As Open House Season comes to a close, it is time to reflect on the benefits and drawbacks of having hundreds of high school students invading campus.
Pro: It means the semester is drawing to a close.
We all know that “prospie season” starts at the end of March. This means that we’re in the final stretch before the semester is finally over!
Con: Students are rushing to campus at the same time as we’re getting stressed out.
While the final stretch does mean that we’re very close to going home for the summer, it also means that we’re even closer to our much dreaded finals. For experienced Case students, prospies are a constant reminder of our impending doom.
Pro: Good food in the dining halls.
It’s no secret that Leutner and Fribley save the good food for when prospective students and their parents visit. This, unfortunately, gives unwitting students the idea that the food is always good. To any prospective students reading this: the food is a lie—especially in Fribley.
Con: The lines and traffic jams.
I remember the time I waited over an hour for a milkshake at the Jolly. Why? Prospies. Another downside is the added time to our morning walks through the Tink. Typically it takes two minutes, but when prospies visit the walk takes five minutes and includes a few thrown elbows.
Pro: All the fun activities!
Prospie season also brings fun activities, including sneaking Mitchells from the ice cream socials, seeing a performance or people watching in the Tink. There’s lots of fun to be had during an Open House!
Con: High School students in your classes.
One of the perks of attending an Open House is that high school students can sit in during classes. So, that 8:30 a.m. Circuits class you had to show up for because you had a quiz is now suddenly filled with a bunch of high schoolers “oooh”ing and “ahh”ing at the pretty circuit drawn on the board that you yourself don’t understand. Heaven forbid one of them is dumb enough to talk in your class! Prospies, do yourselves a favor: observe the class but don’t try to participate. The purpose of sitting in on classes is to see what we suffer through, not to prove your worth to us.
Pro: MONEY!
Every broke college student understands the joy of receiving a small check for having what is essentially a glorified sleepover.
Con: Having a prospie.
Unless you’re willing to break the rules a bit and sneak your prospie off campus to go somewhere like Melt, yes the real one, chances are you’re bringing your prospective student to the same three activities as everyone else. You also have to clean your room, find a space for them to sleep and wake up super early in the morning to drop them off. Sometimes, you’re lucky and you get a genuinely awesome prospective student that you actually like. But most of the time, that’s not the case. Is it REALLY worth the money?
Pro: Humble bragging about yourself or CWRU.
Let's be seriousl: prospies are often easily impressed. You can tell them all sorts of stories that college students wouldn’t care about and they’ll get super excited. I told a prospie that the Jolly has karaoke night, and they were very excited about it. Don’t get me wrong, I love hearing drunk singing as much as the next person. But it is not the best thing ever. Either way, chances are that you aren't hosting a prospective student unless you actually care about CWRU. Open House season is a great time to tell prospective students about how great your experience has been, or give them some honest advice.
Con: The prospective student who runs away.
Every year you hear about them: that one host who loses their student. The prospie runs off with their other friends, or someone they just met, and you have to chase them around for God knows how long. Never mind that you have a test or a presentation tomorrow. Just hope that they’re in good condition when you find them.
Pro: Looking at your prospie and remembering that you’re not in high school anymore!
While high school was a great time for many, and we all probably have a fond memory or two, you wouldn’t trade places with them if you had the chance!
