Over this past weekend, Villanova welcomed early admitted students to campus. While in previous years the University has traditionally hosted Admitted Students Day in April, this celebration of early admitted students is the first of its kind.
In the past, the University hosted several events for early admitted students, such as basketball games to meet members of their future class or networking events within prospective students’ local areas. An entirely separate admitted students day however has never been done at the University.
The campus was well prepared for the festivities, with a “why Nova” chalkboard centered in the Connelly Center, guiding signs for direction around campus and even a grand balloon decorative piece for prospective students and families to pose for photos.
Prospective students and their families filed through a tunnel of enthusiastic Blue Key members boasting welcoming signs and delivering high fives as they made their way into the Finneran Pavilion. The day consisted of several different activities highlighting panels, speeches and tours.
Current sophomore Skyler Johansen was heavily involved in both the planning and execution of the novel Early Admitted Students Day. Working alongside her co-members as part of the Student Life Programming Committee, Johansen found immense fulfillment in her participation in the day’s activities, much of it stemming from her former positive experience only a few years ago.
“I love being able to talk to the families because Admitted Students Day was the reason why I went ‘Nova,” Johansen said, “I know how it feels because I was in their shoes only two years ago.”
Beyond the administrative planning that goes into preparing for Admitted Students Day, Johansen also described her efforts to forge personal connections with students, an aspect of the day that she believes is equally as critical and makes a difference in students’ decision-making.
In fact, Johansen affirmed that this was the best part of the weekend.
“My favorite part of this weekend is meeting and congratulating all of the families,” Johansen stated, adding that she specifically loves, “seeing their excitement and serving as an important resource.”
While Johansen has previously helped out with Admitted Students Day last April, she still found news experiences this weekend.
“This year, I saw someone from my high school,” Johansen said with clear enthusiasm, going on to explain, “I loved being able to share my Villanova experience and why I call this place my own home.”
Ava Tower also contributed to Admitted Students Day as a Blue Key member, and echoed Johansen’s appreciation for the opportunity to forge personal connections with prospective students.
“My favorite part of Admitted Students Day this year was eating lunch with the families and getting to make personal connections,” Tower explained, going on to add, “every Admitted Students Day I always get to watch prospective students fall in love with Villanova, and it’s very rewarding work!”
Tower has been participating in the work for Admitted Students Day for several years since coming to the University, and is now able to take part in two more for her final year at the University and in Blue Key.
While not every prospective student has made up their mind on whether they are entirely committed to the University, this Admitted Students Day offers current high schoolers the unique experience to fully immerse themselves in conversation and campus far earlier than many other universities, as well as the possibility to connect with current students. Many of the students attending are in the preliminary stages of their college decision process entirely, with Villanova being one of the first chocies that they have heard back from.
While these students who have already applied to the school may presumably be aware of some of the more logistical aspects at the University, such as class sizes and academic programs, Admitted Students Day allows for an insiders-look into other important aspects of the campus.
Whether it be meeting a professor for the first time ever, witnessing firsthand student social life in the Connelly Center or hearing from Blue Key members about their own decision-making process, these equally as important elements of the college experience are often seen for the first time during Admitted Students Day.
