We all know the common saying, “first impressions are everything.” In the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, surveys consistently show that a prospective student’s visit experience is one of the top predictors of enrollment.
Those first steps and interactions on campus are often the most influential to students and families considering Marquette as their college destination. In the Class of 2030, 36% of students who made a visit later enrolled. Admissions has always offered a top-tier visit experience — from check-in to presentation to campus tour — and regularly looks at new ways to refine and elevate it.
In the summer of 2026, Admissions embarked on a full refresh of the lobby and presentation room in its first-floor space in Zilber Hall to bring a renewed sense of energy, community and Marquette spirit to prospective visitors. Admissions leadership worked closely with a team led by Karen Parr, creative director in the Office of Marketing and Communication, and Kurt Young Binter, senior project manager in Facilities Planning and Management, to bring the vision to life.
It starts with a spark
A few steps into the entryway, on the gold-splashed wall to the left, is a small graphic element that looks like a burst of light or “spark.” The spark is a nod to the official seal of the Jesuits, and is a symbol of discovery, light and transformation.
“As you enter, it starts with a single spark that represents a student at the very beginning of their journey — taking that first step on their own,” Parr says.
Moving further into the space, the spark follows a line and begins to pop up in different areas along the walls, with clusters of the spark representing the connections and communities a student will form over their time at Marquette.
A warm welcome
Students and families check in at the welcome desk, where they’re greeted by a team of friendly student staff at a refreshed space that unmistakably lets all visitors know they’ve arrived at Marquette.
“The old space had some blue and gold, but this new design is bold and more aligned with our brand,” says Kate Bracciano, director of admissions visits and special programs. “One of the reasons students tell us they choose Marquette is because of the strong sense of school pride and spirit, so integrating our colors more intentionally can start to build that affinity right away.”
The discovery walls are an introduction to the energy and culture of campus
To engage visitors while they wait for the presentation or tour to start, the team created “discovery walls,” an immersive nook in the lobby that offers different ways to see Marquette.
There’s a sticker wall, featuring a variety of custom stickers that celebrate Marquette’s identity, team spirit and playful personality. Next, the “Meet Marquette” wall features three screens to provide an engaging look at people and places on campus, including student-created social media videos that showcase the student experience. Finally, the “Meet Our Tour Guides” wall displays floor-to-ceiling photos of the group of over 50 tour guides — each showing their own creativity and personality in different ways. Each tour guide photo includes their name and hometown.
“We want our tour guide group to be representative of the student body, and this wall is a quick, visual way for visitors to see where our students are coming from,” Bracciano says. “The discovery walls allow families to see faces and voices and start to build a connection even before their tour begins.”
Be The Difference draws to Marquette’s spirit
“Be The Difference is more than a tagline — it’s an invitation,” Dean of Admissions Andy Schneider says.
The prominent blue wall in the office features Marquette’s tagline in dozens of creative styles, each handwritten by members of the Marquette community. Schneider, along with several admissions counselors, faculty and staff across campus, and even President Kimo Ah Yun, contributed personalized flair to the design.
The very last Be The Difference moniker visitors see before entering the presentation room is written distinctively in gold, with a final symbolic spark dotting the “i” as they officially step into the next phase of their Marquette journey.
Settling into the action
Those entering the refreshed presentation room — where they’ll hear from a counselor about all Marquette has to offer before heading out on tour — will have their eyes drawn to a new, massive photo wall featuring the raucous student section at a Marquette men’s basketball game at Fiserv Forum. “You Are Marquette” spans the wall in big block letters, transitioning the individual student into a room fit for community.
“One of the reasons we’re so successful is because our team and our whole university community mobilize to express to each visiting student that we genuinely care about you and we want you here,” Bracciano says. “This space brings the Marquette story to life. When families enter the room, we are inviting them to imagine themselves as a part of our community already.”
New, custom-built wooden risers offer an alternative seating option along the wall, while rows of traditional chairs still provide ample seating.
Be wowed by the big screen
What some may deem the crown jewel of the refreshed Admissions space is the massive video screen in the presentation room. At 6 feet 6 inches tall and nearly 17 feet wide, the LED screen replaces an outdated projector system and accompanying slide presentation with new capabilities for jaw-dropping visuals, thanks to Eric Benjamin, director of applications in Information Technology Services, and his team. The presentation itself has been completely revamped, with animation, movement and video incorporated throughout each thirty-minute session to keep families more engaged than ever.
“As a presenter, I’m excited to have a more dynamic presentation,” Bracciano says. “We’re not changing the content — it’s all about who we are and what we offer — but the new presentation is an immersive and engaging experience for families, which is a great improvement from what our previous space and technology setup allowed.”
Improvements along the tour route
Outside Zilber Hall, additional changes have been made to enhance the visit experience from start to finish. Subtle improvements, like adding blue and gold welcome signage to the entries of Marquette’s two main parking structures, creating photo moments with a life-sized Iggy and MU letters around the Alumni Memorial Union, and replacing light post banners along pedestrian walkways with updated branding, were completed in the past two years. In academic buildings along the tour route, branding and illustrations (including the familiar spark symbol) were added to tie the sense of community together. Throughout campus, wayfinding signs were added to guide visitors to Admissions and the Spirit Shop. And on the exterior of the Admissions office, a new gateway landmark at the corner of 12th Street and Wisconsin Avenue spells out “MARQUETTE” — offering a new photo opportunity for all students.
“We’re always thinking about ways to improve each step in the visit process,” Bracciano says. “The recent renovations around campus have impressed families, but it’s the way our campus community serves families — inspired by cura personalis — that stays with them after they leave. We now have a strong first impression that’s hard to match, and that excitement will hopefully continue throughout the entire time visitors are on campus.”
The office and tour improvements are being made as part of the university’s enrollment strategy within the Marquette 2031 strategic plan. Concurrently, prospective student visits and completed applications have grown while the acceptance rate has dropped 10% over the past three years.
Admissions invites prospective students and families to schedule a visit. Campus partners interested in seeing the new space may reach out to Kate Bracciano.
