Bluefield College will join 23 other Virginia private colleges in a statewide series of open house events, July 23-28, designed to increase awareness of the quality and affordability of a private college education.
Rising high school juniors and seniors and their families are invited to participate in Virginia Private College Week by attending at least one of the open house sessions at Bluefield College. BC sessions will take place twice a day at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 23-27, and once at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 28.
“Virginia Private College Week is an event the Bluefield College family looks forward to each year,” said BC’s Scott Polhamus, associate director of traditional admissions. “It is a wonderful event that allows students to see the fine educational opportunities they have access to throughout our Commonwealth.”
Sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges in Virginia (CICV) — an association of independent colleges and universities working together to promote awareness of Virginia’s private higher education — Virginia Private College Week is an annual event designed to introduce prospective students to the opportunities and benefits available at a Virginia private undergraduate college.
More than 130,000 students attend a private college in Virginia and benefit from “an array of academic programs,” “outstanding faculty,” “small classes,” and “excellent preparation for a career or graduate school,” said Dr. Robert Lambeth, president of the CICV. Visiting one of those campuses during the college search process, he added, is one of the most important steps in choosing a college.
“I encourage parents to explore which college will be the best fit for their son or daughter,” said Dr. Lambeth, “and I want to reassure them that a quality education at a Virginia private college is affordable and within reach. Visiting the campuses in person is one of the most important steps in the college search process.”
During its sessions, Bluefield College, a private Christian liberal arts college located in the scenic Appalachian Mountains of southwest Virginia, will host campus tours, financial aid workshops, and information sessions on the admissions process. BC also will provide a look into its academic programs and student life.
Affordability and quality will be the focus of Private College Week. In fact, Bluefield College officials will address a variety of common myths about private higher education during their sessions, including the myths that private colleges are too expensive, less accessible for the middle class, and less generous with financial aid.
“The difference between public and private college tuition is far less than many families assume, thanks to significant merit and need-based grants and the Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant,” said Dr. Lambeth. “Affordable, personal and quality — these are the words I hope families will associate with a private college education. Our students are successful, because their education is customized to meet their goals both in and out of the classroom.”
Related to the affordability position, during the BC open house guests may also learn about the school’s half-price Pathways tuition plan, which allows students who qualify for the federal Pell grant, graduate from a school district within a 45-mile radius of Bluefield College, and live at home while attending BC the opportunity to pay just half of the cost of tuition.
Students planning to visit the BC campus are encouraged to register prior to the event by contacting the BC Admissions Office by phone at 800-872-0176 (x4272) or by emailing [email protected] For more information, visit privatecollegeweek.org or vaprivatecolleges.org, or search #VPCW on social media.
Students who visit at least three CICV institutions during Virginia Private College Week will receive three application fee waivers. Students may use the waivers to apply to any three participating colleges for free. In addition, students visiting at least three institutions will also be eligible for a drawing for a $500 Amazon gift card.