Season’s Greetings and Happy New Year from Black Hills State University!

I hope all of you are enjoying your much deserved break from school. This is a great time to recharge and prepare for the next semester! Current BHSU students are doing the same thing but here in the office, we are open and preparing for the new spring semester and upcoming fall semester. With these two dates nearing, maybe it is time to think about a New Year’s Resolution!

There are lots of crazy New Year’s Resolutions that are taken on and abandoned. Why not make getting your application to BHSU in your resolution!? The application process is simple and short so it would be a great reason to make and meet a New Year’s Resolution. The application (for spring or fall) can be found online at www.bhsu.edu/apply. Once you have completed that, remember to have the necessary transcripts and materials sent to us. And don’t worry if you forget, we will send you reminders! Other materials such as housing contracts and information about scholarships will soon follow.

Remember that campus is open during break so give us a call if you have any questions or need any help! Go Jackets!

Emily Pier
Admissions Counselor
Black Hills State University
605-642-6067
Emily.Pier@bhsu.edu

It's almost here!

If you all have not already noticed, Christmas is right around the corner! I am sure that you are all very busy with last minute shopping and other festive activities... hopefully of which include relaxing and taking a break from your studies! I absolutely love the holiday season as it combines the best things in life; family, friends, happiness, laughter, and of course food! :)

Even though you probably do not want to even think about scholarships, applications, or any other "college stuff" over your break, it's a GREAT time to do so! Trust me, after a few days of lounging around the house doing nothing but watching Christmas specials, you will be ready to get some things done and taken care of! Christmas break is a great time to fill out your application for admission if you haven't already done so, as well as complete your BHSU scholarship application. The priority deadline for the BHSU scholarship application is February 1, 2011. After this date, we in the Office of Admissions will begin reviewing the applications, and awarding the scholarships to very deserving students! Therefore, you will want to have your scholarship application submitted before the priority deadline to have the best chance at the scholarships available!

Are you a student who is interested in starting classes for the Spring 2011 semester? If so, there is still time to apply! Classes will begin on January 12 for all those starting at 4:00 pm and after, with all other classes beginning on January 13. If you are wanting to start classes this next semester, apply SOON in order to have your admissions process completed before the start of the semester. Questions? If so, do not hesitate to contact any of us Admissions Counselors in the Office of Admissions at 605.642.6343 or by emailing us at admissions@bhsu.edu.

I hope that you all have a great Christmas break filled with all the things you love. Don't forget, if you haven't already done so, to complete your application for admission and scholarship application in your spare time!

Merry Christmas!

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu

Preview Day this Friday!

Hello, all! I hope everyone is finding a way to enjoy this cold weather we have finally found ourselves having. For those of you who may be new to this blog, my name is Kyle. I am a senior at Black Hills State University, majoring in Speech Communication with a minor in Military Science. The purpose of this blog if for you to be able to see a current student’s perspective on life at BHSU, and right now … life is REALLY busy. We have Final testing coming up next week, so all of the projects and papers that I was putting off are coming due this week. Where did the time go? I swear somebody stole a week from me somewhere.

Despite the busy nature of our lives right now it’s still a great time to come visit our campus. The library is packed with studying students, but there is still this fun atmosphere because we are almost done for the semester. Folks, when your semester is over, it is over. There are no assignments over break because your new classes haven’t even started yet. It’s an amazing feeling. The winter weather isn’t even that bad. It makes the drinks at the coffee shop taste that much better when there’s a little chill outside.

If you are considering visiting the campus, I recommend checking out one of our Preview Days. Preview Day is an event we host here on campus, where you have an opportunity to learn about BHSU by hearing from current students and faculty members. You will also hear a presentation from the Admissions and Financial Aid offices. We’ll feed you lunch at our fantastic dining facility and you will have the chance to speak with representatives from other offices and organizations on campus like the Residence Life Office, or the Athletic Department. The dates for these Preview Days are December 10th, Jan. 28th, Feb. 18th, and Mar. 18th. All these days are Fridays, but if you can’t get away from school or work, we do have a Saturday Preview Day on April 16th and it is the exact same program.

For those of you who have already visited our campus and have been won over by our charm and quality academic programs you can start applying at any time. If you were looking to join us here in the Spring, it isn’t too late. Just jump on our website and fill out the application, but make sure you pay the application fee otherwise it won’t get processed and it will take that much longer to get you accepted. Make sure you let your high school and any colleges you have attended know to send us an Official Transcript, and if you are under the age of 22, you should send a copy of your ACT scores too.

Once you have been accepted, the rest is really fun and really easy. For accepted students for the Spring, all you have to do is make an appointment with our Registration Officer, Johanna, by calling (605) 642-6044. After that, you’re in the clear. All you have to do next is enjoy your holiday season and show up in January. Don’t worry. I’ll be doing it too.

Kyle Wade

Preview Day, Receptions & High School Visits!

Happy Tuesday! The last few days have been exceptional when it comes to the weather. Who would have thought that we could have 70+ degree temperatures in November?!?! Not me! The nice weather is about to come to an end for now, however, as cooler temps are moving in just in time for our next Preview Day on November 20, the Pierre & Gillette Receptions on November 15 and 16 respectively, and many High School Visits posted on our On the Road calendar!

Our next Preview Day is on Saturday, November 20. We are expecting over 180 students and guests at this Preview Day and for that reason, we have closed the date for further reservations. If you were hoping to attend Preview Day on November 20 and had not yet registered, our next Preview Day will be on Friday, December 10 which is right around the corner! To sign up for this date, log in to www.BHSU.edu/PreviewDay or give us a call at 605.642.6343. We look forward to welcoming all of our November 20 Preview Day attendees and guests! Check-in for this event will begin at 8:30 am in the Student Union lobby, and the program will conclude around 1:00 pm. At Preview Day, you will meet current BHSU students, faculty, and staff; tour the campus, and learn more about our academic programs, admission requirements, financial aid options, scholarship opportunities and much more!

We will be hitting the road on Monday, November 15, heading to the Ramkota in Pierre for our annual Pierre Reception & Information Night, and will turn around the next day Tuesday, November 16 and head to the Best Western Tower West Lodge in Gillette, WY for our annual Gillette Reception & Information Night! The one hour programs will feature students, faculty and professional staff from Admissions & Financial Aid, Residence Life, Student Leadership Programs, the College of Arts & Sciences, the College of Business & Technology, the College of Education, and much more! Attend either the Pierre or Gillette Receptions for a chance to win a $500 scholarship! Register for one of the receptions today to secure your spot by clicking on the links provided above or by giving us a call at 605.642.6343. There's still time to register!

I just finished a great week on the road visiting high schools in Nebraska. I had the opportunity to speak with some fantastic students, and look forward to seeing a lot of them on the BHSU campus this fall! Also, Anne had a great time in Wyoming and Emily spoke with a lot of you in Colorado! We thoroughly enjoy meeting each and every one of you and having the opportunity to help you through the BHSU admissions process. This week, Emily is on the road in eastern SD; and next week Anne will be in Montana while Emily heads back to eastern SD. To keep track of which schools we will be visiting, stay tuned to our On the Road page. Don't see your school on our road page? Give us a call at 605.642.6343 and we will try our best to set up a time to come see you.

Have a great week! GO JACKETS!

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu
605.394.3350

BHSU Reception Road Show!

Thinking about attending Black Hills State University but haven’t had a chance to visit campus just yet? No worries! We are coming to a town near you! That’s right! BHSU has officially kicked off our annual reception road show with a recent trip to Sioux Falls, SD on October 14th where we spoke with interested students. We had a great turnout at the event and met tons of curious students who learned a great deal about what it’s truly like to be a student at BHSU.
Tonight we are excited to be heading to the Rapid City Holiday Inn where we will be putting on a presentation for local students at 6:30 PM! Our program will last until 8:00 or so and will feature tons of interesting information about BHSU!

