March 31, 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by Dakota State University.

Attending college is a momentous new chapter in the lives of students.

With it comes feelings of excitement, wonder and uncertainty. For traditional and nontraditional students pursing a college degree, taking time to personally visit the college of choice before applying is crucial.

Visiting campuses gives prospective students a “feel” for campus, the chance to meet with other students and faculty, and an opportunity to explore programs of study and extracurriculars. Plus, visiting campus also gives students time to explore residence halls, community centers and even potential classes.

Luckily, students can begin that new momentous chapter at Dakota State University.

Connor Starrett is a transfer student from East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. Now a sophomore, he discovered Dakota State through a Discover DSU Day, which is one of several options prospective students can choose from to get to know DSU before attending.

“Attending a Discover DSU Day helped me gather all the information needed to make the decision to transfer. It helped me see the teaching styles of professors and gave me a glimpse into the subjects I could expect to learn about in classes,” he said.

In addition to Discover Days, Dakota State University also offers prospective students opportunities to participate in virtual visits, Program Preview Days, individualized visits and webinars.

Each visit opportunity gives students a chance to see DSU up close and personal, while meeting other students as well as faculty and staff members.

They also get full tours of campus, a sneak peek of residence halls and, if applicable, a tour of the Fieldhouse.

“Every college campus has a different personality, so these visits are a great way to explore Dakota State. While here, students can really get a feel as to whether DSU is their home away from home,” said Rose O’Brien, campus visit coordinator.

And although COVID-19 has thrown these visits for a loop, the DSU admissions team has carefully reconstructed them to make sure potential students get the ultimate Trojan experience.

Safety measures like social distancing and mask wearing are in place. And, instead of meeting face-to-face with faculty, students visit with them via Zoom.

“We want to make sure prospective students feel like part of our Trojan family. It’s important they see campus life and get the same experience they would any other year,” said Amber Schmidt, assistant director of admissions.

Discover DSU Days and Program Preview Days, specifically, have an agenda filled with insightful information sessions that cover admission requirements, financial aid, scholarships and programs offered. After the information session ends, students are placed into interactive workshops corresponding to their major.

These workshops show students what their program is like and give them a taste of what to expect in their classes. Starrett’s interactive workshop consisted of “stations” that held current student projects, steganography, reverse engineering programs and Wi-Fi hacking.

Students then go on the campus tour or join a Zoom meeting to network with a faculty member in their program of interest.

During Starrett’s visit, he had the opportunity to speak with Andrew Kramer, instructor of computer science, and Rob Honomichl, instructor of information systems.

“Both professors took the time to answer all my questions, they gave their contact information and even stayed behind after the meeting ended just to be sure all my questions were answered,” said Starrett, a triple major in computer science, cyber operations, and network security and administration.

In addition to getting answers to their questions, students can get their transcripts, housing contracts, food plans and more squared away with the admissions team during their visit.

Discover YOU at DSU

Are you thinking about visiting DSU? Consider these visit opportunities held throughout the year.

Individual visits

For those who prefer a one-on-one approach, Dakota State offers individualized visits. This visit includes a tour of campus, a conversation with an admissions counselor and a Zoom meeting with a professor in the prospective student’s major. This type of visit is perfect for students who have specific questions and want to dive deep into conversations regarding financial aid, scholarships or other topics.

Virtual visits

Can’t make it to campus? Don’t worry! DSU hosts virtual visits for those near and far. Meet one-on-one with a DSU admissions counselor and learn about the admissions process, tuition, fees and more.

Discover DSU Days

Students who are undecided when it comes to their major can take advantage of Discover DSU Days. Discover all aspects of DSU, interact with current students, get a sneak peek at residence halls, and visit with faculty members or athletic coaches.

Program Preview Days

DSU’s Program Preview Days are perfect for high school juniors and seniors who have their eyes set on a specific major and want to get a taste of campus life. Students can spend time with faculty and others in their program to get a good idea of what a classroom setting is like.

Program Preview Days are specific to programs and also can take the form of expos, such as Cyber Expo, Education Expo or Business Bingo.

Webinars

If you can’t make it to any of these events and are curious about certain topics pertaining to admission info, DSU hosts a variety of webinars with topics that focus on:

• Finance and fees.
• Honors programs.
• Scholarships.
• Athletic eligibility.
• Admissions team meet-and-greets.
• Game nights.

Dakota State University is taking COVID-19 protocols and safety measures seriously. Guests are required to wear masks and practice social distancing. On-campus visits also are limited to three separate sessions per day, with students allowed two additional guests.

Dakota State University welcomes prospective students of all ages. If you are a high school educator who is interested in bringing a small group or class to campus, please contact admissions at 605-256-5139.

For information, please visit dsu.edu/visit or dsu.edu/apply.