“The majority of students who come for a day visit come to Quinnipiac,” Elizabeth Ludovico ’99, associate director of Admissions, said. The Quinnipiac alumnus has run the Undergraduate Admissions Day Visit program for the past five years.
In those five years, she said the program has become more popular and has seen more students volunteering to host a student for a day.
“It’s getting greater every year,” she said. This year alone, there have been over 80 Quinnipiac students volunteering to host over 100 accepted students for a day, she said.
Although Ludovico was initially assigned to head the program upon her arrival in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions in 1999, she said, “It has become my own special project.”
As a student, Ludovico considered teaching because she loved upper education. Shortly before graduating, Ludovico received a school-wide email announcing the opening of the position that she currently fills.
“Quinnipiac is really great,” she said. “I loved it here at as a student. I love working here now. This is a great place to come to work.”
The specifics for the Day Visit program are simple. The admitted student must arrive on campus by 9 a.m. where he or she will meet the host student who they will be with for the rest of the day. The admitted student will have the opportunity to attend at least two classes with the host student. The host student will be of the major the admitted student has chosen. Both the host student and the admitted student will receive a meal pass for a free meal. This gives the admitted student the opportunity to experience Quinnipiac’s diverse menu.
In addition to attending classes, the admitted student will have the opportunity to have a private campus tour with the host student as well as meeting teachers, athletes and coaches. A usual day spans from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.
The experience is expected to be particularly valuable.
“It will be one of the last opportunities to visit the school before making a decision,” Ludovico said. “This is our last chance to make a final impression. The program has not changed very much,” she continued, “However, I have tweaked it over the last few years.”
For the most part, two weeks are offered in February, March and April. By aligning with high school recesses, it is more possible for students to visit the campus. However, for the students who cannot participate in the Day Visit program, there are always two Admitted Students Days: March 27 and March 28.
By Quinnipiac students volunteering their time, as opposed to being paid, their efforts are so much more appreciated.
“A lot of returning students do the program. Some students have also done it for more than one year,” Ludovico said.
There have been some students who have enjoyed the program so much that after they enrolled in classes the following year, they hosted admitted students.
The Day Visits director has a message for all Quinnipiac students.
“It was not long ago that you went through the same process that these students are now,” Ludovico said. She asks that the students help “make the decision easier for students going through the process now.”
In addition to a free meal pass, students who help with the program will be invited to a thank-you dinner at the conclusion of the academic year.