What does a reception consist of you ask? At each reception, you will be given the opportunity to hear from current students who will tell you just what it’s like to be a student at BHSU, faculty members representing all of our colleges who will shed light on our 63 degree programs, as well as alumni who will share their memories of being a student and tell us how BHSU shaped their lives and their current careers! And if that’s not enough for you, we have more! The Admissions team will explain the application process and answer any questions you might have about financial aid as well as scholarships. Did I mention that we also have an information fair with various faculty and staff who can answer any remaining questions ranging from what life in the residence halls is really like to what major would suit you best! Last but not least, we will be having a drawing for a $500 scholarship at the end of the night and you must be present to win!

If you don’t live in the Rapid City area and aren’t able to make it tonight, below is a list of other receptions we will be hosting in other towns! Hopefully you can find one near you!
Come check us out in…
Pierre, SD on November 15th
Gillette, WY on November 16th
Sheridan, WY on November 30th

We encourage our students to register for our receptions online, but showing up last minute is always an option too if you do not find out about the reception until the day of! Our receptions are an excellent way to learn all about what life as a student at BHSU is truly like and who knows, you might even meet your future residence hall roommate or a good friend while you’re there! We hope to see you soon!

Anne Dickman, Black Hills State UniversityAdmissions Counselor; 605.642.6227 or Anne.Dickman@bhsu.edu

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Hello from Black Hills State University! I apologize that it has been a while since we have last blogged. We have all been busy, busy, busy traveling and meeting all kinds of amazing students that we hope will choose BHSU as the college of their choice! Thank you to all of you we have spoken with at the college fairs. It has been GREAT to meet you and speak with you about the amazing opportunities that BHSU has to offer! Keep checking our BHSU On the Road calendar for further updates on events around your area, as well as date and times that a BHSU Admissions Counselor will be visiting your high school. If you do not see your high school on the calendar, and would like a BHSU Admissions Counselor to visit your school, please send us an email with your request. We are hard at work scheduling dates and times for high school visits, so stay tuned!

We are receiving applications like crazy in our office for both the spring 2011 & fall 2011 semesters. Registration for students who will be new to Black Hills State University for the spring 2011 semester will begin on November 22. If you are a newly accepted student for the spring 2011 semester, please contact Johanna Best in the Registrar's Office after November 8 to schedule your registration appointment. She can be reached at 605.642.6044 or Johanna.Best@bhsu.edu.

As for you fall 2011 applicants, congratulations on submitting your application in a timely fashion! Now is a great time to apply to Black Hills State University, as scholarship deadlines are starting to creep into view. The BHSU Foundation scholarship deadline is February 1, 2011, so you will want to have your scholarship form filled out before then in order to have the best chance at any scholarships you may qualify for. The scholarship form can be filled out online at www.bhsu.edu/scholarships. You must be an accepted student at BHSU in order to be awarded a BHSU scholarship, so get your application in ASAP! As soon as we receive your application, $20 application fee, as well as your official transcripts & ACT scores, we can make an admissions decision within 1-2 weeks.

I hope that your school year is going well, and that you are keeping busy with extra-curricular activities and of course, having fun with friends! We are always available to answer any questions that you may have, so please do not hesitate to contact us at admissions@bhsu.edu or give our office a call at 605.642.6343.

GO JACKETS!

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu
605.394.3350

Swarm Week, Preview Day, and the Sioux Falls Reception

So it’s that time again for my world famous Blog. (It is world famous… Why would I lie to you)? For those of you just joining us, my name is Kyle and I’m a senior at Black Hills State University. I am majoring in Speech Communication with a minor in Military Science. The purpose of my Blog is to give those of you who are still deciding where to go to college a current student’s perspective on life at BHSU.

It’s a very exciting time on our campus right now, as it is Homecoming this week! We call it Swarm Week. This week, we pack our campus full of fun and interesting things to do, from tailgating, concerts and football games, to flag football, hikes and a parade. This year’s homecoming theme is Buzzin’ on the Beach, so we’ve done some fun things to promote that. We had a luau outside on the green that included food and fun games. We had free tropical drinks in our Student Union this entire week. My favorite part of the week is the parade. Offices, residence halls and student organizations get together and make floats that are all decorated around the Buzzin’ on the Beach theme. If you’re going to be in the Black Hills this weekend, you should stop by and check it out.

In addition to Swarm Week, we have a Preview Day coming up on October 8th. Preview Days are fun events that our Admissions Office put on where prospective students can sign up and come check out our school. When you attend you can expect snacks and drinks in the morning, and then presentations from the Admissions and Financial Aid departments. After that, you get to hear about campus life from a panel of current students and then a panel of professors will speak all about the academic programs and opportunities we offer. Once that is said and done, you get to stretch your legs on a campus tour which will end at our dining facility so you can eat some of our good food. (Check out our Mongolian Grill. Seriously, that’s some good food). We give away prizes throughout the program and we feature an Information Fair staffed by representatives from all the major offices and organizations on campus.

We also have a Reception coming up on October 14th. Receptions are a lot like Preview Days except we take our little show on the road and come see you! This one will be in Sioux Falls and will include presentations from the Admissions and Financial Aid offices. There are still Faculty and Student Panels and there is an information fair with representatives from offices and organizations around campus. We even feed you! The only thing you miss out on is a campus tour, but you guys can schedule a visit with us anytime and we’ll show you around.

I personally like the Preview Days and Receptions because, not only do you get a real thorough look at what BHSU has to offer, but you get to meet other prospective students too. When the new school year begins in the fall, you will already have friends.
Well, that’s about all I have. Like I said, if you’re going to be in town this weekend, stop by and enjoy some of our Swarm Week festivities. Make sure you sign up for a Reception, www.bhsu.edu/siouxfalls, or Preview Day, www.bhsu.edu/PreviewDay, sometime soon. That way you can get to know us a little better and you can be on your way to being a Yellow Jacket too! See you next time.

Kyle Wade~BHSU Senior~Kyle.Wade@yellowjackets.bhsu.edu

Student Organizations- Get Involved!

Hey there, everyone! Welcome back to another one of my fun-filled little blogs. For those of you who are new to this blog, my name is Kyle. I’m a Speech Communication major with a minor in Military Science. I am a senior here it at Black Hills State University and my whole goal is to give you a current student’s perspective about life on our campus.

Life is already busy, even though we are barely into the semester. We’ve had a home football game that was pretty exciting. We won in overtime so it had us buzzing in the stands from start to finish. Classes are starting to have assignments come due, and as much as I don’t want to admit it, the summer is over. I need to buckle down and start knocking this stuff out. Between that, and the student organizations I am involved with, life has kept up a quick little tempo.
Speaking of student organizations (or student orgs, as we call them), the big event on campus last week was the Student-Organization Fair. Its pretty cool because most, if not all, of the orgs on campus took over the Student Union and set up tables to advertise their organizations to students in hopes of recruiting new members. In my earlier years at BHSU I would go nuts at this little fair and sign up for all sorts of things. Nowadays, I have the philosophy that I would rather be REALLY committed to a couple of orgs than to be kinda-sorta committed to A LOT of orgs.

I have had a good time in my organizations. I have met a ton of people that I would not have ordinarily met. Some of them are really close friends, but a lot of them are staff and faculty around school. That’s a handy benefit of being involved on campus: People know who you are and know you are a quality student. This makes them very likely to help you out, employ you, write letters of recommendation, and at the end of the day, they go on your resume as experience.

I’m telling you that I am not the best student in the world and I needed something more to help me feel connected to the campus as a whole. For some students that is academics. For others it’s intramural sports. For me, I got involved with student organizations and I felt I had a place with my school. It’s one of the things that have kept me around so long.

