Putnam County Museum to host College Day April 14

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Putnam County Museum along with the DePauw Lilly Scholars will be hosting an interactive educational experience, College Day, for middle school and early high school age Putnam County area students on April 14 from 1-2:30 p.m. The event is free and will be open to all students in grades six through 10.

College Day will begin with a parent information session, while students look at the current museum exhibit honor DePauw University's 175th anniversary.

The exhibit will then be used as conversation between students on the opportunities available in college such as, scholarship, work study, study abroad and travel.

The goal of the program is to encourage students to start thinking about their future early and to open them up to the benefits of college.

"Rather than just another teacher, guidance counselor or parent telling them to go to college, it will be heard from another student," said Putnam County Museum intern, Olivia Carmel. "Hearing this type of thing from another student is much more relatable and these students are going to share their real experiences, not what the sugar-coated college pamphlets tell you."

Students will have the opportunity to talk with an admissions intern who will explain what colleges look for an how students can start preparing themselves in hopes of standing out in the applicant pile.

Students will also play interactive "First Year Experience" type games, like students at the university experience their first week of college. They will also have the opportunity to discuss their dreams and goals with college-age students just like them who will share their experience of getting to college.

"It's all about honesty," explained Carmel. "We want the students to open up and tell us what they want, what they're interested in, or what their worries are."

For more information regarding the program or to enroll a student, contact Carmel at oliviacarmel_2013@depauw.edu or Putnam County Museum director Tanis Monday at tanis@putnamcountymuseum.org, or call the museum at 653-8419.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: