Jessica Dempsey of Nashville and Kalon Taylor of Mumford, Tenn., were among nearly 60 prospective MTSU students attending Friday’s True Blue Experience Day.

About one-third of the way through their visit, they said a 45-minute session in the Business and Aerospace Building’s computer lab led them to choosing their majors and a career path.

MTSU Scholarship Office assistant director Bonnie McCarty, left, talks with incoming freshman Natalie Porter, right, and her father, Steve Porter, about financial aid options during the True Blue Experience Day Jan. 31 at the Student Union Building. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)

“This was awesome,” said Dempsey, a Cane Ridge High School senior, who has been accepted for admission to MTSU and will enroll in the fall. “I came to a preview day (here) my sophomore year and they didn’t do anything like this.”

Melinda Thomas

Led by MTSU Career Development Center staff, Dempsey scored “35” in the artistic area, leading her to “definitely go with theatre” as her major.

Taylor called it a “good experience.”

“I came here undecided,” he said. “I had four career areas in mind. I think I’ll do education.” Taylor, who also has been accepted and admitted to the university, said business, accounting and law were other considerations, but he has settled on elementary education.

Career center advisers Joe Tucibat and Tonika Jordan led separate sessions simultaneously.

Melinda Thomas, director of recruitment in the Office of Admissions, said the computer lab choosing a major/path to career session was added in fall 2013 for those wanting to attend True Blue Experience Days. This marked the fourth time to utilize this session.

“A lot of them have not had the opportunity to explore a career assessment,” Thomas said. “The career services staff walks them through the assessment and will talk to them about the results. … Before they get here, they can assess their skills and determine a path of success.”

Kalon Taylor

Jessica Dempsey

Thomas added that there is a website where they can log in and revisit the assessment.

The major/career path assessment is not included in the activities on other preview days because of the numbers of students who attend on those days, Thomas said.

Nearly a combined 150 students and guests attended the event, which included learning more about the campus — academic programs, financial aid, housing and residential life and the University Honors College — while visiting campus most of the day.

The Spring Preview Day, featuring science, will be held Saturday, March 22. For more information, visit http://www.mtsu.edu/admissn/.

— Randy Weiler (randy.weiler@mtsu.edu)

Prospective MTSU students take free items from the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership table during the True Blue Experience Day at the Student Union. (MTSU photo by Andy Heidt)