Written by Ellis Meyer
Kiahna Oetken
Kiahna Oetken has been working in Admissions here at University of Northwestern for a year and a half. Just like her coworkers, she gives tours, helps run admissions events, and works to streamline guest experience for every prospective student.
Kiahna’s experience is unique, though. She began working in UNW Admissions as a senior in high school.
Now close to completing her first year as a Traditional Undergrad, Kiahna started her journey at Northwestern when she was just sixteen years old. Through Northwestern’s Postsecondary Enrollment Option, she began taking a full credit load as an Elementary Education Major. She quickly began making new friends, joining various extracurricular activities, and building her community here at UNW.
It was a no-brainer when she decided to apply to work for Admissions when she was a Senior in High School. She was excited when she received the position, because she personally had an amazing PSEO experience. “I wanted to make sure that students knew the full amount of things they could do here, and the kind of community they could make for themselves.”
She was thankful that she had the opportunity to connect with other high school seniors, who were in a similar stage of life. She believes it helped them to hear from a peer who was a senior in high school, already living the college life they were about to embark on themselves. “When I was touring colleges, I had tour guides who were not in similar life stages, so I couldn’t really see myself there. I think the students touring at UNW could relate to me more.”
Kiahna reflected on her own experience as a prospective Northwestern student. She said the biggest piece of advice she could give to any prospective student is to really immerse yourself into the day-to-day Northwestern experience. “Don’t just do a college tour. Our admissions team allows you to visit classes, talk to professors and other students, and go to chapel. Come see what we students experience day-to-day.”
Kiahna is grateful for the experience she has had at Northwestern and wants everyone who comes here to find their own community. Whether you join a club, get a campus job, or become a student leader, there is a place for everyone in the Northwestern community, and she loves that she gets to share that with every student who visits.
