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The New Science Complex

SuzanneTimmons.BLOG2Every spring, I find myself at college fairs speaking with students about Holy Cross. During my conversations,  I can’t tell you the number of times students inquire about becoming involved in the sciences while on our campus.  A few weeks ago our staff took a personal tour of the new science complex on campus. Below are some photos from the experience:

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A side view of the Integrated Science Complex.

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Senior Owen Fenton works on chemistry as part of his Fenwick Scholar presentation entitled “Chemical Body Armor: A Study on Phosphorus.”

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The new labs are designed specifically to promote hands – on exploration.

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The Complex makes high-level science “visible” by utilizing an abundance of glass and natural light in interior and exterior construction.

Suzanne R. Timmons
Assistant Director of Admissions
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Next Steps for Juniors and Seniors

JamesRichardson.BLOG2Seniors … its hard to believe you’re “done”, right? Well, “done” with high school anyway … College in the fall awaits! While one chapter seems to be ending, another is just about to begin! If you’re a high school senior and reading this blog, chances are good you’re planning on beginning a new chapter here on Mt. St. James in the fall. Indeed, much excitement awaits you. There will be new friends to make, a new place to live, new classes in which to engage, and loads of newfound independence. Of course, there may also be a bit of anxiety mixed in with all that excitement too, but don’t worry, we’ve got that covered! Gateways Summer and Fall Orientation is the answer! Your next step is to carve out the time to attend the Summer Gateways Orientation; you’ll be happy you did.

For those of you who are Juniors, your journey through the college search is just beginning. By now you may have visited one or two colleges on your February or April spring vacation weeks, but many more opportunities lie ahead throughout the summer. Your next step: INTERVIEW. One of the best ways to personalize your process is to have an interview with an Admissions Counselor or one of our Senior or Alumni Interviewers. Personal admission interviews have already begun, and are highly recommended for all students who can do them. Simply call the Admissions Office [800/442.2421] to schedule your appointment or for more information.

Whether you are a high school junior, senior, or parent of a student, we look forward to welcoming you here to Holy Cross in the coming months and to share with you many of our success stories!

James T. Richardson
Associate Director of Admission
FACHEX Coordinator
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What is Montserrat?

LynnVerrecchia.BLOG2Holy Cross’ first year program, Montserrat, has been the subject of many questions from students and parents over the past few years. The conversation usually begins, “I read about that program, Mont….?” Though many struggle with the pronunciation (sound it out-it’s easier than it looks!), most are intrigued by its goals and excited to participate.

For those of you who have never heard of Montserrat, or those of you who are excited about it but still don’t completely understand what it is, this blog’s for you.

Learning: Your Montserrat seminar

-the Montserrat seminar is one of your four courses during your freshman year

-it’s a year-long course (other courses are semester-long)

-there will be only first-year students in the class (you may have upperclassmen in other courses)

-classes are small and discussion-based

-students select their top choices (from nearly fifty seminars) and are placed in one of those classes

-some seminars are team-taught by two or more professors

-sample seminars from 2009-2010: The Structure of the Mind, Violence & Non-Violence and Literature & Science

Living: Residence hall life

-first year students are housed in three residence halls

-students are grouped together by cluster (groups of seminars) ensuring that all students in your seminar will also live in your residence hall

-students participate in programming like banquet dinners, documentary screenings, and author talks

Doing: Getting involved in the campus community and beyond

Past students have:

-conducted a memoir-writing workshop to help local high school students find their voices

-organized a student panel discussion about racial and ethnic relations on college campuses

-interviewed Southeast Asian-Americans in Worcester about their life histories

-received special training from Worcester Art Museum curators to lead visitors through an Italian painting exhibition

To learn more, visit the Montserrat website.

Lynn Verrecchia
Sr. Assistant Director of Admissions
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May on the Hill

DianeSoboski.BLOG2May is an interesting time of the year on a college campus. As we’re getting ready to bid farewell to the graduating seniors and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors, we’re also excited about welcoming in our newest class that will be arriving at the end of the summer.  

The students have been busy celebrating at Spring Weekend, studying for finals, and packing up their dorm rooms to head home for the summer. There has been lots of activity on campus!

Here in the admissions office, we’re splitting our time between reviewing the past year and gearing up for the next recruitment cycle. As you walk around the office, you’ll find counselors looking over final numbers and comments from the events that we’ve hosted this year. You’ll also find counselors pouring over lists of prospects, reviewing application data, and trying to determine where they’ll be visiting in the fall. All of this reflection and preparation is done to ensure that we will do the best we can to meet the recruitment needs of the incoming class.

