Prospective students explore Brock
She listened to her mom. Indeed, one of the most important words of advice shared from Darlene Simpson to her 20-yearold daughter, Julia, was this: Never work a day in your life. Love what you do.
So, after graduating from high school in her hometown of Mississauga, Julia took two years off. She backpacked across Europe. Eleven countries in nine weeks with a 40-litre pack in which she carried all the necessities of life. Then she worked full time at a restaurant.
The temporary hiatus from postsecondary education accomplished this: “I really found myself,” she says.
But she made a promise to her mom. Eventually, she would return to school.
So on Sunday, mom and daughter were among the 4,500 prospective students and their families who visited Brock University during its annual open house.
They toured its residence. Listened to presentations. Met people. And got a feel for life at Brock, and Niagara.
Julia has been accepted into Brock University’s four-year women and gender studies program, and is waiting to hear back from University of Guelph’s hospitality management program.
The day pushed her a step closer to a decision.
For many students, the open house is a culmination of four years of high school education and respective grades, an exhaustive consideration of skills and interests, hours of research into university programs, fall preview days, campus tours, and finally submitting an application to one or more of Ontario’s 21 universities, says Matthew Melnyk, Brock’s senior recruitment officer.
“It’s like walking through a car dealership to get a feel for the different options,” he says.
Most of the students at the open house are in Grade 12, and many would have already received acceptance letters from multiple institutions, he says. And many are not from Niagara.
“So, they’re also choosing where to live as well,” he says.
How students eventually make a choice is personal to everyone. Maybe they like the residence. Or they connect with the coach of a varsity team. Maybe it’s the personality of a faculty member. Or, a welcoming experience talking with one of the hundreds of Brock staff and students on hand.
Their experience at an open house can push the weight of decision from one university to another.
“This is a big part of their decision,” says Beth Natale, director of recruitment and retention.
“Many students will have other offers in hand, and they’re trying to solidify a decision.
“It’s a stressful time for students in high school.”
In September, Brock will take in about 4,000 new students. There are roughly 18,000 students — full- and part-time, under grads and graduates — at Brock, she says.
One of those might be Brandon Parkes, an 18-year-old from Stratford who decided to take a fifth year at high school. He’s been accepted into the history program at Brock, as well as Wilfrid Laurier in Waterloo and Queen’s in Kingston.
Even he’s not sure what will ultimately be the one defining factor in his decision.
“I don’t know if I do know,” he says, outside of the Walker Complex. “I’m just going on tours, looking at places to feel comfortable.”