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thePeorian.com
B
eing the premier institu-
tion of higher education
in a metropolitan area
of more than 350,000 people is
challenge enough, but when that
institution is a small, private
college of barely 5,000 students it
would seem to be more so.
Bradley University has more
than met the challenge through
the years, consistently being
named one of this country’s best
college values and putting its
programs, particularly in com-
munications and engineering, out
there with the best in the world.
It’s why Bradley can afford to
be at least a little picky in the stu-
dents it will accept each year and
prides itself in attracting among
the best incoming collegians
every year, said Paul Schroeder,
vice president of enrollment man-
agement for the school.
That does not, mean, however,
that Bradley intends to rest on
its laurels, Schroeder said. “We
are looking for every qualified
student and trying to get them
to consider us. We believe we
can do so because we believe we
should be attractive to any stu-
dent looking for a university.”
He cited a recent college visit
day for high school juniors and
seniors. It drew more than 300
potential students, 800 people to-
tal with their parents and family
included. “That’s a good number.
And our top three programs —
communications, mechanical
engineering and nursing —are
all flush with applications for
next year,” said Schroeder, a
veteran of college recruiting and
admissions work who once was
at Michigan State University, a
much, much larger institution.
“
Bradley has a lot of good
things going for it and its smaller
size, in my opinion, should be an
attraction rather than a detriment.
We’ve heard from successful
students who mentioned faculty
members who helped them the
most. That kind of intimacy isn’t
easy to find at a large school,” he
said.
Region’s premier
university looking
for top students
who appreciate
value
by Paul Gordon
The Present
