In my perspective, college night is the most organized chaos I have ever witnessed. If I could compare it to anything, it would be as if all the college pamphlets you’ve ever been sent had physically appeared at one location, Jesuit Dallas. Some colleges stand prestigiously, like a magnet to prospective students, while others stand optimistic, like a pamphlet you randomly read, all in the unending wave of nearly the entirety of DFW-based private catholic schools’ populace. Nevertheless, college night – a plethora of informational academic presentations – remains one of the most important events on the Jesuit calendar.
As a junior, I simply roamed the halls, Terry Center, cafeteria, or any location with doors, to obtain a taste of college, absorbing the immense amount of higher education, grandiose or humble, admired or unknown. Now as a senior, I did the same, but with a clearer goal in mind: I specifically wanted to speak with the representative of Purdue University (who probably thinks I talked too much); yet, this time I observed the calm calamity that engulfs Jesuit on a pleasant Tuesday afternoon in mid-September, finding that college night provides a unique opportunity where students can explore universities across the country.
A 40-year tradition, college night first started “in the 80s,” and was primarily a foreign concept at the time because “people didn’t go very far from home,” said junior counselor Mr. McDaniel. Jesuit Dallas sought to reform this “in-state or regional” adherence to university around 1983 when college night was implemented to provide students the opportunity “to look at schools far away.” Although students over the years have still preferred closer schools, the “exposure” that provides an ability to seek schools “small, medium, and large in different areas of the country” has always remained.
Over 150 colleges and universities attended Jesuit Dallas, which requires an immense amount of preparation.
Senior counselor, Mr. Fitzsimmons adds that “invitations are sent out in early spring or summer of the following year,” with the assistance of an online program to aid in mitigating scheduling errors.
The logistics of the night are handled by Mrs. O’Neal, who adds that colleges “have a tabled chart of where to go,” contributing to the unique organization that had “all the Catholic colleges grouped together” for the first time this year. Past years have included “Jesuit ambassadors [guiding] college reps” and visitors, but this year’s introduction of the QR code seemingly replaced them, using a concise webpage that detailed the location of each college instead throughout the campus.
Although countless other schools have college nights too, Jesuit Dallas’ subtly differs.
Mr. McDaniel emphasizes the benefit of Jesuit Dallas being a college preparatory school, adding that colleges “know exactly what to talk to [students] about,” since they know a large pool of about “270 to 290 students are all college prospects. Moreover, this conciseness seemingly aids the college representatives; for example, rather than informing students on vocation, community college, or the different routes to college, representatives actively try to influence students into applying, a contrast from a broad agenda typically used in public schools.
College representatives seem to enjoy college night too, talking to hundreds of students and admiring Jesuit students’ attentiveness.
Mr. McDaniel personally enjoys the overall exciting “positive” feedback from “enthused” representatives. These representatives admire how Jesuit students’ are “informed [and] ask good questions,” a favorable first impression that colleges remember even “before they look at files.”
Moreover, Mr. Fitzsimmons admires the significant “relationships” from college night, where “getting to know the college reps” along with “promoting Jesuit guys” make the night extraordinary for all. Along with unique relationships, representatives partake in an hour “reception from 9 to 10,” sweetly concluding the positive, pleasing nature of the intricate night many esteem, an admiration Mrs. O’Neal loves.
Ensuring a generational tradition, Jesuit’s College Night implores students to be open to growth, providing plentiful opportunities for various colleges, and universities throughout the United States, while fostering a distinct perspective.