So in the spirit of May, I’d like to say:

  • Best of luck to our graduating seniors! (Especially those of you who have donated plenty of your time over the years to volunteer in our office).
  • Welcome to the Class of 2014! We can’t wait to see on you on campus in the fall!
  • Lastly, to those just beginning their college search, we’ll be seeing you soon!

 

Diane Soboski
Assistant Director of Admissions
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Newest Admissions Counselor Krystle Allen

IMG_6796 - krystleMy name is Krystle Allen and I am an Admissions Counselor here at Holy Cross. Having recently graduated with my master’s degree, I am new to the staff and all too familiar with the college search! My graduate studies degree, in Cinema and Media Studies, turned me into a movie buff. I love to watch old movies and catch all of Hollywood’s new releases at the theater on Friday nights. I am also busy planning a wedding this summer and, while I am enjoying spring at Holy Cross, I cannot wait to be enjoying my honeymoon in Italy! Watch out because come August I will be Krystle Leveille.

I am excited to be a part of the Holy Cross Admissions department and, while I am blown away by the college’s academic rigor, I am even more impressed with the caring and dedicated community. I feel that our job in Admissions is to provide the college with an academic and social community. After being here only a few months, I truly understand how important my job is and feel lucky to be a part of such an outstanding community.

Though I have been living in Chicago for the past year, I am excited to return home to New England. I have lived in the Worcester area most of my life and I am happy to not only help students discover all the opportunities Holy Cross has to offer, but also to experience all that New England and Worcester have to offer.

I hope to hear from any interested student this summer at an info session, interview, or even an e-mail. If not, perhaps I will see you this fall when I travel to Georgia and other great states! Good luck in the college search. I know it can seem like a daunting process, but we are here to help you!

 

Krystle Allen

Admissions Counselor
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Tours Pick Up Again June 1st, But Feel Free to Visit!

LaurenThornton.BLOG2The flowers have begun to come into full bloom and the trees are finally full of green leaves again. Needless to say,  it is an absolutely beautiful day at Holy Cross.  Unfortunately, our students have just finished their spring semester classes and are eagerly (or begrudgingly) spending these gorgeous days locked away in the library preparing for their final exams.  Although our campus tours for the spring semester have officially come to an end, it does not mean that you as a prospective student cannot enjoy our campus during this beautiful month.  If you have some free time and want to visit during the month of May, you certainly may do so.  Feel free to stop by our office, fill out a walk-in visitor form and grab a map of campus to explore on your own.  We are more than happy to direct you and point out some of the highlights of campus to you and your family.

If you would like an official, student-lead tour of campus this summer, our summer tours will begin June 1st.  Please check our website for specific details about visiting this summer.

 

Lauren D. Thornton
Admissions Counselor
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The College Fair: Where Do I Start?

NicoleZervos.BLOG2This past week, I’ve been doing a few college fairs at high schools and at national events. College fairs are a good way to start seeing what types of colleges are out there, but they can also be extremely overwhelming. Students often come up to our table and not know what to do or say. I thought I’d share a few pointers to get you started:

 

 

  • Know that we’re here to talk to you. Our job as Admissions Counselors is to talk to students about our institutions. Don’t be afraid to approach us. We’re all friendly people and we want to tell you why our college is the place for you.

 

  • It’s OK if you don’t know anything about the school. One of my favorite parts of college fairs is talking to students who know nothing about Holy Cross. Often, by the time we’re through talking, they’re signing up for the mailing list and excited to come for a campus tour.

 

  • Go beyond asking about the numbers. While it’s ok to ask about average GPA or test scores, that type of information is easily accessible on the internet or in a school’s literature. Try to make your questions as specific as possible. Ask what makes an application successful or find out what campus life is like, how well the professors interact with students, if internships are offered, etc.  

 

  • Filling out the card does matter. A lot of students who are already on our mailing list ask if they need to fill out an inquiry card. While this is not the case at all schools, we do keep track of the type of contact you’ve made with Holy Cross. We want to give you credit for putting in the effort to talk to us at a fair. Printing up pre-made labels is a quick way to avoid writer’s cramp at college fairs.

 

If you see me at a college fair this spring or next fall, don’t be afraid to stop by and say hi! Ask me a question and I’ll be more than happy to answer.

