Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia is one of 48 U.S. colleges and universities, and the only Georgia institution, slated to participate in a virtual college fair with students in India on Saturday, Aug. 27. More than 8,000 prospective students who live in India have registered for the event, which will allow them to interact with campus representatives in real time, using web cams and high-speed broadband connection.
UGA’s participation in Saturday’s college fair is a joint effort between UGA’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Office of International Education and Multicultural Services and Programs. Because of the time zone difference, the event will take place from 2 a.m. – 10 a.m. EST.
The library in Terrell Hall, which is home for UGA’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions, will be transformed into a multi-media environment to serve as UGA’s “virtual booth” during the college fair. From the comfort of their homes, schools and libraries, prospective students from India will have the opportunity to video chat with UGA admissions and student life staff and visit relevant UGA web sites at the same time.
UGA faculty will join current UGA students studying in the Terry College of Business, the School of Law, and the School of Public and International Affairs, including international students, to answer questions and share their campus experiences with the virtual attendees.
This is not the first time UGA has taken advantage of available technology to expand their reach and visibility abroad. UGA undergraduate admissions counselor Hadas Peles, who is coordinating UGA’s efforts for the upcoming fair, said that UGA participated in its first international virtual college fair with Latin American students this past spring.
“Recruitment efforts like these move us forward in the mission to internationalize the UGA campus, the impacts of which are felt in the classrooms and residence halls,” said Peles, who graduated from UGA in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in political science.
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