The Admissions Office conducted in-person tours and events for applicants and their families for the first time since the 2019-2020 admissions season. Previous admissions events had been either fully virtual or hybrid due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Associate Director of Admission Julia Kraft said hosting tours during the school day allows applicants to gain a better understanding of student life at the school.
“It’s been nice to have people back in person to have face-to-face interactions, and to have people see campus when it’s vibrant and full of student life,” Kraft said. “Even if [applicants are] coming after school , it’s not the same experience as seeing the school when there are kids during passing periods [or] eating lunch on the Commons. All of that was lost when we had no opportunity to tour during the school day.”
Student ambassadors are now holding individualized tours during periods in the day. In previous years, group tours were held after school in accordance with social distancing guidelines. Student Ambassador Co-Chair Ellie Whang ’24 said it is important for applicants to be able to experience the campus before applying.
“The in-person tours will just be better in so many different ways,” Whang said. “Communication is one thing, but also being able to physically be on campus and imagine yourself there, that’s something that I think about when I’m going on college visits. It’s lower stakes when you’re applying to middle school, but [it’s] still something that is super important as you’re applying to see [if] this somewhere where I can fit in and see myself.”
Student Ambassador Co-Chair Tali Grule ’27 said she prefers to give individual tours to applicants as opposed to group tours.
“Individual tours are so special because as a tour guide, you form a connection with the applicant,” Gurule said. “I always try to show the student how they could explore their unique interests at Harvard-Westlake. I love to see a student’s eyes light up when they discover Saperstein Theater, the field or somewhere else where they can shine.”