By Brandon Fields
Staff Writer
May 1, national college confirmation day is approaching, and students are beginning to choose where they want to start their college experience.
On April 8, St. Bonaventure hosted over 200 admitted students and their families for the annual admissions event “Spring into Bonas” The event is an open-house style event.
According to Monica Emery, director of volunteer relations and events, the university desires to go beyond showing off the campus, academics or extracurricular activities; but better yet allow students the opportunity to see themselves here as a current student.
There is not an exact number of students who confirmed at the event but, according to Emery, there was a slight increase in this year’s numbers than last year’s.
In addition to the admissions staff, all of the departments and offices contributed to the execution and success of the event.
Parents and students get separated during the event, allowing them each to become acclimated with the University through a specialized informative itinerary.
Parents attended a presentation hosted by the Career and Professional Readiness Center (CPRC) and a panel where they could ask questions directed towards representatives of student life.
Students participated in a mock class, learned about the campus through a scavenger hunt with a student ambassador, and ate lunch with members of the student ambassador team.
Both parents and their families then attended the “All University Fair” where they met with faculty from all departments and interacted with representatives from various clubs and organizations.
“I get more excited for the students coming here and what their first experience of campus will be like, rather than my own giving them a tour, because for some this is their first time seeing the school or a college at all,” said Dyanna Moreira, a sophomore psychology major and lead student ambassador.
According to Moreira, she enjoyed working the event and giving tours to the prospective students. She said giving tours allows her the opportunity to connect with prospective students, and give them the best experience possible, whether it be showing them academic buildings or where they could be potentially living their freshman year.
According to Emery, “Spring into Bonaventure” is one component of a student’s decision to enroll or not. The school cannot yet calculate the events influence on confirmations after the event or confirming later during spring.
“The goals of this event are to have admitted students see everything the school has to offer them during their four years here and beyond,” Emery said. “We want students to be able to see themselves here and if this is the right choice for them. As for those who already confirmed, we want them to become confident in their great decision.”
fieldsbj14@bonaventure.edu
