College Visit Tips

It is a scene all too familiar – several families waiting in line at the reception desk in the HC Admissions Office, parents holding copies of the Boston Globe, waiting to inquire about a good place for lunch near campus.

Here’s a word of advice to all those families who take road trips to make college visits.  When you’re on campus, you’re trying to get a sense of what that college is all about  — what it’s like to live there; what it’s like to learn there; what it’s like to spend four years there.  Take advantage of what you have at hand to get the most out of your short time on campus.  Don’t read the Boston Globe and eat lunch at a restaurant.  Read the school newspaper and eat lunch on campus.

Trust me.  You’ll never forget our mac and cheese.

Andrew N. Carter
Associate Director of Admissions

Meet Your Summer Tour Guides: Mary Jo Coughlin

Mary Jo Coughlin

Year: 2013

Hometown: Brookfield, Massachusetts

Major(s): Undeclared (leaning towards Psychology)

Why I love Holy Cross:  I love Holy Cross because of its excellent academic reputation as a small liberal arts college with access to challenging classes and individual attention from professors.  Outside of academics, I have made amazing friendships that I know will be long lasting. Holy Cross also offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities, a favorite of which is volunteering at the Nativity School,  a Jesuit middle school for boys in Worcester.  Having recently completed my freshman year,  Holy Cross has met my every expectation.

Meet Your Summer Tour Guides: Christine Freije

Christine Freije

Year: 2013

Hometown: Worcester, Massachusetts

Major(s): Undeclared

Why I love Holy Cross: The people. I’ve found that Holy Cross attracts students who are extremely intelligent, but still down to earth. I’ve felt comfortable here discussing everything from academia to pop culture with my professors and fellow students. I’ve loved being at a liberal arts school that values not only grades and numbers, but also each student’s personal growth.


Meet Your Summer Tour Guides: Emily White

Emily White

Year:  2012

Hometown: Holden, Massachusetts

Major(s): History

Minor: Studio Art

Why I love Holy Cross:  Holy Cross fit everything I was looking for on paper, and once I visited,  I knew I couldn’t stay away for very long.  Aside from all of the people I’ve met here, I love the creativity of HC students – whether it be working or having fun: exploring my campus every day, tray sliding in the winter; even working in Kimball Dining Hall.

Additionally, the “May Term” Luxembourg program was an incredible and unique study abroad experience.

Mostly I love that everyone is able to find their passions here, and make them their own.

I’m looking forward to meeting you on a summer tour of Holy Cross!

Tran’s Summer Admissions Tips – Part One

If you’re just starting the college admissions process, you’re probably feeling a little overwhelmed by all the things that you need to do.   Luckily, you have nearly three months to get yourself together and organized for the application process that awaits you in the fall.  Here are some things that you can do to maximize your summer leading into the college application process to better position yourself for a fall filled with less stress.

Tip #1: Visit as many different colleges as possible.

If you have no clue as to what kind of school you want to attend, visit a large variety from technical schools to large schools to small schools to art schools.  See how they feel to you when you set foot on their campuses, and from there you will get a better sense of what is right for you.  Don’t judge a school only by the materials you read.  These materials are marketing materials to stimulate your interest in the school so they’re all going to look good based on the brochures you get.  It’s in your best interest to set foot on these campuses to get a sense of what the place is like behind the brochure.  If you already know that you want a certain kind of school, then visit several different ones in that category.  So if you want a small liberal arts school, visit one near a city, another one that’s in a rural location, and so forth.  There are over 4,000 schools and we are all different from another in some way.  Here is a great worksheet from US News to help you document each institution you visit.

Good luck, and check back for more advice in the coming months!

Tran Kim-Senior
Assistant Director of Admissions
Coordinator of Multicultural Recruitment

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:

DSCN0073

A side view of the Integrated Science Complex.

DSCN0039

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

DSCN0059

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

DSCN0075

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

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

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

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

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