Contact: Megan Powell

“Merit Weekends are important in UK’s quest to become a top-20 institution. These top students lay the foundation for our future successes.”

-- Don Witt,
assistant provost for enrollment management,
University of Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. (March 9, 2005) -- The University of Kentucky Office of Undergraduate Admission and University Registrar will host Merit Weekends March 11-12 and March 18-19. This year marks the 21st anniversary of the program.

Merit Weekends began as a way for the best and brightest students considering attending UK to have one last look before making their final decisions. Potential students will have the opportunity to meet with academic advisers, to receive an orientation concerning student life at UK, and to complete priority registration for fall classes. These sessions are similar to the advising conferences held over the summer. To be invited to a Merit Weekend, students must have scored at least 28 on the ACT or 1240 on the SAT.

The Office of Undergraduate Admission and University Registrar are expecting over 700 students to attend this year, along with at least 700 parents and guardians.

“Merit Weekends give top-notch students the opportunity to have one last look at UK before making their final decisions,” said Suzanne McGurk, associate director of undergraduate admission and associate registrar. Approximately 85 percent of the students who attend a Merit Weekend are retained.

Merit Weekends continue to show students the high caliber education that is available at UK.

“Merit Weekends are important in UK’s quest to become a top-20 institution,” said Don Witt, assistant provost for enrollment management. “These top students lay the foundation for our future successes.”