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The Nicholas School welcomed nearly 140 prospective master’s students on Friday, April 1, for the Admitted Students Visitation Weekend.

Over the course of two days, the students learned about the school’s academic programs, and heard from faculty, staff, and current students on topics ranging from academic and professional success to the school’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Prospective students also had the opportunity to engage in discussions with alumni during panels in 51����’s Searle Center and Love Auditorium.

In one session, a panel of five current students shared their experiences with diversity within the school and fielded questions from prospective students.

“I found that people who didn’t necessarily look like me cared about diversity and I was really excited about that,” said third year MEM/MBA Jose Magana-Paredes about first arriving at the Nicholas School. “We might be from different backgrounds, but I found they had the same mission as I do: they wanted to change the world through the environment. I built a diverse community very quickly after that.”

During an afternoon alumni panel, students also heard about the postgraduate benefits of enrolling from former students now applying their skills in the workforce.

“My own Admitted Students Weekend was a watershed moment for me and I always promised myself that I would help future students who would be in that same positon in any way that I could,” said Maggie Monast, MEM ’11, and Senior Policy Analyst at the Environmental Defense Fund.

MEM ’12 and current PhD candidate Justin Kirkpatrick seconded the notion, sharing that “coming to the Nicholas School was the best decision I’ve made professionally in my life.”

Visiting students and their families were also treated to a tour of 51���� Forest on Friday and a closing picnic in Environment Hall’s courtyard on Saturday. Tours of the Nicholas School facilities and faculty labs were also offered over the course of the weekend.