Coming into the end of the semester, current NDB students have seen or hosted many shadows, heard about Tiger Talks, and greeted applicants at events like Open House. It brings many students back to what the admissions process was like, including the various events and tours attended before starting school, and how that impacted their views on the school.

Seeing prospective students walk through the hallways helped the Tigers recall how different or similar their experience was applying to NDB. Though juniors went through this process online and sophomores had their experience in-person, but fully masked; most of these events they attend are the same, such as Notre Dame night which happened on November 17. This was a valuable opportunity for applicants to interact with the current student body, which includes members of the Ambassador Board, who help out with admission events.

“I think it’s a way to pay it back. So you had students helping you when you came in as an eighth grader looking around and it could be a really scary time,” shared Director of Admissions Debbie Anderson. “Coming in, especially if you’re going to shadow and you don’t know anybody here, and it’s kind of big and scary. So a little kindness goes a long way. You can help by being a shadow host [and] you can help at different events.”

With the shadow days starting to come to an end, it is important for students to help in any way they can to make these events an enjoyable and inclusive experience for applicants. These events have been done for many years and it is their job, as students, to set an example for prospective students to admire and follow.

“I had another family right now who just took a tour and said [they] were here at Open House and every single student that [they] talked to was helpful and articulate and looked [them] in the eye,” said Anderson. “We have done a good job at making NDB an amazing place for applicants and we should all be proud of that.”

Admission events allow prospective students to interact with current students and learn more about student life at NDB.