Grace LaTourelle-
At a certain point, all Gustavus students were a prospect, a budding Gustie, yearning for the “Perfect College Fit” and wondering if Gustavus would be just that. Oct. 19 through 20, 2023, high school Juniors and Seniors -our potential future Gusties- will be flooding campus for Fall Visit Days.
“Fall Visit Days [are] the largest Gustie recruiting event in the fall semester. This year, over 500 prospective Gusties and their families will be coming to Gustavus for tours, meetings, and to sit in on classes,” Tour guide and Senior Benji Huff said.
Fall Visit Days is an opportunity for high school students to come to campus and experience what it would be like for them to attend this school. Prospective students can attend panels and tours, meet other students, and have lunch in the cafeteria. Thus, high schoolers will be amongst current Gustavus students interacting on the sidewalks and viewing Gustavus students’ daily lives.
“We want to portray ourselves as an authentic campus. If it’s a Friday morning and you’re showing up to class in your pajamas, [so] be that. If you go to class every day and you go with a coffee, do that. Prospective students want to see what Gustavus is like on a normal day,” Tour guide and Senior Abby Joy Neptune said.
The overall atmosphere for Fall Visit Days is a concentrated idea for the tour guides and individuals running the events. While Assistant Dean of Admission, Liz Vine, is hoping for a couple of sunny days, it comes down to more than that; it encompasses how students should illustrate their personalities and interact with the families attending Fall Visit Days.
“We want the genuine Gustavus community to shine whenever prospective families are on campus,” Vine said. “We hope prospective students and families enjoy their time on campus and really envision themselves as a Gustie.”
So, in preparation for Fall Visit Days and keeping in mind the fateful interactions with future Gusties, the tour guides and faculty provided advice for what Gusties can expect and to do their part to authentically present the campus.
“Wear Gustavus gear, greet prospective families as you walk around campus, and be ready to direct someone to a building…” Vine suggested.
“Students should fully embody the Gustie spirit! Greet people on tours, engage prospective students in class, and show genuine kindness. A simple ‘Welcome to Gustavus!’ can leave a lasting impression on a student who is considering GAC,” Huff commented.
The ‘Gustie Spirit’ is outlined by the five core values: Excellence, Community, Justice, Service, and Faith. They are the foundational elements that make up this institution and what radiates from it; this is what families will see on Fall Visit Days.
“A lot of students say that they chose Gustavus because of the community. So making sure that we’re that community is really important,” Neptune commented. In her words, let’s show the prospective students that “…at the heart of this institution, we’re golden.”
Students are urged to reflect on their first time on campus. The “first impression”, as highlighted by the tour guides and faculty, sets the tone for the entire experience of Fall Visit Days. With the memory of the past and the knowledge of the present, students are encouraged to foster the aura that they experience or wish to have experienced for the visiting high schoolers.
“I think that students here should help out with making a hospitable and welcoming atmosphere…If we want to see our college succeed in the future, it’s our responsibility to be ambassadors of the college and promote Gustavus in a good light,” Neptune said.
“Golden Gusties” may be a phrase floating throughout campus, from the mouths of tour guides and faculty, or through the pamphlets the families will collect. So while Fall Visit Days is an event aimed at those not already within the Gustavus community, the themes still ring true for all Gustavus students.
“Get out and do things! Engage with your community. This is a living campus! It always brings more breath to campus if we are more occupied with the people around us than what’s in our pockets,” Huff said.
Gusties are thus encouraged to participate in Fall Visit Days by committing to their authentic selves, as part of the community on The Hill.
“Don’t try to change who we are as Gustavus because who we are at the root of this institution is so wonderfully beautiful. We don’t need to change a thing to impress anybody. We are [already] impressive” Neptune said.