Well that is all for today. Swing by again and see what other fun stuff I get to rant about. In the mean time, check out our website at www.bhsu.edu. under the “Student Life” tab you can find a lot of information about the different organizations on our campus.

Until next time!

Kyle Wade
BHSU Senior Student Blogger
Kyle.Wade@yellowjackets.bhsu.edu

College Fairs- Important Questions to Ask

Hi there, it is a beautiful morning on campus at Black Hills State University! It is good to be back on campus after my first week of college fairs in Colorado. I visited Elizabeth, Colorado Springs, Fountain and Highlands Ranch in Colorado last week and visiting with students there was great! There were a lot of interested students who asked some great questions. I will be back in the office this week so don’t hesitate to shoot me an email if I visited with you last week and you have any questions. There are always lots of things happening on campus to stay updated on such as Preview Days and home athletic events. If I haven’t been to visit your school yet, don’t worry I will be traveling throughout Colorado and South Dakota throughout the fall. Make sure to check out the BHSU on the Road calendar by visiting www.bhsu.edu/visit. Make sure to let me know if you don’t see your school on the list!

Most juniors and seniors will visit a college fair sometime this year and it is important to use the college reps to your advantage. They hold a great deal of knowledge about their school, so ask the right questions to determine what schools meet your needs. Below is a list of questions that you can use to break the ice and learn about what schools have to offer.

1. What are the admission requirements?
2. When should students apply for admission?
3. What factors are emphasized in the admission process? For example, how important is GPA, test scores, letters of recommendation, early applications, etc…
4. What materials are required to apply for admission? Letters of recommendation, test scores, etc…
5. What are the most popular majors?
6. Does the college give credit for AP scores? CLEP scores?
7. Does your college require ACT or SAT scores? Does it matter for admission or scholarships which test I take?
8. How much is tuition, room and board? Is there an annual estimated cost and what does it include?
9. What percentage of your students receive financial aid?
10. Does the college offer scholarships and how do I apply for them?
11. Are freshman required to live on campus and for how long? What are the different types of housing available?
12. How large is the school? How large are the classes?
13. Are freshman taught by professors or graduate assistants?
14. What are some of the social and recreational activities on campus and the surrounding area?
15. What athletics are offered and how do I begin the recruitment process?
16. How can a college visit or tour be arranged?

You can see that there are many things to be concerned about when selecting a school so asking the important questions first will help you along the way. Remember to contact us if you have any questions, want to visit campus, or want to see if a BHSU rep will be visiting your school. I hope to see many of you as I travel throughout the fall! Go Jackets!

Emily Pier
Black Hills State University
Admissions Counselor
Emily.Pier@bhsu.edu

Getting Back Into the Swing of Things

Hey, everybody. For those of you new to the blog, my name is Kyle. I’m a senior at Black Hills State University majoring in Speech Communication with a minor in Military Science. I write on the blog about once a week to give prospective students a little insight about what life at BHSU is all about.

So, school this week has been a little hectic, but it always is until you find your rhythm. I seem to have more credits than I care to talk about, but the upside is that, for the first time since I became a student in the fall of 2006, I do NOT have a math class! You may love math, and for that I applaud you jealously. That being said, math and I have a pretty poor relationship. My classes this year are all upper level classes, but that’s kind of cool. I get to study a specific subject much more in-depth and it just makes it more interesting. I’m kind of a fan of history and in the early history classes you race through the Civil War in about a day or two. This semester I am in a class that is nothing but the Civil War. You history-haters out there are rolling your eyes, but my inner-history-nerd is giggling like a small child.

I think the toughest part of getting back into the swing of things is getting organized. I have found that I need all my subjects to go into one BIG binder rather than individual notebooks or I mix them up. The last thing you want is to have Physical Geology notes strung between five different notebooks. Some people need the separation. It’s all about knowing yourself and what the best organizational method for you is. I even go so far as to print out a blank calendar and place it as the 1st thing I see in the binder so assignments and things are easily kept track of.
The next big challenge of the semester is trying to get back into the swing of actively using my email. Your university email is so important to keep track of. The school sends important information to you that way. Most professors communicate the best that way. Student organizations would much rather send one email than call 25 people. Even my job on campus communicates with me pretty regularly via email. I recommend getting in the habit of checking it daily.

Well, that’s all I have for today. For those of you who are in college, keep on trucking. The light at the end of the tunnel is a lot closer than you think. For those of you who are in high school just thinking about where you want to go, now is the time to start visiting your top 3 to 5 universities and nailing down a decision. The sooner you apply, the sooner you are accepted. Then you can send in housing contracts and fill out your FAFSA and when you set foot here next fall you will do so relaxed, knowing that you took your time and did it right.

Kyle Wade
BHSU Senior
Speech Communications Major
Kyle.Wade@yellowjackets.bhsu.edu

September!?!

The first full week of classes for the 2010-2011 academic year is in the books. Can you believe it? What I personally can't believe is that it is September already! Where did the summer go? I am not complaining though, because with fall comes the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte, beautiful colors, and of course Yellow Jacket athletics! The BHSU football team will be at Lyle Hare Stadium tomorrow night for their first home game of the season, and the BHSU volleyball team will be on the road this weekend in Dickinson, ND. The football game will begin at 6:00 pm MST, but don't forget about the tailgating festivities starting at 4:30 pm! Good luck to both the football and volleyball teams this weekend!

Another thing I love about fall is getting out on the road and meeting all kinds of awesome students at college fairs and high school visits. The BHSU Admissions team will be out in full force this fall, visiting a school near you! For our complete road schedule, keep up with the BHSU On the Road calendar. The first college fairs start already next week in Colorado, with Emily Pier from the admissions office representing BHSU! Check out the On the Road calendar and if Emily is at a fair near you next week, go and visit with her about the amazing opportunities BHSU has to offer.

To all you high school seniors out there- welcome to your last year of high school! Work hard, and enjoy every minute of it. It's not too early to apply to BHSU for the fall 2011 semester! Get it done now, so you can concentrate on other things during your senior year besides worrying about college admission! Start today by filling out the online application at www.bhsu.edu/apply. We will let you know what other materials you need after we receive your application.

I hope that everyone has a great Labor Day weekend! See you soon at a college fair/high school visit! Look for the green & gold! :)

Go Jackets!

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Welcome freshman class of 2010! Campus is buzzing (no pun intended) with activity. Yesterday was move-in day for the freshman and my arms are definitely feeling the work after hauling numerous personal items up the stairs of Heidepriem Hall. We are excited to have everyone on campus and look forward to another great year at BHSU.

Now high school class of 2011, imagine where you will be a year from today… can you believe that in that time span you will have completed your last year of high school, decided on a place to continue your education, and be moved in to your new home in a residence hall? Crazy! Why do I mention such things, well it is definitely time to begin to explore your college options. Schedule a campus visit or attend a Preview Day at BHSU – www.BHSU.edu/Visit. Begin looking at applications for admission and scholarships – www.BHSU.edu/Apply and www.BHSU.edu/Scholarships. Your year will be so full of activities that getting a head start on some of these college related tasks now will be well worth it.

And class of 2012, this is also a perfect time to start to narrow down the hundreds of higher education options that are out there. Check out all that BHSU has to offer at: www.BHSU.edu!
As a college admissions counselor, we will begin traveling to areas near you. College Fairs will begin next week and then straight into High School Visits throughout the rest of the fall. College fairs are a great time to get a chance to talk with a representative from some of the colleges and universities that you may be interested. Gather new information and begin to make a connection with that campus. We will be traveling in Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Check out our BHSU on the Road Calendar to find out when we will be visiting your area.

We are excited to begin working more and more with our next upcoming freshman class. I hope that we get to chat with you at a fair! Also, if you want a representative to come to your high school, let us know, as we love to travel to places that want to see us!!

Go Yellow Jackets!!

Laura Weber
Assistant Director of Admissions
Black Hills State University

Sunday Funday!

