Around 800 people filled the Mustang Gymnasium last Saturday for the first Accepted Students’ Day (ASD) of the year, a 30% increase in attendance compared to the same event last February. Prospective students and their guests received tours, explored classrooms and met with current students and faculty to see what Stevenson University is about.
Stevenson welcomed accepted students and their friends and families at 9 a.m. to begin the day. According to Megumi Gomyo, fourth-year assistant director of admissions & communications, of the 324 students who registered, 268 attended. Including prospective students’ guests, the total number of attendees was over 800. That makes this past weekend’s ASD the largest February event in years.
Gomyo said that ASDs are an opportunity for accepted students to get a glimpse of what being a Stevenson student is like. The event begins with the Student Services Fair, where prospective students view the various departments and the resources they provide for students.
After welcoming remarks from Stevenson’s president, Dr. Elliot Hirshman, prospective students are encouraged to explore various events around campus, a system that Student Ambassador Alexandra Ginski describes as a “choose-your-own-adventure.”
Ginski emphasized that these events are to get people involved and help people see what campus life is about.
“We make these days for families, and I’m so glad to be a part of it,” Ginski said.
One prospective student, Khadija Mendili, stated that Stevenson University is high on her list of schools.
“I like how [Stevenson] values supporting whatever you do,” said Mendili, a current high school senior from Eastern Technical High School with aspirations to study environmental science.
Another prospective student from Glassboro High School in New Jersey, Amelia Thompson, says that the highlight of the day was getting to see all the clubs and organizations on campus.
“I didn’t realize how many clubs there are… there’s something for everyone,” Thompson said. “I just really love the campus.”
Admissions Counsellor Bentley Kandel emphasizes the idea that these ASDs are to encourage prospective students to enjoy a day on campus.
This event is encouraging students to “find their people,” as Kandel said.
According to Sydney Boris, a prospective student from Howard High School, Stevenson achieved that goal.
“[I got] to see all the different things you do here… the different classrooms, the different courses, the careers, all the different clubs,” Boris said.
Accepted Students’ Days have the goal to get students on campus and experience a day in the life of a Stevenson student. According to Mendili, this event helped her feel more confident about attending Stevenson.
“It’s a really good school,” Mendili said.
