Time to howl: Be a Coyote for a Day

With only 183 days until 2020 Move-In Day, USD is preparing to welcome the Coyote class of 2024 through their Admitted Students Day. 

Last Friday, 89 future USD students were able to experience what it’s like to be a Coyote by going to a class of their choice and being immersed in the craze of a Friday on campus. 

Abbi Boysen, a high school senior from Danbury, Iowa, was one of the students who visited on Admitted Students day. She was able to go to the Chamber Choir rehearsal class and watch how a college-level choir prepares for performances. 

She said it was intimidating, but a great experience to see what it would be like if she was to join this choir when she comes to USD. 

“It made me nervous because I didn’t want to mess up but it was a cool experience,” Boysen said. “The range and how many songs they are doing are really eye-opening. We have like three different songs and we learn them one by one and a little bit at a time, but they just do them back to back.”

Giving potential students the opportunity to shadow a real class, Connor Peterson, an admission counselor, said is the best way to ease their minds as they begin to prepare for the college move. 

“You go to college to go to class, so it’s kind of cool to see what that would be like,” Peterson said. “Students are actually here, so they are kind of just emerged in what it means to be a student because they are here in the school year. So they get a taste of what the classrooms are going to be like, but also just what campus life will be like in general.”

David Holdhusen, director of the Chamber Choir, said it’s important for students in all departments to see themselves as a part of this major and life, but it is especially important with majors in the Fine Arts Department. 

“I want them to get into the choir so they can visualize themselves singing in the choir,” Holdhusen said. “The more they can visualize themselves as a part of the ensemble, the more likely they will be to envision them in the university.”

Besides attending classes, the high school seniors went to sessions ranging from studying abroad information, to honors details, how to choose a major and a question and answer seminar with a group of current USD students. 

Peterson said these sessions are very similar to information they hear at Fast Track registration programs, but there is a lot to cover so hearing it multiple times is only beneficial. 

Boysen said Admitted Student Day helped finalize her college decision. She is officially set on being a Coyote for more than just one day. 

“I was excited before I came here, but now that you have a taste, I just want to be here now,” Boysen said. “I wanted to get a feel for USD by myself, and now I have it.”

Abbi Boysen is the younger sister of The Volante Opinion Editor, Ali Boysen. Because high schoolers are minors, The Volante only pictured Abbi with the permission of her parents.