I can't believe that move-in day is almost here. Sunday is the big day for all new students to move into their residence halls. Move-in will be from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm on Sunday, followed by the start of Green & Gold Days. For a complete schedule of Green & Gold Days, go http://www.bhsu.edu/Admissions/AdmittedStudents/GreenGoldDays/tabid/7627/Default.aspx. We have all kinds of fun activities planned for you during Green & Gold Days, some of which include a welcome dance, community fair and outdoor BBQ, Festival on the Green, speakers, and the first BHSU Football home game. We can't wait to welcome you onto campus!

Just a few "house cleaning" items for you. If you haven't already done so, make sure and submit your Immunization Form or a copy of your Immunization Records to Student Health Services. Either of these items can be faxed to (605) 642-6194. Without your immunization records, you will not be able to start classes this fall. Therefore, this is extremely important! Also, if you are a new first time freshman straight out of high school and you haven't already done so, please call your school and request that your final official high school transcript to sent to us ASAP.

We can't wait to welcome you to campus! Please let us know if you have any last minute questions by either calling us at 605-642-6343 or sending us an email at admissions@bhsu.edu.

See you soon! Go Jackets!

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu

Less than a week until classes start!

Welcome to Blog number 3, ladies and gentlemen. For those of you new to this blog, my name is Kyle and I’m a senior here at Black Hills State University, majoring in Speech Communication with a minor in Military Science. I’m writing this blog to provide you with a current student’s perspective on life at our campus.

With less than a week before classes start I can’t help but sit back and ask myself, “Where did the summer go?” Even though I have done this for a few years I find myself slightly unprepared every fall. I need to get my books, my supplies, print my schedule, and figure out my new work schedule. It seems like quite a bit until I stop and tell myself that I honestly do have a week to get that all knocked out. A little bit here, a little bit there, and before I know it, I’m ready to rock and roll.

Around campus it’s kind of exciting right now. The Residence Halls are gearing up for all of the new and returning students to move in. Decorations are going up. Things are getting painted. The Resident Assistants are running all over campus training and preparing. We have football players and volleyball players moved in and practicing, so The Hive (our dining facility) is open and serving food.

Sunday morning the new freshman students are moving in. You guys will be rolling in from 8:00AM to 12:00PM and the Residence Life office has lined up a whole group of helpful individuals (including myself) to help move your stuff in to your new place. If you’re looking for a few recommendations on making move in easier, here are a few from a guy that has done it once or twice. Those cheep plastic tubs you can buy at department stores are handy as all get out. How handy is all get out? They can ride in the back of a truck without stuff flying out. They can stack easily when packing. They make carrying your things in easier. You can use them as storage in your room, and just as important- they’re nice to have around when it’s time to move out or go home for a longer break. Other than that, there are just a few little things to remember. You can’t use extension cords, but you can use power-strips. You can’t have toasters or any other appliance with an open heating coil but you can have microwaves. Candles are not allowed but wick-less candles on warmers are.

On Monday, the 30th of this month, we will be allowing students who have not registered for classes one more opportunity to do so. General Registration will consist of two sessions, one at 8:30AM and a second at 10:30AM. If you would like to register for classes at either of those two times you need to call (605)642-6343.
Well, that’s about all I have today. I wish you all happy moving and registering and I hope you all enjoy this last week of summer!

Kyle

Last NSR Tomorrow!

Hello All! I personally can't believe that it is almost time for the fall semester to begin. It seems like just yesterday our spring 2010 grads were walking across the stage, receiving their diplomas. Time sure flies by when you are having fun I guess! And fun we have had this summer, preparing and registering students for the fall 2010 semester. It has been wonderful to have these students and their guests on campus, watching them make it "official." Tomorrow is our last New Student Registration session for new freshman students and transfer students. If you aren't going to be attending NSR tomorrow, your final opportunity to register for fall 2010 classes will be at General Registration on August 30 at either 8:30 am or 10:30 am. Make sure and reserve your registration spot by calling the Office of Admissions at 605.642.6343 or by filling out the online form.

New freshman students will be moving into the residence halls on Sunday, August 29 from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm. There will be an abundance of faculty, staff, and current students on hand to help you move all of your "stuff" into your room! Word on the street is that the BHSU football players will even be there to help you with those heavy couches, refrigerators, or anything else! We often get a lot of questions concerning what students should bring with them to their residence halls, and what should be left at home. For a complete breakdown of allowed and restricted items alike, please view the New Student Handbook.

After move-in, and for the next few days, we have a long list of fun orientation activities planned for you in the form of Green and Gold Days. Residence hall welcome meetings, a community fair and outdoor BBQ, a welcome dance, a keynote speaker, opportunities to meet your professors, outdoor activities, and the Festival on the Green are just some of the items that are on the agenda. All new students, whether you are a freshman, transfer, non-traditional, or adult learner, are welcome and encouraged to attend Green and Gold Days activities.

After the hustle-and-bustle of move-in day and orientation activities, classes will being on Monday, August 30 for those beginning at 4:00 pm and after; and on Tuesday, August 31 for all other classes. Still haven't ordered your textbooks? If so, you can do so at www.bhsubookstore.com.

We are very excited to welcome you to Black Hills State University in just a few short days! If you have any last minute questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at 605.642.6343 or admissions@bhsu.edu, or leave us a message on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BHSUstudents. We are here to help you, and make sure you are comfortable during your first few days at BHSU and thereafter. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu

2 Weeks Untill Go Time!

Hello, again! My name is Kyle, and I would like to welcome you to blog number 2. Life continues to move forward here in Spearfish, which I generally agree with. The sun shines, most days, so my morning runs are getting better, which I am sure my ROTC instructors will appreciate. Most of the motorcycles seem to have gone back to their garages to hibernate until the next Sturgis Rally comes along. I am going to miss the concerts, but I am thankful for the reduction in traffic.

As far as school is concerned… is anybody else thinking that the fall sort of snuck up on us like Chuck Norris? School starts in 2 weeks! We have a bunch of you folks registering for your classes on Friday at our New Student Registration Day. That should be pretty fun. You get to sit down with an advisor and sign up for all your classes for the semester. You get your Buzz Card(student ID), and we have an Information Fair so you can talk to faculty, staff, coaches and organizations on campus that you might be interested in being involved with. It is the last major thing to do before you show up for classes in a few weeks. New Freshmen are starting at 8AM while the transfer students get to sleep in a bit and start at 1PM. If you are an accepted student to BHSU and have not registered, you can sign-up for NSR at www.BHSU.edu/NSR. It should be pretty fun, and you get to meet me, free of charge.

Like I said, after you register on Friday, the last major activity will be to show up on the 29th and move into your Residence Hall room. That is a pretty fun experience. You move in from 8-12PM and we have a ton of friendly staff hanging around to help you get your stuff from the back of your car to your room. (Now you don’t have to con your brothers into helping by offering them your room at home.) Some good things to bring would be a refrigerator for drinks and snacks. I would recommend a microwave for those days you didn’t have a chance to get to the Hive, our dining area. All the residence halls have a really nice big screen LCD TV in their main lobby, but bring a TV if you want. Your room has cable, so if someone is using the lobby TV you won’t have to miss your shows. Beyond those couple items, I would just tell you to bring stuff that will make your room feel like home.

Some other things to take into consideration would be some things you can’t bring. We do not allow anything with an open flame or an open heating coil in the residence hall rooms. So candles, toasters, George Forman grills, and the like are not allowed. Another item that isn’t allowed are extension cords. They are considered fire hazards. Now that being said, you can have power strips with longer cords, so I wouldn’t worry too much. If you have specific questions on exactly what you can and cannot bring, you can take a look at the New Student Handbook.

Well, that’s all for now. For those of you who are registering on Friday, I’ll be seeing you there. For those of you who are attending classes this fall and have not yet registered, the race is on! Two weeks till Go-time! So call the Office of Admissions today at 605-642-6343 to register for NSR or General Registration.

