• The Colleges of Business Administration, Health Sciences and Nursing held scholarship competitions and open houses for prospective students on Saturday.
• The competitions offered scholarships worth $5,000 per year over four years.
• The open houses allowed parents and students to gain more information about Marquette, including asking faculty members specific questions.

Nick Grizzell woke up Saturday morning with a big day ahead of him. The senior at Woodbury High School in Woodbury, Minn., had traveled to Marquette's campus to take a test that could impact the rest of his life.

Grizzell, like several hundred other prospective students, participated in one of the scholarship competitions hosted by three Marquette colleges Saturday. Grizzell hoped to receive aid from the College of Business Administration.

"It was worth it to make the trip," Grizzell said. "Every little bit of money helps."

Besides Marquette, Grizzell is also considering attending Loyola University Chicago or the University of San Diego after graduating from high school. He said he hoped visiting Marquette would help him with his decision.

The Colleges of Business Administration, Health Sciences and Nursing held their annual scholarship competitions, along with open houses, on Saturday. The rest of the colleges will hold their competitions over the next three weekends.

The scholarship competitions help students make the decision to attend Marquette, said Jean Burke, associate dean of Undergraduate Admissions.

"(The competitions) are a way to solidify their decision to come here," Burke said. "Whether they get a scholarship or not, I think lots of students walk away envisioning themselves here."

The scholarship competitions provide valuable aid to students looking to attend college, Burke said.

"With the cost of a private education, students are looking for ways to make their dreams affordable," Burke said.

Although the number of scholarships awarded varies by college, every scholarship is worth $5,000 per year for four years, Burke said.

The scholarship competitions provide a more in-depth visit than prospective students would have had prior, Burke said. For example, students have the opportunity to ask specific questions of faculty members.

"Their curiosity becomes more focused," Burke said.

While the students take the test, their parents can participate in receptions with faculty members, Burke said.

According to the Office of Admissions and the colleges, the College of Health Sciences had the highest turnout of Saturday's competitions, with 279 high school seniors in attendance. The College of Business Administration had approximately 250, and the College of Nursing had 85.

So far, 547 prospective students have registered for the College of Arts & Sciences competition this Saturday. The College of Engineering has 256, the College of Communication has 133 and the College of Education has 69 for competitions later this month. Those figures could increase because registration has not yet closed, Burke said.

The vast majority of students who attend the competitions hail from the Midwest, Burke said. However, some people from farther away do compete.

The Pére Marquette Explorer Scholarship is also an option for those who perhaps cannot make the trip to Milwaukee for the competitions. The annual scholarship gives $5,000 each to 12 high school seniors living outside of the Midwest, Burke said.

Cami Terrill, a high school senior from Mukwonago, competed for a College of Health Sciences scholarship. Saturday marked her first visit to Marquette.

Terrill, who is looking at two other schools in the Midwest, said she hoped her visit would help her make a decision.

"Hopefully I will get scholarship money but also see the atmosphere here," Terrill said.