The day started bright and early on the morning of Saturday, April 12 with more than-350 members of Blue Key started preparing for the organization’s largest event of the year: Admitted Students Day. Admitted Students Day, or ASD, is an annual event, during which students who have been accepted to Villanova can visit campus to take tours, learn about academics and extracurriculars, speak with current students and, in many cases, make this important decision that will define the next four years of their lives: whether Villanova is right for them. As such, the role that ASD and Blue Key play are crucial in contributing to an informed, productive decision.
In recent years, Villanova has only held one all-encompassing Admitted Students Day in April, which any prospective students could attend, regardless of the admission plan used to apply to the University. Starting again for the 2024-25 admissions cycle, though, Villanova offered two separate opportunities for admitted students to experience some time as a Wildcat. The first Admitted Students Weekend took place on February 14 and 15, exclusively for those already accepted. This second ASD, though, was more geared towards those admitted under the non-binding Regular Decision cycle, so the stakes, and the energy, were even higher. On this day more than ever, Villanovans from students to faculty to admissions staff have to fulfill their promise of convincing a new generation to join the community.
The day began in typical ASD fashion with the iconic “spirit line,” a crowd of Blue Key members cheering and displaying signs along the entrance to the Finneran Pavilion.
“The spirit line is my favorite ASD tradition,” freshman Blue Key member Audrey Moster said. “The energy and smiles encapsulate the joyful, welcoming community that sets Villanova apart. Attending ASD with my parents last spring and seeing students cheer is what made me fall in love with the school. Sharing that same feeling with prospective students and families is truly special.”
Following this spirited start to the day and a speech from University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue, O.S.A., Ph.D. inside the Finn, students attended sessions tailored to their unique interests: presentations for each academic college, an involvement fair in the Quad at which current students tabled for organizations and panels for students with a range of identities and concerns. Of course, attendees were also treated to Wawa hoagies for lunch, providing students from near and far with a local favorite true to Villanova.
With more than 23,000 applicants this year, there was no shortage of qualified candidates deemed “right for Villanova” accepted to attend. This opportunity, though, allows these students to think critically about whether Villanova is the right place for them, somewhere they can see themselves thrive and contribute.
As such, Blue Key Tours and room shows, hosted by freshmen living on South Campus, gave potential Villanovans a taste of campus life beyond the brochure.
“Admitted Students Day is such an incredible experience for all who attend, as you can witness the true spirit of Villanova,” sophomore Blue Key member Ella Dougherty said. “When I attended as a senior, I was blown away by the strong sense of community and positive energy that each student embodied. I met my best friend and current roommate on a room tour of South campus that very day. I could not be more grateful for the experience I had on Admitted Students Day, which eventually made me fall in love with Villanova. It truly changed my life.”
For others, such as ASD Senior Director and senior Tyler Moore, the day has become a chance to contribute something meaningful and unique to the future Villanova community, year after year.
“I think what’s so great about ASD is how student-run it is,” Moore said. “Admissions really lets us have creativity to think about what the admitted students and their families would like to see and experience. It’s such a cool way to give back to a place that’s given us so much.”
Moore reminisced on the past four years of involvement in this organization.
“This last one is very bittersweet,” Moore said. “Blue Key has undoubtedly been my favorite experience of my time at Villanova. The relationships I’ve made, the admitted families I’ve been able to impact, and the sheer joy of doing something that I absolutely love is so special. To think I won’t have long days in Austin Hall anymore is so hard to put together, but I’m so excited for the program to be in the hands of some really incredible people in the future.”
Looking ahead to the many Admitted Students Days that the future of Villanova holds, it’s clear that the organization responsible holds the promise of continued success, furthering ASD’s legacy of impact.
Admitted Students Day is one of the most important days in the Admissions Department at Villanova. This day has the potential to shape prospective high schoolers’ futures by presenting them with the choice on whether or not to attend Villanova.
