Biggest Maties Open Day to date

Thousands of prospective students visited the Stellenbosch campus on Friday for the annual Open Day – some came as far as Tzaneen and Katlehong to attend. The Open Day is sponsored by Standard Bank.

Ms Lorna Bartlett, project coordinator for prospective students, says it is the most students to ever attend an open day and everything went well. “We printed 5000 programs and they were all gone by 13:00.”

Residences, student bodies, the radio station MFM and support services for students all manned exhibitions and answered prospective student’s questions. Information sessions held by the different faculties were received well and were packed with inquisitive learners.

All residences were open for visitors and the Student Representative Council did campus tours every half an hour to give future Maties an idea of where things are on campus.

Jandré van Tonder, a matric learner from Langenhoven Gimnasium in Oudtshoorn, says even though he already decided to study BAcc, the open day was still very informative. His mother, Ms Jackie van Tonder, agrees: “It’s nice for a mom to see what the place where her child will be studying looks like and to experience a bit of the student vibe.” Jandré hopes to stay in Dagbreek, Majuba or Eendrag.

Other matric learners that came from Forest Heights High School in Eersteriver, feels the grouping or the stalls were somewhat confusing, but they nevertheless found their way and got the information they wanted. Amongst the group are a prospective teacher, BComm and engineering students.

Gradwell Adams, who will be studying chemical engineering next year, couldn’t stop smiling because he was already accepted at Majuba Mens Residence. “The rest of us are still biting our nails and hoping to get a place in a residence,” said Ethel George.

Ms Bartlett says they are happy with the way the open day went and attributed the good turn up to the fact that it was held on a Friday.

“The learners filled out questionnaires and we will be going through them soon to get their feedback.”