Part of a series of student reflections from Carver's 54th Annual College Tour
By Xavier Kane, Norwalk High School Senior, and Ansley Mompremier, P-TECH Senior
As part of Carver's 54th Annual College Tour, we visited Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey, where we discovered a welcoming campus, a proud athletic tradition, and academic opportunities that could help us prepare for our futures.
One of the first things we learned was that Seton Hall has a long and interesting history. Founded in 1856, the university is named in honor of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint. Its mascot, the Pirate, dates back to 1931, when the university's baseball team earned the nickname following an impressive comeback.
We also learned that Seton Hall is located just about 14 miles from New York City, giving students access to the opportunities of a major metropolitan area while enjoying a traditional college campus.
One of the things that stood out to us was Seton Hall's strong athletic tradition.
The university competes in NCAA Division I athletics as a member of the BIG EAST Conference. Its men's basketball team plays home games at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. We found it exciting to learn about the university's sports programs and the school spirit that surrounds them.
At the same time, we were impressed by Seton Hall's commitment to academics.
The university offers a wide variety of majors and academic programs, giving students opportunities to explore different interests and prepare for their future careers. We learned about the support available from professors and the experiences students can gain in their chosen fields.
Something that especially appealed to us was the opportunity for more personal attention in the classroom.
We liked learning that many classes are small enough for professors to get to know their students by name and provide individual guidance. Having that kind of support can make a difference, especially when adjusting to college life and taking on new academic challenges.
Our experience visiting Seton Hall was both interesting and enjoyable. Walking around campus, learning about its history, and seeing where students attend classes helped us better understand what college life might be like.
We appreciated the balance between a strong academic environment and an active campus community. The combination of school spirit, educational opportunities, and personal attention made Seton Hall stand out.
Perhaps most importantly, the campus felt welcoming. It was easy to imagine ourselves attending classes, meeting new people, and becoming part of the university community.
Overall, our visit gave us a better understanding of what to look for in a college and encouraged us to think more seriously about our futures.
Seton Hall showed us that college can be a place where academic ambition, personal growth, and school pride come together—and where we could picture ourselves belonging.