Adam Epstein '05

Here in the office we’re just catching our breath following the conclusion of Frontiers, and we’re gearing up for our Summer Academic Visit Days which kick off tomorrow and continue through next week.  If you have some time or have been meaning to visit campus, these days are a great opportunity to catch a campus tour, hear an overview of WPI at our information session, and get in depth information about one or more academic areas directly from the faculty.  Each day we have two separate sessions for a total of six areas overall: life sciences, robotics engineering, computer science & interactive media and game development, business management, general engineering, and our global perspective program (studying around the world).

For more information, visit our Summer Academic Visits site, and we’ll see you on campus!

I used to think the summer went fast, but these days it seems like it was hardly even here—there’s exactly one month remaining before A-Term begins!  For all incoming first-year students, you should have received your housing and roommate assignments late last week.  As you’re preparing to head to WPI in less than a month, I’d suggest getting in touch with your roommate and discussing who will bring what (at least for the large or expensive items).  The overview of the New Student Orientation schedule has been posted, so go ahead and get an idea of what your first few days on campus will be like.  I’ll be sure to post much more information about NSO as it gets closer.  Enjoy those last few moments of summer!

You may remember a few months ago I wrote about the ongoing construction of East Hall.  Well, I haven’t been inside again since then, but I’ve been observing the progress from outside, and the project appears to be coming quickly to an end (good thing, since students are scheduled to occupy the building in just about a month)!  Some progress I have noted:

• Appliances and furniture appearing in some of the apartments
• Landscaping nearing completion
• New sidewalks, road paving, and crosswalk
• Removal of the construction fence!

Stay tuned for more details as the building officially finishes and opens for residents!

Would be pretty boring! We work hard throughout the year in the Admissions Office, but we try to have some fun while we do it. Last week while my colleague Jay was out of the office (at a professional conference no less!) we decided to have a little bit of fun with his office. In the spirit of office pranks, a few of us took some extra WPI viewbooks (we have some of last year’s still on hand and the new ones are slated to arrive any day) and tiled his floor with them even going under the furniture. Don’t be fooled by the photos; upon Jay’s return on Sunday, he entered his office and self-described his reaction: “My head was spinning!” It is only a matter of time before there is some payback…

As always, click to enlarge.

It is the time of year when I am beginning to plan my fall travel itinerary.  Although I do not yet have all of the details worked out yet, if you live or go to school in the Baltimore, Denver, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco, or Seattle areas there is a chance I’ll be visiting your school, and I’ll definitely be conducting interviews in your area.  Our entire staff will be traveling the country and world, so chances are we’ll be somewhere near you… stay tuned for more information soon!

Beginning this afternoon we will welcome 161 rising juniors and seniors in high school to the WPI campus for Frontiers 2008.  The program officially begins tomorrow and lasts through July 25.  The students will live and learn at WPI for the two weeks spending their days in two academic areas: one in science, math, or engineering and the other in the humanities and arts.  In addition to the vast exposure to academics and WPI faculty, the students will interact with each other and the 16 WPI students serving as program assistants.  Evening activities include dodgeball, movies, a hypnotist, capture the flag, WPI Idol, BINGO, and barbecues. The students will have the chance to get off campus as well with a trip to the mall and the Boston Museum of Science!

Welcome to WPI, and enjoy your time!  If you are interested in the Frontiers program for future years, please visit the Frontiers Web site for more information.