 

Nicole Zervos ’09

Admissions Counselor
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Why Holy Cross? Community, Balance, Location

TranKim-Senior.BLOG2In case you are still debating whether or not Holy Cross is for you, I want to offer some of my personal and professional thoughts on why Holy Cross is so special and why you should apply. 

The community that exists at Holy Cross is incredibly supportive, nurturing and close-knit.  It is a place where students look out for each other, where faculty members take time to help each student succeed and where administrators take the time to get to know and care for each student.  You cannot get lost here as a student unless you are purposely trying to hide.  Struggle is inherent to the college experience, but regardless of the challenges they face during their time on the hill, students at Holy Cross have always been able to find the support they need to overcome any adversity and succeed.    

Second, you have the best of both worlds at Holy Cross, the excitement of a large school setting and the intimacy of a small school setting.  Because we offer a Division I athletic program, you will find incredible support for athletics and a strong network of fans for our various sports teams.  As I often say to students, you have the feel and energy of a bigger school at Holy Cross even though we are a community of less than 3,000.  It’s a place where you can count on students to proudly don their Holy Cross gear at football games or paint themselves purple to attend a basketball game.  At the same time, you can always count on receiving the best of what a small school can offer you:  one-on-one attention in the academic arena.  In the classroom, you are treated as an individual and as an intellectual.  Professors will not just talk at you but they will talk to you, and you can always expect to have a collaborative relationship with faculty members.

 A third reason is our location in Worcester.  Worcester is the second largest city in the New England region and is an incredible environment for higher learning.  It is rich in culture and industry with residents from all over the world and industries that range from medicine to education to business.  There is a little bit of something for everyone. Such an environment is uncommon for a small liberal arts school, most of which are located in more rural environments.  In Worcester, it is easy to find good food, good shopping and good entertainment among other things. 

I could give you a plethora of other reasons to attend Holy Cross but there’s not enough time.  I hope that these thoughts give you a few more things to consider as you make your enrollment decision.  And of course, I hope to see you on campus this coming fall!

 

Tran Kim-Senior
Assistant Director of Admissions
Coordinator of Multicultural Recruitment
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Open House Reflections

AnnMcDermott.BLOG2Open House for admitted students may just be my favorite day of the year.  Why?  The excitement, energy and enthusiasm of all who participate create an atmosphere that is well, electric.  On Sunday, April 18th, 550 students arrived on our campus, along with parents and assorted other family members.  They were greeted by an army of Holy Cross student volunteers.  The Crusader (our mascot) also greeted our guests, offering souvenir photo ops. Faculty and staff were on hand to describe programs and answer questions about what makes the Holy Cross experience unique. But for a passing downpour, it was by all accounts, a great day.  To those of you who attended Open House, thanks for coming!  We hope you enjoyed your time on campus. 

If you were unable to attend the program on Sunday, there are still visit opportunities available to help you get a better sense of what Holy Cross is all about. Tours are offered Monday –Friday at 10, 12, 2 and 3.  Information sessions are also offered in April at 11:15 and 1:15.  We encourage you to take advantage of a visit to campus as you weigh your college options. 

Hope to see you soon!

 

Ann McDermott
Director of Admissions
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The Perfect Burrito

6a00e54ed0db8e8833010536f8f30b970b-800wiRecently, I was at Tortilla Sam’s (Worcester’s finest establishment for Mexican food) and I began thinking about the perfect burrito.  What makes a burrito the perfect burrito?  Is it the ratio of rice to beans?  Is it the freshness of the salsa?  Or perhaps it’s the texture of the tortilla?

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that a burrito is comprised of so many components, so many complementary parts, that it’s impossible to identify which one plays the largest role.  Put differently, you don’t know what makes a burrito the perfect burrito until you taste it and even then you’re unlikely to know why it’s perfect – more likely, it’s the precise combination of all the assembled parts.  In addition, perhaps we all have our own unique tastes which dictate what will make a burrito perfect for each and every one of us.  The perfect burrito for one person might be far too spicy for someone else. 

As the days tick by on April’s calendar and we move closer to the May 1st deadline when all admitted students must decide at which college to set up their futons and mini-fridges next year, let’s remember the lesson of the burrito.  Colleges are complex and complicated homes for living and learning and they can’t be summed up in a sound bite nor summarized in a Facebook posting.  The best way to identify the perfect college is to think for yourself and know that when it happens, you won’t know why – you’ll just know that you’ve found the perfect college for you.  In the meantime, keep an open mind and keep the salsa off your shirt.

 

Andrew N. Carter
Associate Director of Admissions