Overnight Visit FAQ

What is the Ambassador Program?
When can I come for an overnight visit to Drew?
If I were to request a Monday overnight visit for example, does that mean I sped the night Sunday or Monday?
Why are the spring overnight visits on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays?
How do I request an overnight visit?
If date is full, can I register to have my name put on a waitlist?
How is my student host chosen?
Will my host share my academic interest/anticipated major?
I am a student athlete who is considering playing a sport at Drew, can I stay overnight with a member of the team?
When will I know who my host is?
Why must I wait until 2-3 days before my visit to learn who my host is? Why can’t I hear sooner?
Should I contact my host or will they contact me?
Will a tour be available during my overnight visit?
Will I be able to meet with a coach or faculty member?
What time should I arrive on campus for my visit?
Can I have a car on campus overnight?
Should I eat dinner before arriving for my overnight visit?
Is there a place for parents to stay on campus?
What is there for parents to do while their son/daughter attends an Ambassador Day overnight?
What is a meet and greet and why should I go to one?
Is Drew’s campus safe?
Where will I sleep during my overnight visit?
What will I be doing during the first night of my visit?
What time should I expect to wake up in the morning to start my day?
How does sitting in on a class work?
When should my family come back to campus?
What time does the overnight visit officially end?
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Q. What is the Ambassador Program?
A. During the spring semester, Drew University’s Ambassador Program allows admitted high school seniors the opportunity to spend an overnight visit with a Drew student host. Back to top

Q. When can I come for an overnight visit to Drew?
A. During the spring semester we offer Ambassador Stays for our admitted students to visit campus on any Sunday through Thursday (with the exception of March 11th to 18th, when the University is on spring break). Back to top

Q. If I were to request a Monday overnight visit for example, does that mean I spend the night Sunday or Monday?
A. Students who request a Monday overnight visit would arrive on campus Monday evening. They will have the opportunity to eat dinner with their host that evening, attend campus events, and sleep in their host’s dorm room. Students can observe classes during the day on Tuesday, eat breakfast in the Commons or snack bar, and meet their parents Tuesday afternoon for a tour, attend a meet and greet with an admission counselor and their parents or to depart campus. Back to top

Q. Why are the spring overnight visits on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays?
A. These days are some of the most active on campus academically. Weekdays have a wide array of courses available for potential students to sit in on. We feel it is important for a student to experience dorm life, student activities, and the classroom environment. These days tend to work best for both our student hosts and admitted high school seniors who are interested in visiting the campus for an overnight. Back to top

Q. How do I request an overnight visit?
A. Admitted high school seniors interested in requesting an overnight visit to Drew should fill out our on-line request form in its entirety. We ask that students please allow at least 5 days advanced notice when selecting an overnight date. Simply go to the online request form. Back to top

Q. If date is full, can an I register to have my name put on a waitlist?
A. As the spring semester progresses, it is not uncommon for some of our Ambassador Stays to reach the maximum number of students that we can accommodate.  When this happens, you will receive an email letting you know that we are unable to house you on that particular date and a staff member will work with you to come up with an alternative date. While we do everything that we can to ensure that we provide as many student hosts as possible, some dates are more heavily requested than others because they may fall on a holiday or weekend.  We thank you most sincerely for your patience and your understanding. Back to top

Q. How is my student host chosen?
A. Our Ambassador Student Coordinators refer to the on-line request form when pairing a student with their host. First, they refer to academic interests, and then look to your extracurricular activities to help find the best match. If you are undecided in regards to a potential major or minor, we recommend that you still list a favorite subject to help us in the pairing process. Back to top

Q. Will my host share my academic interest/anticipated major?
A. While we certainly will make every effort to pair you with a Drew Student Ambassador who shares your academic interest/anticipated major, we cannot promise that this will always be the case.  Numerous factors including student schedules and availability must all be considered for an overnight visit.  It is important to note that Drew is a close knit community with diverse interests.  While your host may not be a Political Science or Biology Major themselves for example, it is quite likely that they will have a friend, hall mate, or team mate who is. Back to top

Q. I am a student athlete who is considering playing a sport at Drew, can I stay overnight with a member of the team?
A. While we do have student athletes involved in the Drew Ambassador Program, athletic overnights are generally set up independently by our coaches.  If you are interested specifically in staying overnight with one of our student athletes, it is best to contact the coach. Back to top

Q. When will I know who my host is?
A. Upon successful completion of the on-line request form, you will be redirected to a confirmation website. Provided you have allowed at least 5 days advanced notice of your intended visit, you should receive an e-mail from a member of our admission staff confirming your visit. This will usually arrive within 2-4 days of completing the on-line request form. 2-3 days before your scheduled visit, you will be contacted by one of our three Ambassador Student Coordinators. At that time, they will share your hosts e-mail address and cell phone number. Back to top

Q. Why must I wait until 2-3 days before my visit to learn who my host is? Why can’t I hear sooner?
A. One common thread amongst our student Ambassadors is how busy they are. Our Ambassadors double as writers for the Acorn (newspaper), chamber orchestra performers, interns, members of the ultimate frisbee club team, and part time job employees. They have meetings and practices, papers to write, and classes to attend. Juggling a busy college schedule makes committing to an overnight visit 2-3 weeks in advance difficult for our Ambassadors. Back to top

