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Senior Year Matters

Hurrah! I’m a senior! Did you say or think something similar in the past few weeks? How long did your excitement last before you became overwhelmed by your seemingly endless to-do list? Probably not too long. Many of you are preparing to dive head first into the college application process, which may be equal parts exciting and terrifying. You might be tempted to let it take over your life, and at some points you might feel like it has.

So I’d like to offer a few words of advice. As you spend time writing your essay, figuring out your parents’ job titles, memorizing your social security number and squeezing in campus visits and interviews, don’t forget to continue being the amazing student and person that you’ve always been. In the minds of admission officers-and certainly those of us at Holy Cross-senior year matters, and it matters a lot. This is the year when you have the greatest opportunity to show off your talents in and out of the classroom. You didn’t sign up for all those upper level courses or take on leadership roles just for show, did you?

As you start to focus on your applications, try not to let school-or life-take a permanent back seat. You’ve worked hard to get where you are, and we can’t wait to see what you’ll do next.
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Newest Admissions Officer, Julliana Jennings

Hi!  My name is Julliana Jennings and I am the new Assistant Director of Admissions/ Coordinator of Multicultural Recruitment here at Holy Cross.  I can definitely relate to the class of 2014 who moved in the Saturday prior to my first day. In many ways, I feel like a first year student at Holy Cross, learning my way around campus (meaning I get lost a little less each day), meeting key people who will be important to my success while here at the college, and mapping out my road to success. I’ve come to Holy Cross by way of Brandeis University where I was a member of the admissions department coordinating diversity recruitment.  I am thrilled to be at Holy Cross and feel extremely fortunate to be able to work with the amazing students, faculty, and staff here and, of course, all of you. Every day I am here,  I am impressed by the warm and welcoming community found at Holy Cross and am excited to contribute to this environment

I grew up in Central New Jersey, went to college in Williamsburg, VA, and now live in Waltham, MA. Exploring the East Coast has been a lot of fun thus far, but I am proud to now call New England home and I look forward to helping you learn more about Holy Cross, Worcester, and New England. I absolutely love working in undergraduate admissions.  Being able to guide high school students through the admissions process is extremely rewarding to me and I can’t wait to meet any interested students here on campus or on my travels to New York City and the D.C./Northern Virginia areas. I know that the beginning of a new school year can be tough, especially one as hectic as senior year, but if you have any questions about the college process along the way, please do not hesitate to ask.  We’re here to help!
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On the Road Again…

When I was growing up, I was always the child who was overly excited for the summer to come to an end and the school year to begin again. The night before my first day, you could always find me choosing my outfit carefully, laying it out on my whicker rocking chair and making sure that every pencil, pen, notebook and binder were in their precise place in my blue L.L. Bean backpack. Although those days are long gone, every September, I still become a bit nostalgic for those magical first days of school.

Even though I no longer have those first days of school to look forward to, I am fortunate enough to visit high school students that do. Although I no longer have to make sure I am at the bus stop on time, I do have to make sure I arrive at my high school visit according to schedule. Before my first days of travel season, I still go through the same routine of choosing my outfits carefully (there is only so much space in my luggage), laying out all the things I need (a good book, my iPod, and of course my GPS to navigate my way through unknown territory), and making sure that every Holy Cross pen, inquiry card, banner and brochure is in its precise place in my black travel bag.  As I go through this yearly routine, I cannot help to feel the same excitement as I did back then at the upcoming days, particularly because I am looking forward to meeting all of you.

Please feel free to visit our website to learn more about Holy Cross visiting your high school this fall.

Lauren Thornton

Assistant Director of Admissions
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Course Offerings at Holy Cross

The semester is in full swing up on the hill!  Fall classes began on September 1st and we couldn’t be more excited for another year full of discovery and accomplishment.  Passing through the music department the other day, the hall was filled with jazz music.  It made me curious about the topic of the course seeing as how it was only the second day and they were already listening to some amazing music.  Come to find out the music department offers several courses with topics in jazz.  Just another fantastic opportunity at Holy Cross.  Take a look at the catalog and see what courses catch your attention!

Amanda Juriansz

Assistant Director of Admissions
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New Admissions Publications

Since you are reading this, you have undoubtedly seen the changes to the Admissions website.  The addition of video and audio slide shows really adds a lot to the on-line experience.  I hope you like these new features!

