For Eastern’s first open house of the school year Monday, 456 prospective students visited campus for tours and information.

Additional students visited over the weekend, with at least 50 having showed up on Saturday, said Chris Dearth, the university admissions director.

Dearth said about 100 of the 460 students who registered for Monday’s visit did not attend, but that number was made up for with the walk-ins throughout the day.

He said open houses usually bring about 500 students, and he attributes the lower turnout this year to a poor weather forecast.

Dearth said the admissions office will reach out to students who registered but missed the open house.

He said his goal is to bring 500 students to the next open house, which will be on Nov. 11, Veterans Day.

Dearth said more families visiting during open houses provide a better yield rate for prospective students.

“A lot of them already got letters of acceptance and were just here for a look,” he said. “Overall it was a positive day despite the weather.”

Stephanie Markham can be reached at 581-2812 or samarkham@eiu.edu.