For Three Quick Questions, I send the same three questions to admission representatives at colleges all over the country, and then I hope to hear back from them. The three questions are meant to probe some of the things that make a school unique but that aren’t easily captured as a stat to go in a book or web search.

Today’s response is from Andrew Merenda, Director of Campus Visit Programs and Events at University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

What is a course, tradition, program or event that is unique to University of the Pacific?

New Student Convocation is a special tradition and ceremony where new incoming students are officially welcomed to Pacific at the end of New Student Orientation by the University leadership and faculty in full regalia and feature keynote speakers including the University President and Provost. The next time they will all be gathered again in a similar ceremony will be at their commencement. At the conclusion of New Student Convocation, the students walk out of the auditorium where they are surprised with loud cheers and applause, the Pacific Pep Band loudly playing the fight song, and current Pacific students throwing orange and black confetti onto their newly minted fellow Tigers. This is called the “Tiger Roar”. Afterwards, the entire Pacific community is invited to an outdoor barbeque on the quad to celebrate new students.

Naturally every college wants to recruit the perfect student--high grades, high test scores, involved in their community, leadership...everything. But what kinds of imperfect students tend to flourish at Pacific?

Average students will thrive at Pacific just as much as the class valedictorian. Pacific prides itself on offering small college caring with big university choices. We offer numerous hands-on resources and support for students who want to take full advantage of the opportunities their education can afford them.

When people come to visit Stockton, what's a place off campus that you recommend they check out while they're there?

The historic Miracle Mile on Pacific Avenue is my favorite place to frequent in Stockton! As a local, I spent a lot of my childhood growing up on the Mile and near Pacific’s campus. The Mile is a special place for me with lots of great memories. Many Pacific students enjoy spending time on the Miracle Mile as they explore Stockton and get to know their new home at Pacific.

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Photo by Angela Elisabeth. [The banner photo is not of University of the Pacific. I use the same photo for all Meet the Class posts so you can spot them easily.]