Stevens Institute of Technology: Admissions Blog

Fall Visit Days at Stevens

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Stevens is excited to meet prospective students at our upcoming Visit Days. These events are designed to give you the best opportunity to learn about life and learning at Stevens.

You'll meet current students and faculty who are delighted to meet students interested in Stevens, and you'll have an opportunity to take a tour of our beautiful campus, which includes a one-of-a-kind view of the Manhattan skyline. You’ll also learn more about admissions and financial aid.

In addition to our general admissions visit days, we will be featuring several events that focus on specific academic areas, like our Computer Science/Cybersecurity Visit Day on September 29th. Check out our fall event schedule, and register today!

There is so much good news happening at Stevens – from our excellent career outcomes for the Class of 2012 and being ranked 13th nationally for career development by The Princeton Review, to our hometown of Hoboken, NJ, being named among the top 10 college towns in the country (also by The Princeton Review.) We are especially excited about our significant climb in the U.S. News and World Report rankings, having advanced 13 spots this year – more than any other university in the report.

We're eager to share with you all that makes Stevens a great choice, and we're looking forward to meeting you at one of our on-campus events this fall. If you have any questions about Stevens or our events, don’t hesitate to contact us at admissions@stevens.edu or 800-STEVENS. 

Planning a Campus Visit

Gearing up for your senior year? One of the most important things you can do this summer is visit the colleges that interest you. The campus visit can be the most important part of your college selection process, so make sure you get the most out of the time you spend at a school.  Before you go, look through brochures and view the college's website to find out basic information. This will give you more time on the tour to find out information that is not found in the printed material. Here’s a quick checklist of what you can do to make the most of your campus visit:

Meet an admissions counselor. Even if the schools do not require a formal interview, talking one-on-one with an admissions counselor is a useful part of any college visit because he or she will be able to share information on deadlines, requirements, financial aid, and the overall process of preparing your application. For the schools that do require an interview, keep in mind that often times you can schedule this even before you formally apply. A college visit may be a great opportunity to fulfill an informational and/or formal meeting with an admissions counselor.

Take a tour. Campus tours led by students of the college are great ways to gain “insider” perspectives on what the student experience is really like. Ask them about the student culture. Don’t be too swayed by what individual students like or dislike about the social scene; just get the facts, and then determine what works best for you.

Tour the town. Not all your time in college will be spent in the classroom or on campus. Scope out the surrounding town to see what types of restaurants, clubs, stores and other establishments exist. Current students are great resources for activities on and off campus, so be sure to use them as a resource.

Take notes. Keep a notebook with all of your campus visit observations. This book will be a great resource if you forget some details. It’s also helpful to snap a few pictures of things that you really like or want to remember about a school.

Ask questions. This is your chance to get answers firsthand. Some questions you might ask:

• What distinguishes the college from other similar schools?
• What academic factors are considered during the admissions process?
• Are professors accessible outside of class? 
• Are there tutoring services available on campus?
• What are the college's most popular academic programs?
• What kind of career services are offered to students?
• What percentage of students receive financial aid?
• What percentage of students live on campus?
• What types of meal plans are available?
• What hours may students access food services?
• What are the most popular extra-curricular activities?
• What do most students do on the weekends?
• What’s the surrounding city/town like?
• Are there sororities and fraternities on campus? 
• How safe is the campus?

Meet as many people as possible. In addition to meeting with an admissions counselor, talk with professors to get an idea of what they expect out of a student. Speak with current students to see what they think about the college as a whole. Ask if they are happy with the college choice that they made and why. Essentially, don’t pass up an opportunity to find out more!

We wish you luck with your adventures this summer. If the Stevens admissions staff can be of any assistance during your application process, don’t hesitate to contact us at admissions@stevens.edu or 1-800-STEVENS.

How to Choose a College

The college application process is complex and demands juggling a lot of details, tasks and research.

Make sure that you don’t overlook the most important goal: Choosing a college that is right for you.

Establish what aspects are most important to you so that you can make the right choice. Some things you might consider:

• What size college do you want to attend? Are you looking for a very large school or one with a more close-knit environment?
• What kind of location are you most comfortable in? Do you thrive in an urban environment, or prefer a quieter setting? Are there campuses that offer both?
• What major(s) are you interested in?
• Will you need financial aid?
• Are extracurricular activities important to you, and what are they?
• How close or far away from home do you want to be?
• What kind of campus life do you want to experience?
• What career services are offered? Are you thinking about your return on investment?

Ranking these needs in order of importance will allow you to investigate your top choices in a way that best matches you! Each institution is so different, and it’s easy to get lost in all the information you glean from your research. Many online college search engines can also help you get some ideas about how to organize and better target your search.

Of course the best way to know about a school is to experience it up close and personally. Campus visits will certainly answer a lot of your questions, give you a “feel” for a college, and help you prioritize the aspects you’re truly looking for. You may even discover qualities that are important to you that you hadn’t considered earlier.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Stevens wishes you the best in this decision-making process. Don’t hesitate to contact us at admissions@stevens.edu or 1-800-STEVENS. We’d be delighted to help you!

