Whew! That was a long and exciting process. Breaking news from the Holy Cross Admissions office….. committee is over and all (but for a few) decisions have been made! Letters will be mailed at the end of the week; keep an eye out for the postman!
Amanda Juriansz
Assistant Director of Community Outreach
The other day, our receptionist Mary poked her head into our committee room where we were all sitting in the dark reviewing applications. Twelve sets of eyes eagerly looked over to see who she would be calling out for a phone call.
Was it the counselor from Minnesota that I was hoping to speak with about an applicant? Or the catering company for Lauren regarding our upcoming counselor tour? The community based organization that was looking to set up a tour this spring with Amanda?
As Mary said, “Excuse me, Father Markey, I have Bob Cousy on the phone for you”, the rest of the staff realized that none of our calls (as exciting as they may be) would live up to hearing from an NBA Hall of Famer. Just another day in the Holy Cross Admissions Committee room…
Diane Soboski
Assistant Director of Admission
We’re in committee. For three more weeks, the twelve members of the Admissions committee will meet in an impossibly small conference room (pictured below) to discuss and debate the 7,350 applicants for the Class of 2015. Despite its small size, our “home” for the next several weeks is well equipped with all the things we need to do our work. Lap tops, projectors, and a document imaging camera are essential to our process, and the way in which we do our work. But the two most critical items without which committee members could not function: coffee and snacks. Experience has shown that a fully caffeinated, well fed committee is a productive committee. So far, we’re doing well. We’re actually running a little ahead of schedule. Maybe it’s the coffee.
Ann McDermott
Director of Admissions
I’ve just stepped away from all the Deadline Day festivities here in the Admissions Office at Holy Cross (sorry for all the noise) so I’m going to make this entry brief. I have to rush back to the party as the Deadline Day piñata is just about to get smashed. If I don’t get there in time, everyone else will gather up all the AP Bio’s and captains of mock trial before I get any.
For the most part, our Deadline Day celebrations are probably much like the ones that you’ve had your entire life – we show up to the office in our jammies, sprint around the file room looking to see what the Deadline Day elves have left us while we’ve been sleeping. It really is quite a thrill.
But, more importantly, Deadline Day reminds us that we’ve got a big job ahead – logging all these applications and documents into the computer system, reading them and then voting a decision. Tough work, indeed, but one we’ve been looking forward to all fall.
Oh, wait, I’ve got to run. I can hear the rest of my co-workers beginning to sing my favorite Deadline Day carol – O Deadline Day. Will you sing it with me? (remember, it’s sung to the tune, O Christmas Tree . . . or O Holy Cross, whichever you like)
O Deadline Day! O Deadline Day!
More a postmark than an actual day.
O Deadline Day! O Deadline Day!
PC, Mac or handwritten.
From near and far students submit
Letters of rec and transcripts.
O Deadline Day! O Deadline Day!
Reading them all to find a fit.
Andrew N Carter
Associate Director of Admissions
Winter is officially upon us. In fact, just yesterday, Holy Cross enjoyed its first official “Snow Day” since 1997. In Admissions, the arrival of winter shifts our focus from interviewing, to filing and reading applications. To commemorate this shift, I wanted to share a few scenes of the season with you. Enjoy!
Amanda Juriansz
Assistant Director of Community Outreach
The gifts have been exchanged, and the resumes and recommendations arranged, but have you clicked submit or put your application in the Postman’s mitts? Many of you have, we’re sure (because your applications are now on our desks), and so we’re saying, ” ’tis the season”, for reading the application you’ve assembled.
In a few days we’ll shut the doors of the admissions office, and gear up for reading all of your applications. For this, we’ll need supplies. There are many components that allow us to have a successful reading session. I thought I’d share with you my recipe:
50 applications for admission; 25 early decision, 25 regular admission
1 sharp or refillable mechanical pencil
1 eraser stick
1 calculator
1 pack of post-it flags and memos
1 highlighter
1 reader evaluation pad
1 box Krispy Kreme donuts
40 ounces of coffee (not shown here)
Pull the first application from the top of the stack. Sift through the transcript by reading honors and AP courses, as well as grades. Using the mechanical pencil, transfer data from the transcript, Counselor and Teacher recommendations and essay on to the reader evaluation pad. Have calculator, eraser stick, highlighter and post-it flags nearby, just in case. Place Krispy Kreme donut (or, donuts) in microwave oven for 20 seconds on medium heat; consume slowly to savor the full flavor and flair of the application. Add final thoughts and enjoy.
