Potential Johnnies Turn Out in Record Numbers for Open House

Produced by: Office of Marketing and Communications

Welcome Future St. John's Students Banner and Guests
October 16, 2017

Seeking a taste of college life at St. John’s University, nearly 870 high school juniors and seniors—and their families—made the trip from as far away as California and England to visit the Queens campus on Saturday, October 14, for the semester’s first Open House.

According to Jorge Rodriguez, Vice Provost and Chief Enrollment Officer, registration for the event was up more than 12 percent over last year and included students from 18 states. “We are very happy to see so many faces here on campus today,” he said. “We hope that after experiencing the University firsthand, they will choose St. John’s as the place to begin the next chapter in their lives.”

In his welcome address at Carnesecca Arena, student speaker Frank Obermeyer shared his experiences at the University. “I love to brag about my amazing St. John’s experience,” said the Mathematical Physics major and President of Student Government, Inc. “That bragging comes from a place of gratitude. I would have never had this type of college experience if I hadn’t come to St. John’s.”

Virtually every academic building on the University’s nearly 100-acre campus was open to the public for guided tours, including the new home of The Peter J. Tobin College of Business, which features the Lesley and William Collins Business Analytics Lab, a state-of-the-art facility that includes an LED stock ticker and multiple Bloomberg Terminal licenses.

For students who plan to live on campus, the University opened the doors to its Residence Village, including DaSilva Hall, which offers suite-style living, and Donovan Hall, a traditional residential building. 

For some in attendance, it was their first time setting foot on campus. For others, it was a chance to explore a familiar place. “I’ve been here a million times for basketball games, but I’ve never really seen the rest of St. John’s,” said Matt Miller, a high school junior at East Rockaway Junior/Senior High School. “I never realized it was so nice. I loved the Great Lawn, and the dorms were fantastic.”

Guests were invited to attend several information sessions in the D’Angelo Center, on topics such as Global Studies, Ozanam Scholars, Catholic Scholars, and the Doctor of Pharmacy Program. Admissions counselors were also on hand in the newly renovated Marillac Hall Auditorium to answer questions about the application process.

Future Johnnies will have another opportunity to tour the Queens campus this fall at the next Open House on Sunday, November 19. The Staten Island campus will host its own Open House on Saturday, October 28.