By Emmariah Holcomb
Staff Writer
Campus overnights can give prospective students a taste of what Bona’s is all about.
When students decide on where to go to college, often one of the biggest impacting factors is how they’re treated when they visit campus. The admissions department at St. Bonaventure works with current students to offer the best tours and overnights for prospective students.
“I think giving tours is probably one of my favorite things to do for the university because you get to meet new people from all over and show them the campus through your own eyes,” said Leanna Chojnacki, a senior political science and international studies major.
Individual tours allow more chances for current students to get to know prospective students while showing them parts of campus that Bonaventure is known for, according to Alexandra Perl, a sophomore international studies major.
Student ambassador day tours start from Doyle, move to the Richter Center, go through first Falconio, then onto both the Quick Center and Reilly Center before going into Plassmann. Tours continue in the library and the Hickey and usually ends in Hopkins. While at Hopkins, prospective students can meet with one of the admissions counselors.
“Giving tours helps me get to know incoming freshmen and undecided high school students,” Perl said.
According to Chojnacki, student ambassadors often add more information about Bona’s that they find interesting. She personally likes to add facts about the railroad that ran through the campus at one point and the renovations added to the library outside of the rare book collection.
“These sorts of facts help give prospective students and their families an idea of how the campus has always been changing for the better and helps them understand it’s an institution that has been successful for 152 years,” Chojnacki said.
Current students who have participated in overnights found the experience beneficial when making a final decision on Bonaventure.
“I felt free and welcomed when I came on the overnight visit,” said Esther St. Cloud, a sophomore philosophy major. “Though at first I felt skeptical about the sleeping arrangements, I enjoyed meeting new friends and seeing what Bona’s had to offer.”
Lindsay Lupiani, a sophomore international studies major, said everyone was friendly to her on her overnight and answered her questions. They welcomed her into the community before she officially was a student.
“They showed me around campus and went into classrooms and saw how they actually do things,” Lupiani said. “I still talk about my overnight and say hello to the people who welcomed me into the “Bona Bubble.”
According to St. Cloud, Bona’s was more welcoming than other colleges.
“The overnight is the main reason why I came here,” she said.
While all colleges host campus tours, the admissions office at Bona’s gives prospective students a unique look into life on campus as a Bonaventure student.
