The campus-wide effort behind Admitted Students Day

Photo courtesy of SUNY Geneseo website

Each spring, the campus welcomes a new wave of visitors—students who have already been accepted to Geneseo and are now deciding whether or not to call it home. Admitted Students Day is designed for exactly that moment in the decision process; it gives admitted students and their families the opportunity to take a closer, more detailed look at what life here is actually like, beyond brochures and campus tours.

Unlike a general campus tour, this event offers a deeper look into academic life, student culture, and community. This year’s first Admitted Students Day took place on Feb. 20, with additional in-person days scheduled for Mar. 13, 2026 at 8:30 a.m., Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:30 a.m., and Apr. 25, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. A virtual option will also be offered on Apr. 14, 2026 at 5 p.m., providing flexibility for families who cannot make it to campus.

So what actually happens on Admitted Students Day?

Participants can connect with current students, meet faculty members in their intended majors, tour campus, explore student services, visit club tables, and even enjoy a meal in one of Geneseo’s dining halls. Families are invited, too, making it a shared experience during a major life transition. The goal is simple: to help admitted students picture what their lives could look like here.

According to Regina Cucchiara, who works closely with these events, consistency is key: “Every ASD is formatted very similarly if not the same, giving prospective students the same opportunities regardless of which day they attend.” That structure ensures that whether a student visits in February or late April, they receive the same access to information, faculty, and campus resources.

Behind the scenes, however, the coordination is anything but simple. “I can’t speak a ton on the planning, since there’s so much that happens above the tour guide level,” Cucchiara explains. “I can only imagine how much coordination my supervisors put in with campus partners booking spaces, department programming, student services and club tabling, meal tickets, and scheduling tour guides for the day.”In other words, it truly does take a campus-wide effort. Cucchiara sums it up best: “It takes a village and we’re so fortunate to have that sense of community on our campus to get everything together so smoothly!” From faculty preparing department sessions to CAS staff accommodating hundreds of extra diners, Admitted Students Day is a collaborative undertaking.

Of course, with that collaboration comes visibility. Some current students occasionally feel the impact—especially in dining halls, where lines can grow longer than usual. Cucchiara encourages a shift in perspective. “One of the things I appreciated most about MY admitted students days was getting to try the food on the campus I was on,” she says. For many prospective students, something as simple as tasting dining hall food or sitting in a lecture hall can influence their decision in a meaningful way.

“I think we all need to think in a prospective student’s shoes for this instead of considering them as an ‘intrusion,’” Cucchiara adds. The events are intentionally structured to minimize disruption: “They’re split between MJ and RJ, which helps crowd control. It’s only a handful of times a year, and as current students, we have the option to mobile order, wait until the lines die down, or go treat ourselves to retail locations on these days. Be extra kind to your CAS employees!”

Ultimately, Admitted Students Day is about more than a busy dining hall or a packed tour route. It’s about welcoming future classmates into the community. For admitted students, these events provide reassurance. They offer a chance to ask questions directly to professors, connect with potential peers, and observe the campus atmosphere firsthand. For families, the day can clarify academic expectations, campus safety, housing logistics, and support services.

As Geneseo moves through the remaining spring dates, the campus community plays an important role in shaping that experience. A friendly interaction, a helpful answer, or even a simple smile can influence how a visiting student feels about their potential new home.

For those with questions about upcoming Admitted Students Day events, the Admissions Office can be reached at (585) 245-5571 or admissions@geneseo.edu.