NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

5/17/2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES -Margaret Vienne isn't wasting any time in preparing for college. The St. Mary's High School student was among freshman from seven area high schools who took part in the second RU Ready Day Wednesday at Northwestern State University. The event was sponsored by NSU's Office of University Recruiting

Participants from Converse, Central, Georgetown, Natchitoches Central, Negreet, Pitkin and Pleasant Hill high schools learned about admissions requirements for first time students and extracurricular activities available at Northwestern. Students were chosen to attend by their guidance counselor or principal based on their leadership skills and learning ability.

Under the standards for full admission, first-time freshmen must have completed the Louisiana Board of Regents' high school core curriculum. They must also need no more than one developmental course. In addition, the student must also meet one of the following criteria: a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.0, or have a minimum ACT composite score of 20 or 940 on the SAT, or rank in the top 50% of their high school graduating class. To be considered a first-time freshman, a student must have no more than 12 credit hours. This criteria also applies to first-time freshmen who are between the ages of 21 and 24 and home-schooled students.

"I learned that Northwestern has much more to offer than I realized. There are a large number of clubs and organizations and the sports programs are great," said Vienne.
"It is important to start preparing for college now by getting all the classes I need."

The students in RU Ready Day will graduate from high school in 2009. Many of them haven't given much thought to college and weren't aware that admissions requirements were in place for most Louisiana public four-year universities.

"We learned a lot about the admissions requirements. It was something I didn't know about," said David Free of Converse High School. "The information I received will be something I can take back to school and share with others."

The students also saw that Northwestern could provide excellent opportunities for them.

"Northwestern is just the right size. It isn't too small or too big," said Bijal Patel, a student at Natchitoches Central High School.

Patel is among the students who are already working to meet the requirements for admissions and the TOPS Program.

"We learned that the requirements are changing with another class being added," she said. "I want to do my best and qualify for TOPS. My parents have emphasized how important that is."

RU Ready Day is part of a campaign initiated by the University of Louisiana System to prepare high school students for their future. Northwestern has been working to inform prospective students and their parents about admissions requirements, which took effect last fall.

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