Takeaways from the Office of Undergraduate Admission
By Lauren Jones
At the beginning of my senior year, I decided to begin looking for an on-campus job. Serendipitously, my good friend told me that the Office of Undergraduate Admissions was hiring and that he could put in a good word for me. Come mid-September, I was spending my early mornings and late afternoons in Austin Hall as an Admission Assistant.
Throughout this year I have had the opportunity to meet hundreds of prospective students and their families while they checked in with me for their campus tour. I could see the combination of excitement and nerves in their eyes as they were just beginning their journey of college visits. Getting to be the first face that individuals were greeted with upon arrival at Villanova was an honor and privilege that I will never forget. I made sure to greet each visitor with my warmest smile to show them that Villanova University is a welcoming space.
Aside from my daily duties, I participated in many unique events such as Junior Preview Day, Admitted Students Day, high school group tours, private tours, and Instagram Takeovers. These moments were full circle for me as I had attended both Junior Preview Day and Admitted Students Day with my parents.
Another full-circle moment that I had was giving countless group and personal tours throughout the year. As a freshman, I never thought I would be well-versed enough in public speaking to be able to be a tour guide. Through practice and exposure, I was able to not just successfully conduct a tour but also have enough confidence to make it my own and really show my personality. This job allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and channel my inner talents. Getting to share my personal journey and love for this school with students and families brought me so much joy. I loved it when visitors shared the same enthusiasm as me about Villanova, as we bonded over my infinite stories from my time at Villanova.
Instagram Takeovers and Lives were another fun part of the job. I became more confident in my social media abilities and was able to connect with even more students and families across the country. This was another full-circle moment for me because I was helping to run the account that I remember incessantly checking when I was awaiting my acceptance email back in December 2018. I loved getting to answer followers’ questions and share what life is like here.
As my time as an Admission Assistant ends, I am so grateful to each and every person I have met during my time working in Austin Hall. From the families I spent as little as one hour with, to my coworkers with whom I spent countless hours, I learned so much about the world and myself through you. Working here was one of the best decisions I ever made and one of my favorite experiences as a Villanova undergraduate. It is yet another reason why Villanova will forever be my home.
