs. The Great Hall hosted the event and was filled with information booths and interactive displays to educate visitors on what each program offers. Instructors and current students volunteered to speak at the event, offering insight and advice to those interested in applying.
Big Info session coordinator Erin McInnes, who has organized the event for the past four years, told The Link that she has seen a boost in the magnitude of the event since she has taken over as coordinator.
“When I first started planning these events four years ago, we would see between 1,500-1,800 visitors during the evening,” McInnes explained, “and now we are seeing double the amount of visitors.”
McInnes hopes the session helps answer the questions of prospective students. Her goal is for attendees to learn about student life and ultimately choose BCIT for their post-secondary education.
James Ellis, a fourth-year Simon Fraser University student, used the event to get answers to his questions about BCIT life and the application process.
“I talked to the girl at the booth there for about half an hour. I was stepping away just so other people could get a chance,” Ellis told The Link.
Ellis is planning on applying to the Applied Engineering and Building Science program for next September, and after speaking to an instructor of the program, feels prepared to submit his application.
“She clarified a lot of things for me. The qualifications to get in, what my grade point average needs to be, and what a student’s typical day is like here.”
Not all attendees were as certain as Ellis. “I’m not at the stage where I am ready to decide but this has been good for general information,” said Isaac Lees, a high school student who came to the event in order to educate himself on all of his post-secondary options.
This was the first Big Info session of the academic year, with the second session scheduled for February or March of the winter semester.[hr]