While we were working on the upgrade to the Admissions website, we were also tackling a redesign of all our print material. It was an enormous undertaking. But now that it is done, I can honestly say that it was well worth the effort.  The new viewbook, the first piece to go out, hit the mail last week.  So far, reaction from students and parents has been tremendous.  Be sure that you are on our mailing list so you don’t miss out…

So what do I like best about the new web and print pieces?  Well, the photography is gorgeous and you really get a feel for the campus. But what I really love is hearing and reading about the Holy Cross experience directly from our students.  Who better to describe the amazing opportunities available here?

Ann McDermott

Director of Admissions
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Back to School, Back to the Blog

The end of August marks a particularly busy time at Holy Cross.  The fresh-faced students are back and the quiet of the summer is behind us.   We’re interviewing like crazy, making the final adjustments to our travel schedules, and preparing to get on the road to meet all of you at your high schools and at college fairs.

Now is also the time we begin posting to the admissions blog with more frequency…so get excited! Our blog is intended to make the college admissions process a bit more transparent, and perhaps a bit more fun for all of you.  Please feel free to navigate our blog by perusing through the archives on our blog’s main page.  By doing so, you can learn about interviewing, essay-writing, submitting your test scores, and a wide array of other admissions specific advice directly from the mouths of the admissions officers that evaluate your applications.

If there is something specific you’d like to hear more about, please feel free to get in touch with me at jsanders@holycross.edu.    Your feedback is helpful!

We look forward to seeing you this fall.

Julia Sanders
Assistant  Director of Admissions
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The Cupertino Effect

If you search the website of the United Nations, you’ll find a fascinating article on African-German Cupertino; in another article, you can read about peace education that stresses participation, problem solving and Cupertino.

Still have time on your hands?  Another search will bring you to an article on political, economic and trade Cupertino in the Balkans.

What is Cupertino, you ask?

Well, it’s a city in California.  But for our purposes, it’s proof that spell-check is not always correct.

You see, early versions of spell-check did not recognize the word “cooperation”; it only knew the word to be spelled with a hyphen: “co-operation”.  Like any misspelled word, spell check recommended alternative spellings, the first of which was the now famous town in California.  Inattentive writers (even in the UN!) frequently hit “change all” without proof reading the spell-check selection.

The lesson here?  Today is August 18th and the Common Application has been available for a few weeks. As you begin working on your essay, remember that spell-check is a handy tool but that your eyes and the eyes of a proofreader with perspective are the only way to make sure that your thoughts come across effectively.

Thank you for your Cupertino.

Andrew N. Carter

Associate Director of Admissions
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Eight Reasons to Log on to One of HC’s Online Chats

1.  Show your interest in HC without having to climb the hills

2.  Ask the question you were too embarrassed to ask during your campus tour or information session

3.  Hear about the “real” HC from current students

4.  Perfect your speed reading skills–our chats move fast!

5.  Get the inside scoop on the admission process from admission counselors

6.  Socialize with other prospective students.  You may be classmates someday!

7.  Work on becoming a master typist.  Those college essays won’t type themselves!

8.  Have your parents think you’re hard at work on your homework when you’re really having a great time with us

Our next online chat for prospective students is Wednesday August 11 from 7pm-10pm EST

Lynn Verrecchia

Associate Director of Admissions
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Meet Your Summer Tour Guides: Ada Van Wyhe

Ada van Wyhe

Year: 2012

Hometown: Reedley, California

Major(s): History, Pre Law Concentration

Why I love Holy Cross: I am in love with Holy Cross because of the vast amount of opportunities that have been offered to me on this campus, and because the entire Holy Cross community has made my education a true living and learning experience.  Coming from over 3,000 miles away, I arrived to Mount St. James not knowing a single person, and I was immediately embraced by the students and faculty on The Hill.  I feel like my education is truly invaluable and that the Holy Cross community is really invested in my education.  I’m excited by the  study abroad programs, the small class sizes, and even just the fact that it’s a solely undergraduate college.  I love that as a community, we are all working together toward our goals – for now, and for well beyond our four short years here on campus.  (And Spring Weekend is a pretty wicked Holy Cross experience, too!)
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Meet Your Summer Tour Guides: Paul Maloney

Paul Maloney

Year: 2012

Hometown: Mansfield, Massachusetts

Major(s): Economics, Mathematics

Why I love Holy Cross:  To me,  HC is all about the people.  Everyone at Holy Cross is so open and so friendly that HC becomes more than a just a college but rather a community.  This sense of community along with an outstanding academic reputation is why I love Holy Cross.