Feeling the vibe: At Accepted Students Day, a warm welcome—and lots of information—for future Profs

First-year student Elijah Huey committed to attend Rowan University last spring after attending Accepted Students Day.

He could just feel the University’s vibe, he said.

“Coming here on Accepted Students Day was my deciding factor,” Huey said. “I was on the (University) Green with my mom. The music was blasting and I loved the atmosphere. I said, ‘This just feels like the right place for me to be. I want to be here.’”

On April 15, Huey, a history and subject matter education major, joined with 200 of his fellow Rowan admissions ambassadors and PROS (Peer Referral and Orientation Staff) members to meet and greet prospective students during the University’s second annual Accepted Students Day.

Altogether, more than 4,000 people--including 1,400 students and their family members--enjoyed the event, which was centered on the University Green at Bunce Hall, the birthplace of the institution. Rowan will celebrate its Centennial in the 2023-’24 academic year.

Learn more about Accepted Students Day on YouTube.

A University in demand

Ranked by “The Chronicle of Higher Education” as the nation’s third fastest-growing public research institution, Rowan has seen nearly a 2.5 percent increase in applications and an almost 8 percent increase in deposits over the past year, according to Jessica Prach, senior assistant director in the Office of Admissions. Compared to 2019, the University has received 1,670 more applications this year, according to Prach.

Organized by the Office of Admissions, Accepted Students Day gave accepted students and their families a chance to learn about Rowan as they make their decisions about where to attend college.

“When we created Accepted Students Day, the purpose was to give accepted students the opportunity to truly connect with the University in a fun and exciting way so that they could feel what it’s like to call Rowan University home,” says Prach. “We wanted to have an environment where students could really make connections with their future classmates, professors and University leadership in a casual and enjoyable way.”

While the University Green included engaging activities such as inflatables, lawn games, a mechanical bull, a rock wall, axe throwing and photo booths, the area was lined with close to 30 informational tents representing schools, colleges, departments, resources and services.

Business was swift as students and their family members lined up to chat informally with 200 volunteers who staffed the tents to answer questions on a host of topics, including, among many others, academic programming, dining programs, student leadership opportunities, study abroad, residential learning and University housing, wellness services, campus activities and even the new Pride of the Profs marching band.

Tours, informational sessions

Throughout the day, financial aid professionals met with families, while full campus walking and residence hall tours were offered by admissions ambassadors. Afternoon sessions for first-year and transfer students were held, as were presentations for students interested in the ASCEND program, the John H. Martinson Honors College and the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering.

In a fun Rowan tradition, students who committed to attend the University celebrated by ringing a gong, putting a public, reverberating, symbolic exclamation point on their decision to become a Prof.

Matthew Hall made the most of the moment.

Clad in a gray Rowan t-shirt—“The Easter Bunny gave it to me,” he chuckled—Hall banged the gong with gusto. He then rose his arms triumphantly as his mom, Christine, laughed and snapped photos.

“That was pretty fun,” Hall, of Tenafly, said. “I like Rowan because it’s a good distance from home, but not too far. One of my best friends also committed here. I like the programs here.”

‘Of course it was my first choice’

Across the University Green,  twins Jayla and Janay Trice, sporting white Rowan bucket hats given to all accepted students in a bag brimming with University swag, took turns riding the mechanical bull…somewhat successfully. Rowan is familiar, the Pleasantville teens said.

“We’ve done more than three visits,” said Jayla.

“Every time we come back, we see something different,” said Janay, adding that they both have been accepted at more than six schools. “I like the vibe at Rowan. It’s happy and fun.”

They haven’t made their final college decision yet, but Chad Elliot and has. The incoming environmental science major from Williamstown has attended summer programs at the University, including a geology program last year.

“Of course it was my first choice,” Elliot said of Rowan. “This event is a good orientation to have. I’m going to live on campus and I like how walkable campus is. Rowan definitely has a lot of character.”

Dressed in gold golf knickers, argyle socks, and a Rowan baseball jersey and cap, Vice President of Life and Dean of Students Kevin Koett was embodiment of “character” as he welcomed everyone. He urged students to make the most of their Rowan experience.

“Be engaged. You’ve got to participate. You’ve got to get involved. This is not a passive process,” Koett said.

As he did just a year ago, Huey was hopeful Rowan’s accepted students felt included and welcomed on Accepted Students Day.

“There are amazing people here at Rowan—and a lot of resources,” he said. “I feel like it’s my duty to share that with other people. I want to show off what Rowan has. I want to share the positive energy.”