Admission counselor Electa Slater '18 knows what it's like to visit Mercersburg for the first time. Here, she's passing her knowledge, reassurance and interview tips on to you!

When visiting a new school, you might feel excited to explore campus or nervous about your interview. Either way, this visit is your first and greatest opportunity to find out if this school is the right place for you to learn and grow. As an admission counselor and the adviser of Mercersburg Academy’s student tour guides, here’s what I recommend to help you make the most of your time on campus and beyond.

I’ll give you the same advice I give to our tour guides, the Blue Keys: come prepared, but remain authentic. Stay curious and don’t shy away from the unfamiliar. Ask questions while on tour, be eager to share about yourself, and embrace the process. As an Admission office, our job is to give you a clear, in-depth view of our community and what it offers. Your job is to come with an open mind and leave with no question un-asked.

While on tour at Mercersburg, take in the awe-inspiring architecture and green rolling hills, but also keep your eye out for those natural, organic moments of connection. Notice the unstructured meeting places dotted around campus: a circle of Adirondack chairs, our local coffee shop or a dormitory’s back patio. These are the places where students connect, and where many of the most lasting Mercersburg memories are made. 

Watch how our students interact with each other, and with guests. See how they come from all over the world, but share the same enthusiasm and drive. The excellence of a boarding school can be created by its facilities, teachers and academic opportunities, but more significantly by how its students foster a sense of belonging and collective pride. Can you see yourself as a member of this community? 

When you sit down for your Mercersburg interview, expect a relaxed, honest conversation with your admission counselor. This is a great opportunity to share your hopes, passions, and goals directly with a counselor, face-to-face. Advocate for yourself, but also use this time to ask questions of your own. Does Mercersburg share your values? Does it foster an environment that would challenge and support you? Ultimately, is it a place you can call home? 

Don’t shy away from comparison. Many independent schools have comparable bells and whistles: although, with 50 bells in our Chapel carillon, Mercersburg has more than most. As you consider other schools you’ve visited and researched, see if one school in particular resonates and distinguishes itself as your next place to thrive.

Whether you’re on campus for a single day or the next four years of your high school career, we want your Mercersburg visit to feel worthwhile. As you take your tour and speak with your admission counselor, ask yourself: Does Mercersburg feel like the right place for me? Everyone deserves a place where they can feel like their authentic selves. Mercersburg can be that place—one where students are given the freedom to be who they are, and a community that uplifts and celebrates them.