Sophomore Elizabeth Petlick remembers the information sessions she attended to learn more about Elizabethtown College. Instead of recalling the warm feeling on campus, or the beautiful scenery surrounding the College, she remembers looking at a screen and the difficulty of making a decision.
“It was so hard to make a decision,” Petlick said. “I came to all the information sessions I could over Zoom, and those just can’t showcase certain aspects of the College.”
Now, Petlick is one of many students giving high schoolers a chance for an inside look at Etown that they never got.
This academic year, for the first time since March 2020 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Etown’s Office of Admissions is offering overnight visits to prospective students. Students who stay overnight have the chance to experience dorm life, attend classes, participate in activities and interact with students across the campus.
Overnights provide an advantage for both prospective students and Admissions.
“You might not have ever seen what a college class looked like in high school, and it’s an opportunity I would’ve loved to have,” Petlick said. “Rather than just going to talks, you can sit in on a class and experience dining services and student activities.”
On the admissions side, overnights provide an opportunity for the campus to showcase aspects that students just on tour may not be able to see.
“I just think that the friendliness and close-knit community environment of the campus is something that can really be highlighted on overnights, as well as the proximity of everything,” Petlick said. “Safety on campus is also something that I make sure to highlight on tours, but can really be showcased if a student stays here.”
Overnight guests are given an itinerary with a specific arrival time and class schedule for the student to attend. There is free time allowed for students to hang out, study or attend activities with their overnight host. The students also get a $15 Jaybucks voucher, meal tickets for the marketplace and a pass to use the Bowers Center for Sports, Fitness and Well-being.
“A big part of anywhere you go is to get yourself involved, especially here, because there are offerings for pretty much any of your interests,” Petlick said.
Petlick also noted that overnights could help promote clubs on campus, especially those who’ve experienced dwindling attendance due to the pandemic.
Overnight hosts aren’t directly compensated for their work, although Petlick said she got a $20 voucher for the school store. So why volunteer to have a stranger stay in your room for the night? Part of it, for Petlick, involves paying forward the help she got.
“I really like the role of being able to showcase the school, make people feel comfortable and know the positive aspects of college in general,” Petlick said. “I was really nervous going through that process, and I remember my tour guides that I had, and some still work for admissions and they were a big part of why I chose to go to this school.”
While Petlick is a Blue Jay Ambassador, she felt the urge to do more.
“As a tour guide, you make a big impact, but to be an overnight host will have that much more of an impact. Hopefully if the students choose to come I’ll be able to be a kind of mentor and resource for them if they need help picking classes, or with any kind of advice,” she continued.
Only one prospective student has stayed with Petlick so far, but she plans to host another overnight guest in the near future. She encourages any prospective student to sign up.
“I would definitely say to take advantage of the opportunity knowing that it was something people my age didn’t have the opportunity to do,” Petlick said. “When I came to Etown, I got the vibe that it was friendly, but I think an overnight would’ve helped to confirm that, and it would’ve been a fun experience.”
Students must submit an application for admission prior to requesting an overnight visit, and can request an overnight visit through their student portal.