The Interview, an Important Part of Your Application Process

If you’ve done your research or begun your formal application to Stevens Institute of Technology, you may be wondering, “Why does Stevens require an interview for all applicants?” At Stevens, we believe a personal interview is a critical step in the application process because it gives us an opportunity to get to know you and learn more than what is on your application. Through the interview, we hope to understand more about your interests in and out of the classroom. We also feel that the interview is a great way for you to learn more about Stevens, and we encourage you to come prepared with questions for us.

The interview is a one-on-one meeting between a prospective student (either applied or planning to apply) and a member of the Undergraduate Admissions staff.  For students living within 250 miles of our campus in Hoboken, NJ, this is done in person.  Students outside that radius may visit campus for an interview or conduct one over the phone.  The interview takes anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes and time is reserved afterwards for family members to join the meeting and ask questions about the admissions process and Stevens. Tours of campus are also available either before or after the interview if you have not already taken one.  Please budget an additional hour for this experience.

Don’t quite imagine yourself on the other side of the application and admission process yet? Take a look at our student blogs. Our bloggers update frequently, so you can also subscribe to all or any of the blog feeds to get real-time, ongoing reflections and advice from those who know Stevens best and want to tell you about it throughout the year – photos, videos, comments about school and social life, it’s all there. Check out Michael’s blog for starters.  A sophomore at Stevens, he was once where you are now!

We look forward to learning more about you from our interactions and wish you all the best in the college admissions process.

Make the Most of Your College Visit

Yes, gearing up for your senior year in high school includes resting and having fun this summer. But another important thing to do is visit the colleges that interest you.

Like checking the weather forecast before you pack a bag for the beach, there are some things you can do to prepare for visits to college campuses. Read admissions brochures and check out the schools' websites (don't forget what they have in the way of social media like Facebook, Twitter and blogs like this one). This allows you more time during campus tours to explore the specific things that interest you.  Plan to meet with admissions counselors, even if the school you're visiting doesn't require a formal interview.  Map out a tour of the city, town, or local area surrounding the school to see what life is like off campus.  Make sure your camera, smartphone - or whatever you use to snap photos - is charged and ready to go.  Pictures make a great resource when you're comparing your top choices later.  And prepare a list of questions you might ask students, staff or faculty you'll meet during your visits.  Need some suggestions?  Try these:  

• What distinguishes this college from other similar schools?
• What academic factors are considered during the admissions process?
• Are professors accessible outside of class?
• Are there tutoring services available on campus?
• What are this college's most popular academic programs?
• What kind of career services are offered to students?
• What percentage of students receive financial aid?
• What percentage of students live on campus?
• What types of meal plans are available?
• What hours may students access food services?
• What are the most popular extra-curricular activities?
• What do most students do on the weekends?
• What’s the surrounding city/town like?
• Are there sororities and fraternities on campus?
• How safe is the campus?

Whatever you do, don’t pass up any opportunity to find out more!  We wish you luck with your adventures this summer.  And if we can be of any assistance during your application process, don’t hesitate to contact us at admissions@stevens.edu or 1-800-STEVENS.

Choosing a College: What’s Important?

Hello college-bound students!  The undergraduate admissions staff at Stevens understands that the college application process is complex and demands juggling a lot of details, tasks and research.

We hope the following tips help you as you dedicate at least part of your summer to exploring your top-choice colleges.

Make sure that you don’t overlook the most important goal - choosing a college that is right for you!  Some things you might consider:

• What size college do you want to attend? Are you looking for a very large school or one with a more close-knit environment?

• What locations are you considering? Do you thrive in an urban environment, or do you prefer a quieter setting? Are there campuses that offer both? How close or far away from home do you want to be?

• What major(s) are you interested in?

• Will you need financial aid?

• Are extracurricular activities important to you, and what are they?

• What kind of campus life do you want to experience?

• What career services are offered? Are you thinking about your return on investment?

Answering these questions and ranking your needs in order of importance will allow you to investigate your top choices in a way that best matches you! Each institution is so different, and it’s easy to get lost in all the information you glean from your research.

Many online college search engines can also help you get some ideas about how to organize and better target your search. And, of course, the best way to get to know a school is to experience it up close and personally. Campus visits will certainly answer a lot of your questions, give you a “feel” for a college, and help you prioritize the aspects you’re considering. You may even discover qualities that are important to you that you hadn’t considered earlier.

We wish you the best in your search and decision-making process. If we can be of any assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us at admissions@stevens.edu or 1-800-STEVENS. We’d be delighted to help you!

Summer Visit Days. Register Today!

The best way to discover Stevens Institute of Technology and all that we have to offer is to visit our Hoboken, NJ, campus this summer.  Experience life at Stevens for yourself!  

Click here to plan your summer visit. We look forward to meeting you!

