Saturday, April 11, was a day future Villanovans in the Class of 2030 will not forget as the campus hosted its annual Admitted Students Day. The main purpose of Admitted Students Day is to give potential students an inside look at Villanova culture, including academics, social life and extracurricular activities.
This day allowed prospective members of Villanova’s Class of 2030 to get a feel for a campus that may be their new home for the next four years and see what Nova Nation is all about. As always, Admitted Students Day’s goal is to influence students to enroll at Villanova and find their path. Led by months of planning from Admitted Students Day director Steve Marinelli and junior director Kate MacLaughlin, the day is one of the most important of the year for Blue Key members and they hope the same is true for admitted students travelling to campus.
“Being senior director has been the highlight of my college experience,” Marinelli said. “Villanova has changed my life, and now, I’ve had the opportunity to help shape a day that will change the lives of the next generation of Villanovans. It’s my final way of giving back to a place that has given me more than I could ever have imagined.”
For MacLaughlin, the day means so much, not just for the current Villanova community but hopefully the one to come.
“For so many admitted students, [Admitted Students Day] is the day where they can really picture where their home is going to be for the next four years and beyond,” MacLaughlin said. “It is such a special moment to see Blue Key and our Villanova community welcome the admitted students with open arms and grow the passionate, caring, and supportive Villanova community.”
Beginning bright and early, admitted students and their families were warmly welcomed to campus by Blue Key’s spirit line, with campus tour guides bringing their passion, energy and cheering to represent the Villanova community. For Marinelli, this year’s Admitted Students Day and specifically that grand welcome meant something truly special.
“My favorite moment was walking back through the spirit line with my family,” Marinelli said. “Four years ago, I walked into the Finn as a shy person, not knowing what to expect for my future. Now, being able to walk back through with my proud parents beside me was the ultimate full-circle experience.”
From there, parents were seated in the Finneran Pavilion as University President Rev. Peter M. Donohue O.S.A., Ph.D., gave his customary welcome speech, and they also heard from current Villanova students.
After the kickoff event, students were able to personalize their day on campus by attending specific academic presentations and events about their college and open houses for potential majors and minors, and study abroad opportunities. Those tabling for majors hope to inspire admitted students in the same way they themselves were when they were considering committing.
The day also included guided tours by Blue Key members to freshman dorms on South Campus and Main Campus, giving admitted students a sneak peek of what freshman living looks like at Villanova. Blue Key members also manned several information booths across campus to answer questions and provide directions to those unfamiliar with the campus’s layout.
“It is amazing getting to show the families reasons why I love Villanova and what truly makes it home,” tour coordinator Corey McCall said. “For me, it is the community, and having Blue Key is a great way to show that community that we have. The biggest appeal of ASD has to be getting to know your fellow classmates that you will continue to grow with. Something that is always emphasized is that if you look around, you could be sitting next to your future roommate and best friend. While this is a time for us to welcome the admitted students, it is also the beginning of their journey in building their community.”
While Blue Key’s members handle the majority of the duties on Admitted Students Day, the day really brings together the whole campus, which was evidenced by students tabling for their on-campus organizations, of which Villanova has more than 110.
From Greek Life to club sports to on-campus service organizations to media clubs to more, Villanovans of all years came out to inform the next generation of students about the things that have made Villanova such a special time for them.
“For Admitted Students Day, I tabled with [Alpha Phi Omega], and I was impressed with the amount of interest that students that aren’t even at the school yet have for our campus activities,” sophomore Brett Alexander said. “It’s amazing to see that incoming students are already so excited to not only come to Villanova but are eager to get involved with a bunch of many different organizations. Villanova has great extracurriculars, and it’s important for new students to feel like their interests are represented in areas outside of the classroom.”
For Blue Key members heavily involved with Admitted Students Day like MacLaughlin, they know just how important and lifechanging their role can be.
“My favorite part about [Admitted Students Day] is getting to talk to families one on one,” MacLaughlin said. “Choosing a college is such a huge decision that can change these students’ lives. Talking to these students and connecting with them is always so special.”
To wrap up the day, admitted students and their families were invited to attend an optional Mass in St. Thomas of Villanova Church. Admitted Students Day accomplished what it set out to do: to display the unique heart and spirit that make Villanova a true home for its students. While the Class of 2030 has not yet arrived on campus, those in Blue Key and those who tabled hoped potential students could see a place for them at Villanova and a bright future.