Kyle Wade
Senior
BHSU Student Blogger

Introducing Student Blogger, Kyle!

Hi, my name is Kyle. I am a senior at Black Hills State University majoring in Speech Communication with a minor in Military Science. Since I became a student here, I have slowly but surely found myself involved more and more with my campus and its organizations and I decided that since I like this place so much, you might too. Basically, that is the purpose of this blog. I am going to tell you all about the fun and interesting things I am doing here and hopefully you might think they sound fun and interesting too.
So, to introduce myself a little more thoroughly, I am a senior and a Speech Communication Major with a minor in Military Science. I am a member of the South Dakota Army National Guard and I am also a Cadet in the ROTC program here. My plan after I graduate is to (insert Forest Gump voice) “Do whatever the Army tells me too, Drill Sergeant.” On graduation day in May, I get a diploma and a Second Lieutenant’s rank all in the same day. It is pretty exciting. I am also involved in Student Organizations here on campus. I am a Yellow Jacket Delegate. The Delegates assist the Office of Admissions with recruiting students for our school. So if you stop by for a tour, you will mostly be guided by one of us, and there is a pretty solid chance that could even be me.
Campus lately has been pretty interesting, as far as the summer goes. We have bikers from the Sturgis Rally staying on our campus, which definitely adds a new sound to the background noise we get to hear as we walk to our cars. It is fun though, and I am a firm believer that different is good. Besides, I will gladly surrender my Black Hills to these motorcyclists for a couple weeks to get so many good concerts just twenty minutes away!
As crazy as it is to hear, the first day of school is only two and a half weeks away. Wow, that seems just around the corner! If you are going to apply, I recommend giving us a call as soon as possible. I have mixed feelings about the first day of school coming up so rapidly. On one hand, I may shed on little (but still manly) tear at the death of the summer. On the other hand, I am tired of only seeing my school friends on Facebook. It would be nice to catch up and speak to someone face to face. I am also excited to make new friends. We are a small school, but I make new friends every semester, and I am pretty sure this one will be no different.
Well, that is about all for now. (Can you tell I am a Speech Major?) Again, with school only two and a half weeks away, jump on our website as soon as possible and fill out the application: www.BHSU.edu/Apply. If you do it online, it will help get the ball rolling faster. I hope to see you in the Fall!

Kyle

Attention 2011 Seniors!

Attention 2011 Seniors! Your final year of high school is almost here!

I hope that you have enjoyed your summer, but are now beginning to think about switching gears and getting back in the classroom. It might seem like graduation is still a long time away but this year will go by fast and it is time to really take college planning seriously. Believe it or not, students who are going into their senior year are able to be accepted for admission now! We encourage students to apply for admission now in order to start receiving information for accepted students. Remember, applying and being accepted for admission, accepting scholarships, receiving a residence hall assignment, and even registering for classes does not ever commit you to a school. So it is important to apply to the schools you are interested in early so that you can complete other important materials such as scholarship applications.

You can find the application for admission online at www.bhsu.edu/apply or we can also drop one in the mail for you. Just have your high school send us your high school transcript and we can process your application. It is as easy as that.

Do not worry if any of this sounds confusing or hard to believe, we know it can be a lot to think about. So make it easy on yourself and give us a call or shoot us an email. That way we can talk about your questions and concerns and make sure that you have all the information you need. You can also think about scheduling a campus visit as well. I hope to hear from you soon!

Emily Pier
Admissions Counselor
Black Hills State University
605-642-6343
Emily.Pier@bhsu.edu

Website

The complete Black Hills State University website is currently not available. We apologize for the inconvenience, and are working to re-establish the entire website. If you have specific questions or concerns please email: information@bhsu.edu.

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu

Classes Begin August 30!

Greetings from the Black Hills!

I hope you are enjoying your summer, but it is quickly coming to an end. Classes begin on August 30th so it is time to begin thinking about any last minute details for fall. If you are still considering attending, now is the time to decide. Classes are filling up so you will want to complete your application for admission right away and get us the appropriate materials.

If you have already applied and been accepted, you will need to register for your courses. You can sign up for a registration session on August 20th at www.bhsu.edu/nsr by selecting either the New Freshman Registration or Transfer Student Registration link. In order to register for classes, you must attend one of the registration sessions on August 20th or General Registration on August 30th. Please feel free to call or email with specific questions.

It is important to contact us if you have questions because the fall semester is approaching quickly. There can be other important things to consider such as housing and financial aid and we would be happy to help you as you sort out the details. I hope to see you all around campus in the fall! Go Jackets!

Emily Pier
Admissions Counselor
emily.pier@bhsu.edu

Summer View

Happy Wednesday!

The BHSU Office of Admissions is currently preparing for Summer View which will be held on campus this Friday, July 30 at 9:30 am. At Summer View you will meet BHSU students, tour campus, talk to professors, and learn more about our academic programs, admission requirements, and financial aid. We are extremely excited to welcome students on to campus, and have the ability to show them what BHSU has to offer. For more information on this program, including an online registration form, please visit www.bhsu.edu/summerview. We hope to see you at Summer View!

Maria Hartung
BHSU
Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu

Summer View

I hope that everyone is having a fantastic summer. I personally can't believe that it is almost the end of July... where has the summer gone?

Staff in the Office of Admissions at BHSU are starting to get depressed about the fact that summer is fading away fast. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel, as Summer View is next week!

At Summer View, which will be held on Friday, July 30, 2010, you will meet BHSU students, tour campus, talk to professors, and learn more about our academic programs, admission requirements, and financial aid. Sounds great, right? If you haven't visited campus yet, or are wanting to take a second look, Summer View is just the time to do it. Check-in will begin at 9:30 am, and the day will conclude around 1:30 pm.

To sign up for this event, please either fill out the online form at www.bhsu.edu/summerview, or call the Office of Admissions at 605.642.6343.

We are very excited to welcome students on to campus. Help up beat our nearing the end of summer blues and check out an amazing campus at the same time. We'll see you at Summer View!

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu

It's getting HOT in here!

Wow~ summer is DEFINITELY here! Temps today in Spearfish are in the upper 80s to low 90s. What a beautiful day! All of this sunshine is getting the admissions office excited about the summer events yet to come.

On July 9, we will hold our 4th New Student Registration session, with an option to come for either the 8:00 am morning session, or the 1:00 pm afternoon session. If you are a newly accepted student for the fall 2010 semester and have not yet signed up for classes, please register for one of these sessions today! You can do so at www.bhsu.edu/nsr or by calling the Office of Admissions at 605.642.6343.

We will also be holding Summer View on July 30th from roughly 8:30 am - 1:30 pm. At Summer View, you will have the opportunity to meet BHSU students, tour campus, talk to professors, and learn more about our academic programs, admission requirements, and financial aid. This is a great way to learn more about BHSU to help determine if it may be a good fit for you or not. To register for this event, please go to www.bhsu.edu/summerview, or call the Office of Admissions at the number listed above.

The Office of Admissions is also taking personal campus visit appointments daily, Monday through Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. If you would like to make a personal visit to campus to speak with an admissions representative, the financial aid office, and possibly a professor or athletic coach, please fill out the online form at www.bhsu.edu/visit or give us a call.

Sounds like a lot of fun, right! In between all of your summer activities, remember to take the opportunity to check out BHSU. That way, when school starts, you don't have to worry about it!

Have a great day!

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu

Summer is Here!

Happy First Day of Summer from Black Hills State!

Summer is officially here and it is a beautiful day in the Black Hills! I hope all of you enjoyed your weekend and are continuing to enjoy your summer. For you soon to be seniors out there, you are quickly approaching your senior year and while it seems far away, college is closer than you think. Now is a great time to begin visiting colleges or going back to the ones that you have already seen. Spending time at a university and on campus can often make or break the deal for students. Scheduling a campus visit or attending Summer View would be a great way to visit campus and see what opportunities are here for you. You can reserve your space for either a campus visit or Summer View by going to www.bhsu.edu/visit.

