St. John’s Accepted Student Day Goes Virtual

April 7, 2020

Accepted Student Day, one of St. John’s signature admission events, was recently transformed into a virtual experience, allowing future Johnnies to get a taste of the University’s spirit and offerings from the safety of their homes.

On Saturday, April 4, St. John’s rolled out a digital welcome mat to the Class of 2024 with the launch of St. John’s Virtual Accepted Student Experience. The day featured numerous events on the St. John’s website that mirrored in-person activities students would have encountered on the University’s campuses in Queens or on Staten Island, NY.

Live online chats with admission counselors, droned campus tours, and recorded conversations with current students and alumni sharing their success stories were among the nearly two dozen videos the University produced specifically for the event.

“We were ecstatic to see that, by day’s end, those videos garnered more than 6,000 views!” said Jorge L. Rodriguez, Vice Provost and Chief Enrollment Officer. “We wanted future Johnnies to join us for our premier Accepted Student Day event, so we made it possible for them to experience our energy, commitment to student success, and our new academic facilities from their homes.”

“In addition, there were more than 6,000 views of the web pages created for our Future Johnnies Virtual Experience, representing more than 900 cities across the nation, and 58 countries,” Mr. Rodriguez said. 

Anthony Romano, a senior at East Rockaway High School who was accepted for the Fall 2020 semester, said he was pleased with his virtual visit to St. John’s. “Even though I was not able to be on the campus for Accepted Student Day, it was great to still get a total overview of all that St. John’s has to offer,” he said. “I felt welcomed, included, and informed through the experience.” 

For many, the highlight of the virtual event was the Instagram Live party, and was hosted by DJ Zeke, a St. John’s alumnus otherwise known as Ezekiel Akinyemi ’08TCB.

“Welcome to all future Johnnies! Welcome to our alumni!” shouted DJ Zeke during the 90-minute event, which drew more than 1,000 registrants and was styled after dance parties that celebrity DJs have been hosting via Instagram in recent weeks. “We are rockin’ in the kitchen! Rockin’ in the living room! Make sure you all have me blasting from your big speakers!”

In past years, St. John’s hosted capacity crowds in Carnesecca Arena to kick off the annual Accepted Student Day. The reality of the current global health crisis fueled the decision to create a virtual version of the widely popular event.

Welcome, Future Johnnies! student portal was unveiled the day of the Virtual Accepted Student Experience, offering prospective students comprehensive information about St. John’s, including financial aidacademic and athletic programs, dining facilities, the University’s five undergraduate colleges and schools, residence halls, and public safety.

High school and transfer students engaged in online chats with admission counselors and current St. John’s students. Proud parents of accepted students could visit the Parent Place, while Johnnies for Life pages offered written and video profiles of alumni and current students.

Representatives from St. John’s offices such as Admission, Career ServicesCampus MinistryAlumni Relations, and Staten Island Campus Life participated in the event, congratulating accepted students and answering questions. Student Ambassadors, members of the St. John’s Dance Team, and Fraternity and Sorority Life also provided a strong, online presence at the party.

“Many joined us for the live Instagram party where they then chatted with currently enrolled students - now that's what I call school spirit," Mr. Rodriguez said.

The accepted student portal will remain on the St. John’s website in order to allow prospective students ample opportunities to continue to learn about the University. Prospective students can also visit Explore St. John’s Today!, which includes information about service opportunities, academic majors, and various campus locations.