Daily Skiff

Students admitted to TCU will now have another chance to get familiar with campus before the 2009 academic year begins, a university official said.

Lauren Nixon, an admissions counselor, said Horned Frog Friday will begin Feb. 6 and will provide admitted students and their families with another opportunity to take a campus tour, participate in an information session and have lunch with a student ambassador.

The program is similar to Experience TCU, an all-day campus visit that occurs three times in the spring semester, Nixon said. But the new program will add the personal touches that Experience TCU lacks, she said.

The admissions office realizes admitted students want different information than prospective students and the new program will be tailored to the questions that face admitted students, Nixon said.

Because there are students who cannot attend Experience TCU, Horned Frog Friday was created to answer questions about what campus life is like and what can be expected in the transition from high school to college, Nixon said.

In addition to updated information, the new program differs from Experience TCU because it is less of a time commitment, Nixon said.

Students will meet at 9 a.m. for an information session with an admission counselor, followed by a campus tour at 10 a.m. with the members of the Student Foundation, a student-run organization that handles alumni relations and gives campus tours, Nixon said. At 11:30 a.m., the groups will meet at Market Square for lunch with members of TCU Ambassadors, a student organization that handles relations between prospective students and current students, she said.

Alexis Ludwig, assistant director of admissions, said the program will give admitted students the opportunity to meet with current students in a more personal setting.

Michael Marshall, assistant director of admissions, said the new program has touches other sessions do not have.

"I think it personalizes the campus visit," Marshall said. "Usually when you come here, it's a general info session and a tour planned in advance. There's not a lot of room for ad-libbing."

The new program will be much more flexible since the groups will contain about 40 to 50 students and parents, Marshall said. Most Experience TCU groups are around 150 to 300 students and parents, Marshall said.

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