SUMMER VISIT DAYS:

Thursday, July 7: Bissinger Room, 4th Floor Howe Center; Check-in: Howe Center Lobby

Monday, July 11: Bissinger Room, 4th Floor Howe Center; Check-in: Howe Center Lobby

Wednesday, July 20: Bissinger Room, 4th Floor Howe Center; Check-in: Howe Center Lobby

Monday, July 25: Bissinger Room, 4th Floor Howe Center; Check-in: Howe Center Lobby

Thursday, July 29: Bissinger Room, 4th Floor Howe Center; Check-in: Howe Center Lobby

Tuesday, August 2: Bissinger Room, 4th Floor Howe Center; Check-in: Howe Center Lobby

Tuesday, August 9: Bissinger Room, 4th Floor Howe Center; Check-in: Howe Center Lobby

The Stevens Summer: Programs for High School Students

July - August 2011

Multimedia Production,  Business, 

or Engineering & Science 

    Each summer, talented high school students from around the world diverge from traditional summer break plans to participate in The Stevens Summer.   Why? 

    Because The Stevens Summer is about challenge, discovery and exploration, in interesting fields of study but also in friendship and fun!  

        

    Add the benefit of Stevens' amazing location, and it's an unbeatable proposition for the summer break.  Living on campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, on the banks of the Hudson River overlooking Manhattan is exciting!      

    If you're a rising junior or senior in high school who is interested in engineering, science, business or multi-media production, The Stevens Summer should be on your radar.  Apply Today!

    Take it from a past participant...                                           

"Every day was a new adventure into the world of engineering. We worked together in labs with professors from the college and met with professionals in the field from large companies like Becton Dickinson and Schering-Plough. One of the most rewarding parts of the program was learning about each specific field in engineering, ranging from mechanical to chemical engineering, through real field lab experience. We also competed in numerous engineering competitions: a programming competition (my group won!), a naval engineering design competition (we sank), and a chemical-biology bubble gum competition (we won - pineapple flavor!), among many others. However, the program brought much more into my life than experience in engineering. It brought me a taste of college life." 

     

The Interview, an Important Step in the Admissions Process

If you’ve done your research or begun your formal application to Stevens Institute of Technology, you may be wondering, “Why does Stevens require an interview for all applicants?”

At Stevens, we believe a personal interview is a critical step in the application process because it gives us an opportunity to get to know you and learn more than what is on your application. Through the interview, we hope to understand more about your interests in and out of the classroom. We also feel that the interview is a great way for you to learn more about Stevens, and we encourage you to come prepared with questions for us.

The interview is a one-on-one meeting between a prospective student (either applied or planning to apply) and a member of the Undergraduate Admissions staff.  For students living within 250 miles of our campus in Hoboken, NJ, this is done in person.  Students outside that radius may visit campus for an interview or conduct one over the phone.  The interview takes anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, and time is reserved afterwards for family members to join the meeting and ask questions about the admissions process and Stevens. Tours of campus are also available either before or after the interview, and we suggest you budget an additional hour for this experience.

Don’t quite imagine yourself on the other side of the application and admission process yet? Take a look at our student blogs.  Our bloggers update frequently, so you can also subscribe to all or any of the blog feeds to get real-time, ongoing reflections and advice from those who know Stevens best and want to tell you about it throughout the year.  Photos, videos, comments about school and social life, it’s all here! We look forward to interacting with you.

A Weekend at Stevens

Recently almost 80 high school students converged on campus for the Fall Sleeping Bag Weekend. Held this year on November 7 – 8, participants could sit in on classes, attend an information session with Career Development and Co-op, take a walking tour of Hoboken, and cheer on the Ducks at various sporting events. Additionally, students were invited to a faculty luncheon, where representatives from all the academic programs were on hand for discussion. Throughout the evening, activities such as bowling and Stevens Comedy Night were offered, as well as Jacobus Hall being open, where participants could play table tennis, pool, air hockey and more.

Robbie Coyne, a high school senior from Downingtown West High School in Pennsylvania, is interested in Stevens not only because of our reputation for engineering, but also because he would like to play golf here. He attended Sleeping Bag Weekend to get a feel for the campus and the people, and thought the activities planned provided a great forum for that. Another attendee, Raouia Essafi, a senior at McNair Academic High School in Jersey City, said, “I wanted to experience college first hand, by sitting in on classes and meeting other students and professors.” A future engineering major, Raouia has yet to decide which area of engineering she’s interested in, but by attending Sleeping Bag Weekend and observing some classes, she has learned that she is also very interested in computer science.

The weekend was organized by Maia Hadidi, undergraduate admissions counselor and events and summer program coordinator. She worked closely with faculty, staff and the students to ensure a successful experience for all involved. Of the weekend, Maia said, “Sleeping Bag Weekend is the ideal way for high school students to truly experience life at Stevens. From attending classes and workshops, meeting with current students and getting a feel for Student Life on campus, the weekend is interactive and informative. Overall, the weekend is a success every year, and as in the past, we already have some applications from the students who attended!”