If you have already graduated high school and are considering attending BHSU in the fall, good for you! Accepted students are currently registering for fall courses so if you have already been accepted, you can reserve a space for New Student Registration by going to www.bhsu.edu/nsr. This event is very important so please call us if you have any questions or concerns.

Enjoy your summer and I hope to see you around campus in the fall!

Emily Pier
BHSU Admissions
Emily.Pier@bhsu.edu

Summer is finally here! For most of you, high school graduations took place this past weekend and I would like to congratulate you on a job well done. It is an accomplishment you should be proud of. Today does not feel like summer in the Black Hills but it will be here soon.

The Admissions Staff is always giving constant reminders of things you need to complete, turn in, and attend. With the first New Student Registration just around the corner, reminders about the materials you need to have completed will be coming frequently. Financial Aid award letters is one of them. If you did not complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), you do not need to worry about this. For those of you who did, you should have received an award letter in the mail. You will need to indicate which awards you plan to accept and decline and return it to Student Financial Services. The financial aid process can be confusing, so if you have any questions just let us know so we can help you answer them.

Immunization records are also important to remember. All students who attend Black Hills State must provide documentation of two MMRs (measles, mumps, and rubella). You were mailed a medical history form that you can take to your doctor to complete. You may also provide any other documentation that has the dates of your immunizations, such as a record you may have kept at home.

Enjoy your summer and I am looking forward to seeing you over the summer!

Emily Pier

Black Hills State University

The Sun is Shining!

Wow, how un-predictable & crazy can South Dakota weather get? Pretty darn crazy! On Wednesday it was snowing, causing hazardous driving conditions for many, and today the sun is shining, all the snow is melted, and people are coming out from the cracks with their summer attire; hopefully able to pack away those hats, scarfs, and gloves! Temps next week are being forecasted into the 70s! I am so happy that the sun is out and hiking season is on the horizon.

Speaking of summer... we have officially set the date for the annual BHSU Summer View visit day! This year's Summer View will be held on July 30th, packed with new and exciting events and activities to get you the most information about BHSU that we possibly can! Is your family planning on vacationing in the beautiful Black Hills at all this summer? Why not plan that vacation around Summer View, allowing you to check out the campus amidst all of your fun, or not so fun, family activities planned:). Registering for this event is easy! Simply go to www.bhsu.edu/summerview and fill out the registration form. We will be adding more information to this website very soon concerning the itinerary and time.

I hope that you all have a "summer like" weekend! For all of you seniors graduating this weekend- CONGRATULATIONS! Have fun in the moment!

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu

SUMMMMMMER!!!! Or even Spring would be okay.

Oh, South Dakota weather, how do we ever adjust to your ever changing whims? This thought is running through my head as I am looking out at Lookout Mountain and watching the snow fall. Yes, I said snow, and not just the sleety, rain, but full on flakes. It has successfully snowed all day now.

This snow is really getting me in the mood for our many summer activities, more so anxiously awaiting them. If you have been following any of our social networks, it may seem like we have been paying a lot of attention to our 2010 incoming class, so this blog is for you future classes.
If you are thinking about starting your college explorations, summer is a great time to do that. As students your lives are filled all year long, but for 3 glorious months of the year, you may be able to focus on things other than school and its activities, and why not think a little bit about your future! BHSU offers a great opportunity called Summer View to come visit campus.

Summer View is like a quick sneak peak of life on campus. We encourage Juniors, soon-to-be Seniors, to attend and become familiar with all that BHSU has to offer. Of course if you are still making some final decisions, Seniors, this is a great day for you as well. Spend the morning on campus visiting with Faculty, Staff, and Current Students, go on a campus tour, eat at The Hive, and really get a feeling for your academic opportunities at BHSU that will transform your life.

Summer View is a little different because we always try to throw in a little extra fun, it is summer after all! Sign-up today.

If April showers bring May flowers – what does May snow bring us!?!?


Laura Weber – Assistant Director Admissions
Laura.Weber@BHSU.edu
Black Hills State University – GO YELLOW JACKETS

Summer View

Happy rainy Monday from BHSU! It may not feel much like summer here, but we are already thinking about and getting events for summer lined up. Summer View will be held on campus on Friday, July 30. Summer View is a great opportunity to check out campus during the summer. You will receive a campus tour, lunch in the new Student Union, information from any department on campus, plus many more things! Summer is a great time to check out BHSU because often families are visiting the Black Hills for vacation, so stopping by campus for Summer View would be a super idea.

For those of you who are juniors, Summer View is an ideal time to visit us. If you didn’t know, current juniors can apply and start being accepted this summer for 2011 fall admission as soon as this school year is finished. By coming to Summer View, not only can you get all of your questions answered, but you can apply for admission as well. Taking care of applications for admission early will allow you to concentrate on enjoying your senior year. Remember, completing applications for admission does not commit you to attend a school.

Check out our website at www.bhsu.edu/visit to reserve your space for Summer View or any other visit time. I hope to see you on campus this summer!

Emily Pier
Admissions Counselor
605-642-6227 Office
605-641-6990 Cell
emily.pier@bhsu.edu

It's Almost Here!

Summer is almost here! You wouldn't think that to be true though if you stepped outside today. I don't know who in their right mind ordered this crazy cold weather, but that's what we have! The only thing that has kept me sane this week during this nasty weather is the fact that I have been able to talk with so many of you on the phone and have been able to share in your pure happiness to graduate high school soon! Some of you are even graduating already next weekend. Can you believe it? For those of you who still have a few weeks left, hang in there. It will be here before you know it! Congratulations on your accomplishments!

Like Emily said, this week has been finals week at Black Hills State University. During finals week, campus is extremely quiet. I could even say that it is eerily quiet. Students are busy studying, sleeping, studying, eating, studying, and maybe a little more sleep. There are no classes held during finals week, so students are able to devote all of their time to studying for their final exams! I know that some of you already may have had finals exams in high school, but believe me, they are different in college. It's all good though. The feeling you get after you complete your final exams each semester is one of pure joy, and your shoulders feel a lot lighter as well!

If any of you are preparing for final test this week, good luck! Study hard, because it will only prepare you better for your college final exams. If this coming week is your last week of high school, enjoy it! Even if you have highly disliked high school up until now, try to find the silver lining this week, and remember that college will be so much better! :)

GO JACKETS!

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu

School is almost out for summer! Almost…

Final exams are being given right now as they always take place during the last week of each semester. For you new and prospective students, final exams are a big part of college life. Some high schools have final exams at the end of a semester or year, but college finals can be a little different. They can often times be worth 20-50% of your grade in a class so they are very important to study for and take seriously. Regular class times are not held during finals week. Each class has a scheduled finals period and it most likely will not be on the same day or time that the class period is held. The schedule for finals week is designed so that you are only testing, not going to class periods.

There are lots of things to help students be successful with their finals. Classes offer study sessions or study groups and campus also has some “de-stressing” activities for finals week too. The library keeps treats and goodies such as bars and cookies all week for students and there are late night pancake feeds for when you need nourishment during those long study sessions. You will also find that the Residence Halls are pretty quiet during this week. Having study areas in the Residence Halls is a great option for studying. All students on campus will be hitting the books so joining in isn’t hard to do!

Each professor handles final exams differently. Some professors have an in-class exam when you come to the exam on a certain day and time. Other classes have final projects that are due the week of finals and other classes have take-home exams. Most professors notify their students about what type of final exam they will be offering at the beginning of the semester, so you will know what to expect as you near the end of the semester.

