At first glance, it seems as if the University population has multiplied overnight. But a closer look reveals some unusual sights: students and parents turning maps of the University right and left, perplexed looks on their faces, massive tour groups walking from building to building, multitudes of people with bright orange shirts and name tags.
Days on the Lawn is up and running and, with it, a seemingly innumerable amount of current high school seniors and their families crowd the University as they attempt to decide if this is the school for them.
But while Days on the Lawn only makes its appearance for a few days each year, a great amount of planning and preparation goes into making the event a reality.
The Office of Admissions, along with the help of student volunteers, puts on the event.
Two student co-chairs are largely responsible for the volunteering side of the event, working to recruit University students and ensure that volunteers are at the places the Office of Admissions needs them.
This year's co-chairs, third-year College student Sarah Strunk and second-year College student Stephanie Passman, said their duties as co-chairs are very different from their previous experience as Days on the Lawn volunteers.
"It's been a lot more planning before the event and a lot more planning with the Admissions Office in terms of making sure that the interactions the volunteers have with the students are positive and are reflective of the purpose of Days on the Lawn, which is to give students an honest glimpse into the life of a University of Virginia student," Strunk said. "In previous years, I spent most of my time talking directly to students about my experience here, [but now] I spend a lot of time talking to volunteers or team leaders about their experience with the students."
Passman said she and Strunk try to ensure that prospective students have as much interaction with current students as possible.
We work "to alleviate some of the stress for the Office of Admissions, who are busy organizing the event," Passman said. "We're ensuring that all of the events will be successful because there will be student volunteers there to maintain the enthusiasm and promote everything that's going on."
In addition, the co-chairs worked on this year's t-shirt design, which allows students to list their interests and extracurricular activities on the backs of their shirt.
We "helped find an outlet for other volunteers to share their experiences with the students," Strunk said.
At the same time, Strunk and Passman are involved with more than just the volunteer side of Days on the Lawn.
"A lot of our input does go into planning, but our primary responsibility is interacting with people, as opposed to making reservations for facilities or sending out invitations," Strunk said. "We make sure that people are there during Days on the Lawn to make the experience positive for everyone who's there."
Strunk and Passman initially got involved with Days on the Lawn for specific reasons.
Strunk, who applied to the University early decision, never attended the event as a prospective student.
"When I got to U.Va., I heard about [Days on the Lawn] spring semester," Strunk said. "I had wanted to get involved with the Guide Service or volunteer at the Admissions Office, but I didn't have the time to commit to those activities, so Days on the Lawn was just a really great way for me to share my experiences at U.Va. and to spread my love of U.Va. to others. But at the same time, it wasn't a huge commitment in terms of time."
Passman also wanted a chance to introduce prospective students to the University.
"I came to Days on the Lawn as a prospective student and, even though I'd already made my decision, it just reaffirmed it because all the students were so excited," Passman said. "There were so many volunteers and people promoting U.Va., and that was a good sign."
Passman said she got involved through the program because it is one of the many events sponsored by the Virginia Ambassadors.
Through Days on the Lawn, "I got to work with the Admissions Office to welcome prospective students and give them a perspective of the University," Passman said.
That kind of interaction with the visiting students is something both co-chairs enjoy greatly.
"The great thing about having a leadership position for this kind of event is that you still get to talk to the students and answer their questions and see their faces when they step on the Lawn or stand on the steps of the Rotunda for the first time," Strunk said. "It reminds you of the first time you visited U.Va. or the first time you knew it was the school for you. It's just fun to hear [about] those experiences and to have that kind of impact on another student's life."
Another aspect of Days on the Lawn Strunk and Passman said they enjoy is working with the University students who volunteer for the event.
"Being co-chair, I've gotten the chance to see how amazing U.Va. students are and how willing they are to share their own love for U.Va.," Passman said. "It's sort of, for me, put down a lot of those stereotypes of U.Va. as a school for uptight, snobby kids who are only concerned with themselves. And it has also given me a lot of respect for the Office of Admissions and for the effort they put forth to attract the best students to U.Va."
Strunk agreed and said being co-chair for Days on the Lawn has been an amazing experience.
"We have a group of 10 team leaders who are incredibly enthusiastic and motivated U.Va. students who are responsible for coordinating the volunteers in a more direct manner," Strunk said.
She added the morning team leaders arrive at the Admissions Office at 7 a.m. to get prepared, but they have actually been getting together even earlier.
"We've been meeting at Starbucks at 6:40 to get our early morning caffeine," Strunk said. "If you talk to me at 6:30, I'm sleepy and groggy and grumpy. And at 6:41, I'm awake and excited and ready to go for the day. And it's not because of the caffeine. The energy and enthusiasm that my co-chair and team leaders have for the program and for U.Va. in general is contagious. As great as it is working with the students, working with the volunteers and team leaders who love U.Va. this much is just incredible."
Passman also highlighted the early rising time often involved with Days on the Lawn.
"It speaks very highly for the University that hundreds of students want to come out at the crack of dawn and talk about their experience and hopefully motivate other students to join our community," Passman said.
Strunk said parents and students who attend Days on the Lawn are "absolutely amazed" that students put in as much effort as they do.
"So many students take so much time out of their already busy schedules," Strunk said. "The Days on the Lawn volunteers and the time they give of themselves to U.Va. is just amazing to me and the rest of the Admissions staff. It's remarkable even for myself, as a U.Va. student, to see all of these students have such a positive impact."
The volunteers themselves said they thoroughly enjoy working with Days on the Lawn.
"I just thought it was a really great experience," first-year College student Katie Zanecchia said about volunteering for the event. "More than anything, talking to the students here [at the University] is the most valuable experience [you can get] out of this. I think the classes thing is kind of overrated. I enjoy talking to the kids and showing them that I love U.Va. and they should love it too."
One of the reasons Zanecchia signed up to help out with Days on the Lawn is her experiences with the program as a prospective student.
"I hadn't really visited U.Va. until I came to Days on the Lawn," Zanecchia said. "I [came] because I wasn't really sure I liked U.Va., and I had sworn to myself I wasn't going to go to the South. So I came, and I fell in love with it. I really liked the way Dean Wilson spoke -
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