Prospective students were able to receive an in-depth look at Waynesburg University as a campus and community during the annual Fall Overnight Visitation during the evening of Nov. 12 through the morning of Nov. 13. Current university students hosted over 60 high school students that have expressed an interest in attending Waynesburg.

Admissions counselors Emily Nowakowski and Kyle DiGiandomenico worked alongside others in the admissions office and around campus to help coordinate the event.

“The main premise for overnight visits are for students to get an inside look at Waynesburg,” said DiGiandomenico. “They can do a regular visitation day or an open house and come Monday through Friday, but they really don’t get to see the inside of Waynesburg. An overnight gives them the opportunity to come and stay in the dorms, experience life in the evening [as well as] Waynesburg unfiltered.”

When choosing a school, one of the main factors for future students is the level of comfort.  Nowakowski feels that the overnight is a great chance for students to figure out the answer to that question.

“For prospective students, it is super important because they are choosing a place that they will be going for the next four years,” said Nowakowski. “I think it is important for them to live in student life and see what it is like for one night at Waynesburg. If they see something they like, it could turn on the light [and help them] realize [Waynesburg] is right for me.”

The preparation and planning for an event of this magnitude requires help from multiple people and groups around campus, but the Admissions Department takes on the bulk of the work.

“There is a lot involved, not just me or admissions.  Our student workers [WUSAs] are the ones stuffing packets and putting name tags together and getting all of the stuff we need,” said DiGiandomenico.  “They work on the finer details.”

The overnight experience started Sunday afternoon with the arrival and registration of the high schoolers.  Sunday evening included a couple events and a chance for students to attend Upper Room.  Then the students were sent to a class on Monday, allowing for a sample of a realistic day in the life of a college student.

“They get a chance to see what their professors would be like and see what the classroom setting is like,” said DiGiandomenico. “We tried to give them a mix, so we don’t give them just classes within their major. They got a general education class and then a class or two in their major so they can see full picture.”

Nowakowski agrees with DiGiandomenico that attending classes might be the most beneficial part of the stay.

“I think it is big that they get to go to class, so not only do they get the overnight but the next morning they’re going to class so they get to experience the classroom,” said Nowakowski. “They get to see where their education is coming from. They get to meet the professors they’ll be with and see the students that they’ll be with every day.”

DiGiandomenico believes that the professors play an underrated role in visitation events.

“The professors play a large role in being so inviting into their classroom,” said DiGiandomenico. “Allowing outside students sit in on their presentations is a pretty big deal, because bigger schools don’t do that. Our professors do a really good job at being welcoming and understanding the importance of these visits.”
Admissions offers overnight visits once in the fall and then again in the spring for accepted students.  In each circumstance, it maintains a similar goal and a large effort.

“It is one big team effort in terms of making this happen,” said Nowakowski. “Overall it is important to make sure it feels like home for them.”