Best of luck with the home stretch of the application process everyone. We’re excited to “devour” your applications!
Jim Richardson
Associate Director of Admissions
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…or so they say. With the busy holiday season quickly approaching, we all have a lot on our minds – what present to buy Dad, what to wear to that holiday party next weekend, where to spend New Year’s Eve…w and the list goes on. While most of us are stressing about these menial details, all of you high school seniors are most likely stressing about the ever-looming college application deadlines. I won’t preach to you about the importance of meeting said deadlines, but instead offer a friendly reminder of our upcoming deadlines:
December 15th – Deadline for EARLY DECISION applications
December 29th – Deadline for ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEWS (Regular Decision applicants)
January 15th – Deadline for REGULAR DECISION applications
February 1st – Deadline for FINANCIAL AID applications
Hopefully these deadlines will allow you to plan ahead and enjoy this busy time of the year. Have a wonderful holiday season everyone!
Lauren D. Thornton
Assistant Director of Admissions
I submitted my Regular Decision application way back in October, why will I not hear the decision until April?
Great question. Although math is not my strong suit, I will put on my Stat. Hat and consult with the Fraction Faction to provide you with an answer:
Holy Cross will receive roughly 7,000 applications this year. Each application is carefully read by two members of our thirteen member admissions staff between January 1st and February 15th. Therefore, each counselor must read ((7,000 apps x 2 reads)/12 counselors) applications over that six week period. I will not go any further with the math in terms of applications read per day, but I will note that a typical 5 day/8 hours a day work weeks go out the window in the Admissions world during reading season (and travel season for that matter).
So, why don’t we hear on February 15th?
Full of great questions, are we? Well, the process does not stop after reading season is over. Our twelve person Admissions staff then goes to Committee through the end of March to revisit every single file to make our final Admissions decisions as a group (majority rules – all votes counted evenly). Therefore, (12 counselors discussing 7,000 apps/6 weeks) = (396 cups of coffee/x bathroom breaks)+(8,326 insightful questions asked + 178 Counselor calls) A.K.A. The creation of the Class of 2015.
So, please remember that we are working on par with Santa’s elves this holiday/application season before you pick up the phone to inquire if we have made a decision on your Regular Decision application yet. My advice: Munch on Holiday cookies, enjoy time with your family and friends, and leave the application stress to us.
Dan Weagle ’08
Admissions Counselor
November was an exciting month full of unpredictable weather, the beginning of college basketball season, and the Perspectives program put on by the admissions office here at Holy Cross. This is after all my favorite time of year and I was able to capture all of the glory in one weekend with Perspectives and the Holy Cross Crusader Men’s Basketball home opener. Perspectives is a program designed to showcase diversity at the college as well as give participants an opportunity to have intellectual debate, understand the selective college admission process, and envision themselves as members of the ‘Sader Nation’.
Throughout the program, the students were challenged to step out of their comfort zone and have serious conversations about diversity; from ethnic diversity to religious diversity, socio-economic diversity, diversity of opinion and more. Through conversations with each other, faculty/staff and current students they were each able to feel like Holy Cross students for the day and express their thoughts and opinions through rigorous discussion.
We then put the academic discussions aside to witness the Sader Nation in full swing with the men’s basketball team’s home opener against the College of Charleston. Nothing beats the first home basketball game, the stands were full with fans eagerly awaiting our team and new coaching staff looking to predict what the next five months will hold. We came to the game prepared…faces painted, purple, black and white shirts on ready to cheer on the men in the packed gym! Unfortunately the men ultimately fell to the Cougars but the Crusader spirit was alive in our group. I can’t wait for more!
Julliana Jennings
Assistant Director of Admissions
