Spring Quarter brings a few changes to Northwestern’s campus: sunny skies, public displays of affection and “prospies,” or prospective students. In the coming weeks, these prospies will visit for Wildcat Days, an overnight program offered solely to accepted students.
About 750 of the 6,327 accepted students this year will attend the two-day program, previously called Preview NU. The program will be offered three times this month: April 21-22, April 22-23 and April 28-29.
Annie Kremer, assistant director of admissions and Wildcat Days coordinator, said the name change follows the recent transformation of New Student Week to Wildcat Welcome.
“It’s more spirited, more collegiate and more Northwestern,” she said.
Now in its sixth year, the program allows prospies to stay with a current undergraduate and immerse themselves in NU student life. They will attend information sessions, take dorm tours, listen to student panels, attend classes and speak with professors. There will also be a performance showcase called NU Review, featuring a cappella and dance groups.
“It’s a great opportunity for students to have an in-depth immersion experience,” Kremer said. “We’ve found that the biggest thing students take away from something like this is the ability to connect with other students who are looking at Northwestern.”
Although she has visited NU before, prospective student Alexandra Shanahan of Lake Geneva, Wis., said Wildcat Days will give her a chance to meet other prospective students and get a feel for the campus.
“A lot of schools have programs like this, but usually it’s only once you’ve enrolled,” she said. “I’ve never really seen anything like Wildcat Days before.”
The program is not only beneficial to prospective students but also to the admissions office, Kremer said.
“It definitely gives us the opportunity to have a higher yield (of students),” Kremer said. “It’s our chance to see the best of the best and find out what the class is like.”
Wildcat Days is the only overnight program offered for prospective students.
Kremer said she and her team are looking for current students to serve as hosts for prospective students during Wildcat Days.
“I think the chance to stay overnight makes a huge difference and gives them the opportunity to make an emotional connection,” she said. “Soon NU won’t be just a school, but somewhere they can see themselves for the next four years.”
Sahil Mehta of Rochester, N.Y., said he is participating in Wildcat Days primarily because he has never been to campus before, and he is interested in seeing what classes are like.
“I’d like to have a good idea of what it’s going to be like to be a student before I get here this fall,” he said.
Mehta, whose parents are from India, said he is especially excited to be at a school with a diverse student population.
“I go to a school where I’m in the vast minority of people of color,” he said. “I’m looking forward to coming and meeting different students from different backgrounds.”
Weinberg freshman Samantha Patterson had never seen NU’s campus before visiting last spring for Preview NU, and she said the program made an impression on her. Attending classes and meeting with professors made her realize that this was the type of learning environment she was looking for, she said.
“By the time I left NU at the end of the program, I knew I wanted to come here,” she said.
