Accepted Student Day 2026

On Sunday and Monday, April 12 & 13, we welcomed new penguins and their families to Accepted Students' Day. As they arrived, they were greeted in the parking lot by Admission Ambassadors with signs congratulating and welcoming them. Some new students said it was a great first impression and really eased their nervousness about being here. While all were excited about attending, being here made it feel more real. Watching the new families walk the short distance from their cars to the front door showed them starting to feel more comfortable, included, and excited.

Sunday evening included an introduction of the Admission Ambassadors, and each one spoke about why they chose MSSM and what they love about it. After the introduction, the new families joined us for dinner and then a dessert social in the Learning Center. During the social, there was a "Community Connections" game where parents tried to talk to as many other parents as possible, and the students did the same with other students. Icebreakers always seem silly, but it "forces" people to talk to others, and we saw many new parents pulling out their phones to exchange numbers.

The final activity on Sunday night had the parents and students split up. The parents asked current parents and faculty questions and learned some valuable tips about the transition from having students at home to having them not at home all the time. While the parents had their Q&A, students played Minute to Win It in the gym and really started to bond. It was easy to see real friendships forming that will help in the fall. New students spent a lot of time with Admission Ambassadors, many of whom are non-seniors and will be here in the fall. During the final words on Sunday, one new student said she could see herself here and couldn't wait for the fall.

Monday started with breakfast in the dining hall, followed by two class periods of either actual classes or mock classes for teachers who have a class during a different period. The new penguins were excited to see all the opportunities waiting for them and began to find their academic fit. Many students seek us out because they are not challenged at their sending schools, and we definitely offer a challenge. No one asks for more homework at MSSM.

While the students were in classes, parents asked questions about dorm life to the Community Panel, which consisted of current and prospective Residential Assistants, along with the Student Life Coordinator, Mr. Justin Kinney, and the parents of a current sophomore. Dorm life is the biggest change for most students coming here, but everyone made them feel at ease by answering real questions honestly and talking about the MSSM community. Years ago, a student said dorm life is like having 100 of your closest friends in your living room.

After the panel and session on academics, everyone came together for the Great MSSM CookOff, where students had limited ingredients and had to come up with the best dish possible. It was a great team-building exercise, and the groups had some tasty creations. The pace didn't slow down after that, with students joining us for lunch and then a scavenger hunt around campus and a musical showcase in the auditorium. After the closing remarks, everyone left with confidence about the next steps and eager to return in late summer.