If you have final exams before graduation, good luck! I am looking forward to seeing you on campus for New Student Registration this summer or for a campus visit. Go Jackets!

Emily Pier
Admissions Counselor
605-642-6227 Office
605-641-6990 Cell
emily.pier@bhsu.edu

Graduation is in your Sights!

Can you feel it? Are you ready? It's almost graduation time! How excited are you to graduate? I can remember that I had mixed feelings concerning high school graduation. I was ready to start a new chapter in my life, but I was having a hard time letting go. I didn't know what to expect in college. I had such an amazing high school experience, which I am truly grateful for because I know that it doesn't happen for everyone. I had the opportunity to be one of 23 in my graduating class, causing us to get to know each other on an individual level. Let's just say that 7 years later, we still have a great time together whenever we see one another. You may be feeling the same way I did right before high school graduation, happy but sad; excited but scared. I'll let you in on a little secret... college is a lot of work, but it sure is a blast!

One of the things that made it hard for me to let go of home was the fact that I wouldn't be as financially stable as I may had been in the past. Don't get me wrong, I started working and making my own money when I was 14, so mom and dad definitely did not pay my way for everything while I was living at home. It was the other things I was worried about: food, tuition, and any other necessity I was going to have to pay big bucks for. No longer were the days of living & eating for free or near to free. How was I going to pay for all of this? Scholarships? By working?

Luckily, I did bust my you know what by filling out scholarship form after scholarship form. I had good grades and an average to above average ACT score. However, that still didn't get me what I thought it would concerning scholarship monies from my hometown or my college of choice. I took some time to feel sorry for myself, but then realized that there were a lot of other students out there who were just as deserving of a scholarship as I was. I then turned my sights to "outside scholarships." You can find many of these listings here. The truth is this; there is definitely assistance out there for you. Sometimes, you just have to go the extra mile to get it.

The moral of the story is this. Don't feel sorry for yourself if you haven't received what you had set in your mind as far as scholarships. It doesn't mean that you weren't deserving of them! BHSU had over 700 scholarship applications this year alone, and the field was extremely competitive. If you haven't received the scholarship aid that you had set out for, don't give up! Keep looking for outside scholarships. Also, BHSU is still awarding scholarships, and will be doing so for the next few months. Start thinking of alternative ways to pay for tuition such as getting a part time job. It will all be worth it in the end when you are holding your diploma in your hand 4 years from now stating that you are a college graduate!!

Definitely let us know if you have any questions on how to pay for college. We are almost always readily available! You can reach the Office of Admissions at admissions@bhsu.edu, 1-800-ALL-BHSU, or 605-642-6343.

Have a GREAT weekend! GO JACKETS!

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu

We Know you are Busy!

There are a lot of different things happening in the lives of you seniors. School is almost over, you are planning your graduation party, arranging summer employment, or maybe making last minute plans for college in the fall. Part of the college preparation process is arranging financial support for tuition payment. Scholarships are often a large part of that plan. Black Hills State received close to 700 scholarship applications for new students this fall! We had a tough time awarding them to the most deserving students. There are a lot of great students out there and you deserve a pat on the back for your hard work in high school.

The majority of the Admission Scholarships have been awarded, so if you have not received any notification at this point, you have not been awarded anything. That doesn’t mean that you will not receive any! Often times, students who have been initially awarded an Admissions Scholarship return the scholarship to us for unseen circumstances. Therefore, we have to re-award that scholarship and you could be next! All of the Admission Counselors keep the scholarship applications for students from their territory on hand for re-awarding purposes. So it is also important to complete the scholarship application if you have not already done so. You never know what could be out there.

If you have been awarded a scholarship, please return the acceptance letter that was mailed to you as soon as possible! This is very important! You deserve a scholarship if you have been awarded one so don’t pass on it just because you didn’t return the acceptance letter. And as always, do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions. Many different things go into college preparation and we are here to help you along the path! Go Jackets!

Emily Pier
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Emily.Pier@bhsu.edu

I'm Back!

I have officially taken waaaaaay too long of a hiatus in my blog posts. Thanks Emily and Maria for keeping our followers and readers up to date! I really can’t believe that it has been 4 whole months, man time is flying by, before we know it, it will be time to start the 2010 Fall semester. FYI – for anyone that cares so far so good on my New Year’s Resolution, now just to make it a habit so it is a permanent change.

Speaking of classes starting before we know it, it is the time that many of you are debating between your remaining college choices and need to make a final decision. This is not an easy task and nothing that should be taken lightly, but don’t overdo it either. Certain things will stick out in your mind about BHSU being the place for you. Maybe I can help.

Academics – The number one reason you are continuing your education is to do just that, learn more about a specific area so that you may obtain a job in that area – right?! Black Hills State University has many unique academic opportunities and one that always grabs me is the size of courses and the opportunities to be engaged in and out of the classroom. With an average class size of 25, great class discussions can be had, the faculty are available when there are questions, and you will not just be another body in a desk. Internships and class projects give you the opportunity to receive real world experience and resources in case you need a little additional help.

Social Activities– Socializing encompasses just about every other aspect on campus for me! Maybe that is because I am a little bit of a talker, but who knows. There is an amazing list of student organizations that are available to join that offer both social and academic opportunities. Learn more about an area of interest while meeting new people and filling your calendar with activities (of course when you are not studying at the new Union) Maybe you need to get your athletic fix! Of course there are always our varsity sports, but if you aren’t quite looking for that level of competition, join Rec Sports. Grab your friends, put together a team and play your way to the top of the BHSU Rec Sports world!

Surroundings – The Black Hills of South Dakota offer such a unique setting. Now even though I love talking with people, to recharge I need to spend time by myself so grab your back pack and go hiking to re-energize for the school week. Take up a new activity – rock climbing, kayaking, fly fishing or creek tubing!
These are just some of the points I am sure you are all considering in finalizing your decisions, so if you need additional clarification on something you are wondering about, please contact us. It is best to make a fully informed decision. Remember pick a place that you can be successful at, something that BHSU can offer you.


April showers bring May flowers!
Laura Weber – Assistant Director Admissions
Laura.Weber@BHSU.edu
Black Hills State University – GO YELLOW JACKETS

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

Decisions, decisions, decisions. That time of year is here. What do I wear to prom? Where should I have my graduation party? Where should I go to college? It seems like all of these decisions can start running together a little. Well, deciding on a college should be less stress then deciding what to wear to prom. It is important to consider lots of things when deciding on a college to attend. What are the Residence Halls like? What should I major in? How many students attend? Do I like the campus and activities on campus?

Residence Halls
There are many different types of Residence Halls out there and sometimes thinking about living away from home or in an unfamiliar place can be quite terrifying. Not at Black Hills State. The Residence Halls at BHSU are small but the rooms are large. So you will find that you have wonderful space in your room without having to share a bathroom with 100 other people. There are also tons of activities that take place in the Residence Halls. How about getting together with some people from your floor and dressing up like Sting for all the football games? Who cares if it starts to snow during one of them. :) Also, each hall has Resident Assistants and a Hall Director to help you with any academic or personal issues.

Campus
BHSU has just over 4,000 students. About 1,000 of those students attend on the Rapid City campus and online. So when you hammer out those numbers, the student-teacher ratio is 20-1. Pretty nice, huh? So most of your courses, especially as you move into your major further, will have about 25 students in them. You are not just a number here, you have a voice and we want you to use it!

Student Life
There are tons of things to do here! We have lots of student organizations for you to try. And you don’t have to be in any specific major to participate in any of them, so you can really try whatever you want. BHSU Athletics are a great way to get involved in university life as well as supporting your Yellow Jackets. Looking for something to do off campus? Well, you can float Spearfish Creek or hike any of the nearby hiking trails. There are also lots of great bands and concerts in the Northern Black Hills and on campus. How about seeing one of the many theatre productions? The Outsiders will begin on April 29th if you want to get an early start. That is just a sample of some of the great things to do here, you will have to come to BHSU to learn about even more!

