By Mark Muckenfuss

Nearly 3,000 visitors, including 1,300 prospective students, are registered to attend this year’s Admitted Otter Day on Saturday, April 15, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at CSU Monterey Bay. The annual event is designed to welcome those who have been admitted to the university, give them a taste of what they can expect from the campus – both inside and outside of the classroom – and encourage them to commit to attending in the fall. 

Kimberly Guanzon, outgoing director of admissions and recruitment, said registration for this year’s event is already ahead of last year’s numbers. Because space is limited for some activities, she encourages any students who have received confirmation of admission to sign up early for what will be a wide array of fun activities paired with important information. 

“We set up a large variety of activities that they can choose from,” Guanzon said.

President Vanya Quiñones will kick off the event with an official welcome in the morning in the Otter Student Union main ballroom. 

Activities that follow include such things as learning about financial aid opportunities, touring student housing, attending mock classroom sessions, hearing from successful alumni, competing in a trivia contest for scholarship money, and winning CSUMB merchandise and other prizes in a raffle.

Individual programs will have information stations set up to let students know what kinds of classes and support services are available. Students can even dance on the lawn to live music. 

“[The Student Activities and Leadership Development team] is putting together a multicultural event on the far end of the lawn on the main quad,” Guanzon said. “We’ll have mariachis, dancers and other performers. We worked with Monterey Bay Football Club to do a tour of the [new soccer] stadium. They’re also contributing some swag items for the raffle, including tickets to games. Plus, there’s a free production of ‘Sweeny Todd’ at 2 p.m. in the World Theatre.

Guanzon has also added a table at the Otter Student Union called Ask an Alumni, where they will answer questions about their experiences, where they’re working, or how CSUMB helped get them there.

Among the notable alumni who will be on hand is Tyller Williamson, the youngest elected mayor of Monterey. 

In all, Guanzon said, “I think it will be informative, fun and lively.”

Historically, fall open houses were the big draw for prospective students, she said. But in recent years, that has shifted. 

“Students tend to apply to a number of colleges,” she said, “and once they find out where they’ve been accepted, they visit and make a decision.” 

Events like Admitted Otter Day, which most campuses now hold, have become the focal events. Students can check out the environment and see if it feels like a good fit. When they’re ready to make a choice, Guanzon wants to be ready.

“We’re hoping they will say yes to us on the spot,” she said. “We will have a confirmation station where we will encourage students to sit down and say, ‘Yup, I’m in.’ If they’ve already test driven the car, why not go ahead and sign on the dotted line?” 

Students who have received confirmation of admittance can register for Admitted Otter Day on the webpage.