A day in the life: inside Geneseo’s Knight for a Day program

Photo courtesy of photo editor Cassandra Cramer

For many admitted students, choosing a college feels both exciting and intimidating. Brochures, websites, and campus tours can offer helpful snapshots, but they rarely capture what daily life actually feels like. That is where the Knight for a Day program at SUNY Geneseo makes a difference.

Hosted through the Admissions Office, Knight for a Day is a shadowing experience designed specifically for prospective students who are narrowing down their college decision. Instead of simply touring campus, admitted students are paired with a current Geneseo student and follow them to a class or even for a full day. They attend lectures, eat in the dining halls, walk between buildings, and experience campus life. The program runs during the spring semester from Feb. 13 through Apr. 30, as well as during National Transfer Student Week, offering transfer students an opportunity to picture themselves here.

For current students, serving as a Knight for a Day host is a volunteer opportunity—one that many describe as deeply rewarding. Gabriel Lindsay, a Geneseo student who has both participated in and hosted for the program, explains that hosting has given him a new perspective on his own college experience. “It always feels really good taking a step back and looking at what I get to do on a daily basis,” he says. Opening up his schedule, classes, and routines to a prospective student allows him to reflect on how much he has grown since his own first year.

For many high school seniors and transfer students, college can feel overwhelming. As Lindsay puts it, “These are students getting a glimpse behind what can feel like a big, intimidating transition in their lives— something we’ve all gone through.” The sense of reassurance is a key part of what makes Knight for a Day so impactful. Lindsay remembers, “When I went through it, it was neat to get a glimpse into college life, and it made me less worried about everything.” Now, on the other side of the experience, he sees how important that window into college life can be: “It’s cool to see students look at what I do with my peers every day and genuinely look forward to coming here. It’s also humbling to step back and remember that I was once just as nervous and excited, and to realize how much I’ve grown since then.”

For admitted students, one of the biggest benefits of the program is clarity. Websites and acceptance letters can outline majors and requirements, but they cannot replicate sitting in a real classroom discussion or navigating campus between classes. “I think it’s good to get to see what you’re getting into,” Lindsay explains. “The visual of what you would be doing on a day-to-day basis isn’t always what it looks like on paper.”

Shadowing a student also gives prospective Knights a practical sense of where classes are held, where students study, where they eat, and how they can spend their time between commitments. According to Lindsay, it “gives you a better idea of where you’ll be spending your time. Location, and whether you can see yourself spending a lot of time in those places, is all important to think about.”

While the program clearly benefits prospective students, it also offers something valuable for hosts. “I think it’s really great to get to show off what you get to do, and it’s always nice to help someone, especially during such a big transition in their life, like the jump to college,” Lindsay says. Being able to guide someone through that transition—even for just a few hours—creates a meaningful connection.

In some cases, those connections last well beyond a single visit. Lindsay shares, “I had a Knight for a Day, and he’s actually one of my close friends today. It’s really neat to get to know someone through the program and see how you can help them get involved in all the fun things we have and do here.” What begins as a shadowing experience can turn into mentorship, friendship, and a stronger sense of community.

Ultimately, Knight for a Day allows admitted students to move beyond imagining themselves at Geneseo and instead actually experience it—if only for a day. For current students, it’s a chance to reflect, connect, and give back tangibly. And for those still deciding where they belong, sometimes the best way to choose is simply to live it.

Students interested in participating—either as a host or as an admitted student looking to visit—can contact the Admissions Office at (585) 245-5571 or admissions@geneseo.edu for more information. With visits running from Feb. 13 through Apr. 30, spring offers the perfect window to step into a day in the life of a Geneseo Knight.