Hundreds of Future Johnnies Turn Out for Open House 2024 at St. John’s University

St. John’s University rolled out the red carpet on Sunday, October 27, to enthusiastically welcome nearly 900 prospective students and their families to the first undergraduate Fall Open House of 2024.

“At St. John’s, the individual student matters, and Open House gives our future Johnnies an understanding of what it means to be part of a large, global institution, with state-of-the-art facilities and resources, coupled with a steadfast commitment to each student’s personal and professional growth,” said Samantha R. Wright, Chief Enrollment Officer. “We are grateful to the many students and their families who took time out of their busy schedules to be here today, and we look forward to seeing them back on campus in April for Accepted Student Day!”

In a scene reminiscent of a star-studded movie premiere, high schoolers, their friends, and families were welcomed to step onto a red carpet unfurled along the floor of Taffner Field House on the Queens, NY, campus. There, they received boxes of popcorn before posing for photos with St. John’s mascot, Johnny Thunderbird while standing beneath a  banner that carried the event’s theme, “It’s Time to Discover St. John’s.” 

The event culminated the University’s “StormFest: Celebrating Our Johnnies from the Past, Present, and Future!” held on October 25–27. For the first time, Open House and two other popular, signature University events —Family Weekend and Alumni Homecoming—took place on the same weekend, drawing more than 3,000 visitors to the Queens campus amid spectacular fall weather.

The University opened its doors to the entire campus, allowing prospective students to explore each of St. John’s six Schools and Colleges, dining facilities, and residence halls, either on their own, against the backdrop of some of the best views of the New York City skyline, or through guided tours led by current St. John’s students.

A distinctive highlight of special tours conducted throughout the day was St. Vincent Health Sciences Center,  a new focal point of the Queens campus that opened at the start of the fall semester. “We are particularly excited to showcase our newest building to prospective students, the St. Vincent Health Sciences Center,” said Ms. Wright. “The many incredible features of this building allow our health sciences students to learn with the latest technology, supporting innovative health-care education training in a real-life clinical setting.”

“It is one of the many examples of the University’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence, and how the University is investing in the many opportunities available to our students as they find their educational and professional pathways,” she added. The health sciences center is home to students in the University’s Nursing, Radiologic Sciences, and Physician Assistant programs.

Other tours were conducted of the Instructional Television, Film and Radio Center; The LGBTQ+ Center; Fine Arts Studios and Art Gallery; the Advanced Graphics Lab; Media Arts and Design Lab; and Technology Commons.

While most prospective students who joined in the Open House hailed from the New York metropolitan area, many others traveled from throughout the East Coast, from New Hampshire to Florida, to learn about St. John’s. 

At the Student Services Fair held inside Taffner Field House, students were greeted by representatives from a wide range of majors and programs of study. Students also met with deans, administrators, and current Johnnies throughout the day to learn about numerous courses of study and campus organizations.

Tim O’Connor, of Oceanside, NY, a junior at Kellenberg Memorial High School in Uniondale, NY, who is interested in pursuing a Business major, said, “I am looking at St. John’s because I want to stay local for college.” 

He also follows in the footsteps of members of his family who were Johnnies: his maternal grandfather, an uncle, and a cousin, according to his mother, Jackie O’Connor. “St. John’s is definitely on his radar. It’s a great school,” she said.

Junior Nicollette Yost, who attends St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School on Staten Island, NY, was eager to tour the health sciences center because of her interest in studying radiologic sciences. “I want to be part of that moment when a couple goes in for an ultrasound, and sees their baby for the first time in utero!”

“I would love to be an English major,” declared Alyssa Sehn, a senior at New Hyde Park Memorial High School in New Hyde Park, NY. “I fell in love with creative writing in the 10th grade, and that just never stopped.”

Noting she is “heavily influenced” by both of her parents, who are elementary school teachers, Nicollette said she is also considering pursuing a degree to become a high school teacher. “I really enjoy being in school, and  teaching would be a very nice living for me.”

Scanning the crowd of St. John’s faculty, advisers, and staff engaging with students at the fair, Alyssa added, “Everyone here is super helpful, and I really love seeing people getting involved in learning about their potential future major.”

Zuleyka Oquendo, of the Bronx, NY, decided to explore St. John’s after receiving a heartfelt endorsement from a friend who attends the University. “He speaks very highly of the school,” she said.

But Zuleyka, a senior at Preston High School in the Bronx, NY, who wants to major in Cyber Security Systems, needed further confirmation that St. John’s could be a good fit for her. During a tour of the residence halls, Zuleyka spoke to a student she did not know. 

“I asked her, ‘How do you really feel about St. John’s, and please tell the whole truth. Don’t sugarcoat it, and give me a rating from one to 10, with 10 being the best,’” she recalled. “And she gave it a nine!”