Academics
Black Hills State offers students over 80 different majors and minors! You can try different courses to see what fits you best if you are not sure what to major in. If you already have a pretty good idea about what you would like to study, you will find many different ways to get involved in your program. You do not have to just go to class and take tests, we want you to try the stuff that interests you. How about research in the sciences? You will find the Center for Biological Resources right up your ally. If you are interested in education, you can participate in one of the many different opportunities to work with kids in the surrounding towns. Maybe you are interested in business? The Center for Business, Entrepreneurship, & Tourism will have lots of ways to do research and learn more about the areas you find interesting.

See all of the great things that will make your experience at Black Hills State unique and unlike anything else? Black Hills State is the only option if that is what you are looking for. Let us know how we can help you make that decision about college. See you around next fall!

Emily Pier
Admissions Counselor
Emily.Pier@bhsu.edu

Busy Busy Busy!

I apologize that we haven't posted in a while. We have been busy reviewing scholarship applications, calling students to get them signed up for NSR, attending events on the road, and much more! The Office of Admissions is getting VERY excited to welcome everyone to campus this summer for NSR, and this fall to start classes @ BHSU!

This week has been American Indian Awareness week at BHSU. This event is dedicated to educating the community about Indian culture, featuring daily speakers and a variety of events at Black Hills State University. The 27th Annual Lakota Omniciye Wacipi Pow Wow will begin tonight at 7:00 pm, and will conclude on through Sunday at 5:00 pm. The Pow Wow will be held at the Young Center Field House. For further information, locations, and updates, contact: Center for American Indian Studies 605.642.6578.

Tomorrow is also our last Preview Day of the academic year. We are hoping to welcome over 80 students and their guests to this great event. A few spots are still open for this event, so if you would like to attend please register at www.bhsu.edu/visit or by calling the Office of Admissions at 605.642.6343.

The June 4 1:00 pm New Student Registration (NSR) session is now full! The earlier NSR sessions tend to fill up fast, as classes tend to become full towards the end of the sessions. Therefore, if you still haven't registered for NSR, do so TODAY! It's easy, and will only take you a few minutes. Simply log onto www.bhsu.edu/nsr or call the Office of Admissions at 605.642.6343 to secure your spot.

Things are really getting down to the wire, and I am sure that you have questions that need to be answered. If so, please do not hesitate to ask us! We are easy to reach at the number provided above, or at admissions@bhsu.edu. We are here to help, so don't be afraid to ask!

Have a great weekend! I hope to see some of you at Preview Day tomorrow!

Go Jackets!

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu

Information Concerning Recent Article

A newspaper article recently reported that BHSU is going to cut several academic programs. Just wanted to let you know that the degrees are actually being consolidated and no programs are being cut. Call the Office of Admissions at 605.642.6343 with any questions that you may have concerning this matter.

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu

BHSU Center for American Indian Studies

One thing that I really love about Black Hills State University is it’s devotion to diversity. It is important to remember that BHSU offers not only traditional academic programs and activities that are in high demand, but BHSU also offers students ethnic programs. The Center for American Indian Studies is one of a kind and here in the Black Hills, and is very important to South Dakota residents and their heritage. The Center for American Indian Studies was established at Black Hills State University by an act of the South Dakota Legislature. The mandate of the Center is as follows:

• To serve as the administrative unit for academic programs in American Indian Studies (AIS)
• To act as a coordinating and liaison facility for issues and programs dealing with Indian students (BHSU has the highest proportion of American Indian students of any South Dakota state institution of higher learning)
• To promote awareness of American Indian cultures, value systems, and social problems among both Indian people themselves and members of the larger society
• To assist the University in both recruiting and retaining students of American Indian ancestry
• To act as a liaison with tribal governments, tribal educational facilities, and American Indian organizations in the Northern Plains region when so requested
• To support, encourage, and seek funding for research and publication pertaining to all areas of American Indian culture, language, and heritage

The Center currently administers four academic programs: a major in American Indian Studies, leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree; a general Minor in American Indian Studies; the Minor in American Indian Studies - Teaching; and an American Indian Studies Minor, Emphasis in Communications. The Major in American Indian Studies was first offered in the Fall of 1997; it is cooperatively offered by Black Hills State University and the University of South Dakota, and is the only such cooperative program in the United States.

The Center for Indian Studies actively supports two student organizations: Lakota Omniciye ("a gathering, assembly"), and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). Lakota Omniciye is currently the largest student organization on the BHSU campus, in terms of both membership and budget. This organization promotes fellowship among Indian and non-Indian students, and organizes an annual Cultural Awareness Week and Wacipi (pow-wow) in early April that is now in its 25th year. In past years, the Wacipi has attracted as many as 3,500 persons, making it one of the larger pow-wows in the state. AISES assists and supports Indian students who are preparing for careers in the areas of science, engineering, and technology.

American Indian Awareness Week is the next event on the agenda for the Center for American Indian Studies. This is a week long event that is held on the Black Hills State University campus. Please visit www.bhsu.edu/americanindianstudies for more information about the American Indian Studies program and American Indian Awareness Week. You may also call 605-642-6578.

Emily Pier
Black Hills State University
Admissions Counselor
Emily.Pier@bhsu.edu

Weekly Wrap-up and Reminders

Happy Friday! Spring has sprung here in the Black Hills, and looks like it is here to stay. At least for the extended 10 day forecast! It looks like we will reach well into the 70s even on Tuesday and maybe Wednesday. I don't know about you guys, but I have never been so excited for summer to get here! Hiking, going to the lake, camping, and grilling is in our near future friends! I can smell the hot dogs just thinking about it! :)

A few reminders for all of you admitted students for the Fall 2010 semester. We now have a facebook page just for you guys! Click here. By joining this fan page, you will meet new students like you, learn important information on "what's next at BHSU" and more! Join today!

New Student Registration (NSR) is also right around the corner. Have you received your invite in the mail? If you haven't already done so, sign up for an NSR date and time ASAP at www.bhsu.edu/nsr. The sooner you sign up, the better chances that you will have to get a spot for the date and time that you want. Each session will be capped off at a certain amount of students, and they fill up fast! Therefore, sign up soon!! As always, if you have any questions about NSR or anything else, definitely contact us at the Office of Admissions at 1.800.ALL.BHSU, 605.642.6343 or admissions@bhsu.edu.

Another important item to be thinking about right now is housing contracts. If you are an accepted student for the Fall 2010 semester, you should have already received your housing application. If so, fill it out and return it with you $100 deposit as soon as you can, in order to get placed in the residence hall of your choice. If you haven't received your housing contract yet, you may not yet be accepted to BHSU, and we may still need some admissions items from you. If that is the case, definitely get in contact with us.

Thank you to all of you who attended Preview Day on March 19. With your guests, we had over 200 of you on campus for this event. How exciting! Our last Preview Day of the "season" is on Saturday, April 17. We ended up having to stop allowing registrations for the 3/19 Preview Day early since we had such a great response, so if you are looking to attend the 4/17 session, register ASAP in order to get your spot! You can do so at www.bhsu.edu/visit or by giving the Office of Admissions a call. Attending a Preview Day is a great way to see if BHSU would be a good fit for you. If you attend, you will have the opportunity to talk with current students & professors; eat lunch at the Hive, our student dining center; take a campus tour, learn more about scholarships & financial aid, and much more!

We've also had quite a few individual visits in the past few weeks as well, so "thank you" to all of those who have visited us on campus lately! We will be open throughout the summer months as well, so keep that in mind! We would love to see you.

Next week we are hoping to get some pictures up on the blog of campus, since the weather will be so beautiful. Stay tuned!

GO JACKETS!

Maria Hartung
BHSU Admissions Counselor
Maria.Hartung@bhsu.edu