Q. Should I contact my host or will they contact me?
A. Your host will touch base with you to discuss where to meet up on campus and your schedule for the visit.  If you need to contact your host, a call to their cell phone is usually the best way to reach them.  If you are having difficulty getting in touch with them, it is best to follow your call up with an e-mail. Back to top

Q. Will a tour be available during my overnight visit?
A. Tours of the campus will be available during your visit through the Office of College Admission. We offer a campus tour at 10:00, 12:00, & 3:00PM. It is not necessary to schedule an appointment if you will already be on campus overnight, but it is helpful to arrive 10-15 minutes before your tour is scheduled to depart.  You can register for a tour here.  See our Campus Tour Schedule. Back to top

Q. Will I be able to meet with a coach or faculty member?
A. At Drew, we pride ourselves on the accessibility of our faculty and coaches.  The best way to ensure an opportunity to meet with a faculty member or coach is to contact them  directly in advance of your visit. Courses, practice, research, meetings, and games are just a few of the things that keep them busy throughout the semester.  If you have trouble scheduling a meeting with a faculty member in your academic area of interest, consider staying a few minutes after class to speak with the professor.  They are always more than happy to hear from a student who has an interest in their sport/field of expertise. Back to top

Q. What time should I arrive on campus for my visit?
A. Students coming for an overnight visit should try to arrive between 4:30 PM, so that they can have plenty of time for dinner before any meetings or activities begin in the evening. We recommend contacting your host the day before your overnight to ensure you are clear on your estimated time of arrival.  If you will be arriving to campus after 5:00 PM because of traffic, flight delays, or work schedules, please contact your student hosts’ cell phone to let them know so they can pick up your Ambassador Day folder for you ahead of time. Back to top

Q. Can I have a car on campus overnight?
A. Yes, if you are driving to campus for your overnight visit. Your host will show you to the Public Safety Office (Pepin) to register your car for a temporary parking pass. Please bring your drivers license, registration, and insurance information. Back to top

Q. Should I eat dinner before arriving for my overnight visit?
A. All students who attend an overnight visit at Drew will receive a folder of information at registration which includes a dinner meal ticket. It is recommended that you discuss your schedule with your host so you can establish if you will be eating dinner together on campus in the Commons (dining hall) or the snack bar. If you will have already eaten before arriving to campus, or you will be arriving late, please let your host know ahead of time. Back to top

Q. Is there a place for parents to stay on campus?
A. Unfortunately, there are not additional rooms available for parents on Drew’s campus. Parents will usually spend the night at one of several local hotels. Click here for travel information, including hotel accommodations in the area. Back to top

Q. What is there for parents to do while their son/daughter attends an Ambassador Day overnight?
A. Our location provides a number of opportunities for families while their student attends an Ambassador Day overnight. Those who do not live within close proximity of Drew will often stay in one of the hotels in the area. During the first evening of the overnight, many parents take a trip into the town of Madison or nearby Morristown to sample the many different restaurants in the area. A trip into NYC via the Madison train station (a short 5-10 minute walk from campus) is also not uncommon. Express trains run frequently into Penn Station, which takes approximately 45 minutes. During the morning/early afternoon of the second day, parents will often times join our 10:00 AM campus tour which departs from the Office of College Admission (Wesley House). Registration is not required, though we do recommend you arrive 5-10 minutes before the time of departure. Parents are also encouraged to attend a meet and greet with an Admission counselor when they first arrive or before they leave campus. Back to top

Q. What is a meet and greet and why should I go to one?
A.  A meet and greet with an Admission counselor is a great way for parents and students to get questions answered that a current students may not be able to answer themselves. Therefore, we like to provide the option for families to have some tea, cookies, and conversation with a counselor. Meet and greets can be scheduled when the parent is dropping the student off or when they are being picked up after their visit from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Back to top

Q. Is Drew’s campus safe?
A. Drew is a very safe campus located in the town of Madison, a community of 16,700 people with a vital downtown, an excellent police force, and a low crime rate. Members of the campus community are protected 24 hours a day by Drew’s Public Safety office. Highly professional and responsive, the office is directed by a former New Jersey State Police lieutenant. He supervises a staff of 18 full and part-time officers who provide service to the campus community around the clock, including escort service for students, as requested.The officers are trained in CPR, First Responder, and advanced first aid techniques including defibrillation. Nine officers are also trained fire fighters. Public Safety patrols campus by car, bicycle, and on foot around the clock. They work closely with local law enforcement and fire department officials. Safety and crime prevention are an important part of orientation for new students and the subjects are also reinforced each semester with returning students.  For more information, see the department’s web site. Back to top

Q. Where will I sleep during my overnight visit?
A. All high school seniors spending the night at Drew will be sleeping in their hosts’ dorm room. Accommodations will vary depending on the room setup and dormitory. For this reason, be sure to ask your host what you might need to bring for sleeping arrangements. Some Ambassadors may have a futon,  full size couch, or extra bed in their dorm room. More commonly, visiting students may need to sleep on the floor in a sleeping bag. Back to top

Q. What will I be doing during the first night of my visit?
A. Each overnight visit will be different, but students will get the opportunity to meet a number of different Drew students, eat dinner in the Commons (our dining hall) or the snack bar, take an informal walk around campus, attend student activities around campus including sports events, musical performances, and theatre productions, and take in the dormitory atmosphere. Back to top

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Thank you for taking the time to read our Ambassador Program Frequently Asked Questions Section. We hope you find this information helpful in planning an overnight visit to Drew in the near future! Please email sblackbu@drew.edu if you have any further questions!