Admission: Not Impossible

February 10, 2009

Tell It Slant

Emily Dickinson wrote, “Tell all the Truth but tell it slant.”

Today, I offer you the truth with no slant. There are questions that admissions counselors are asked so often and, in response, we frequently reply with a long-winded, slanted answer.

Today, I offer you the truth. No slant.

1. “When you’re reading all those applications, doesn’t it get old?”

Yes, it does.
This is perhaps no great surprise. Do anything repetitively and it is likely to get old after a while.

2. “How do you remember all those names?”

We don’t.
That’s why we take really good notes. And while names frequently escape us, the stories stick with us.

3. “Do you really read all those applications?”

No.
I only read some of them; but, I’ve got nearly a dozen great co-workers. At Holy Cross, every application really does get read and, in fact, read by two different admissions counselors.

4. “What do you really look for in an application?”

Really good grades in strong classes.
Now, that doesn’t mean that we don’t also want athletes, musicians, artists, leaders, good Samaritans, etc. But, inevitably, the conversation begins with the transcript. It is the most important document in the application. It is the cake and everything else is just frosting. And yes, we’re greedy – we want frosting with our cake.

5. “Do you like reading applications?”

Most of the time.
Right about now, after about 5 weeks of non-stop reading (and writing), my hand hurts, my neck hurts, my eyes are dry and I’m just a little bug-eyed from all the small print on these transcripts. And there doesn’t seem to be enough time to read all these applications in my office by our deadline on Sunday.

But, this morning, a co-worker of mine told me about an essay I’m likely to find in one of those stacks, one that she thinks I’ll like and I’m curious. I’m curious what’s inside all those folders sitting in my office, whose story they tell and whether they might be good fits for Holy Cross.

So, after a 12 minute break to write this blog entry, I’m re-energized, ready to dive back into the stacks of applications, ready for more cake, ready for more frosting.

Andrew N. Carter
Associate Director of Admissions

February 9, 2009

Application Reading Period – Monday

This is the first of five blog entries I’ll offer to you – a glimpse inside one week during application reading period in the Admissions Office at Holy Cross.

_____________________

Monday

It’s not personal.

I swear it’s not.

It has absolutely nothing to do with you or your application.

It’s just that when I finish reading an application, I slide the yellow reading sheet inside, close the cover and at that point, I slam it on the ground.

Well, perhaps “slam” is too strong of a word. I’m not Hines Ward celebrating a touchdown. Let’s say – “drop with force”. You see, I like the sound the application makes when it drops on the ground totally flat — a slapping, of sorts.

You may enjoy crossing this off a to-do list for a sense of satisfaction; I like dropping applications on the ground and hearing the slap, signaling one step closer to the end of my pile. Yet, when I wake in the morning, there’s yet another pile waiting for me, as if I’ve done nothing that previous day or as if I’m Penelope from the Odyssey, staying up all night undoing the weaving I’ve accomplished during the day.

So I dive into that new pile of applications early in the morning. I go get a cup of coffee first (milk and two sugars, thank you) and then settle in at my desk at home overlooking my snowy back yard in Worcester. And in the quiet of the morning I read your recommendations, your transcripts, your interviews and your essays.

The essays are my favorite part. Some are funny, some are sad, some are silly and some are serious. But, the common thread that runs through them all is that they are you – a snap shot of your life, taken at a turning point in your life. Sometimes I wonder what you’ll think of your essay five or ten years from now.

You’ll probably think exactly what I thought this morning while I was sitting at my desk at home.

This is good. This is real good. Thanks for sharing.

Andrew N Carter
Associate Director of Admissions

January 26, 2009

Check the Status of Your Application Online!

Wouldn’t it be great if you could check the status of your application online? Oh wait…you can!

Echoing the sentiments of my colleagues below, I too am consumed with “reading season.” While we’re shut away in our offices pouring over letters of recommendation, transcripts and personal essays, we are also aware that you are anxious about your application and what’s happening to it. Over the past few weeks, a lot of you have been calling in to make sure that all of your materials have been received. We’ve heard your concerns, and with the help of our lovely friends in IT, we are happy to introduce a new online system that will allow you to view your application materials checklist online!

Before I get to those instructions, I want to briefly tell you what happens to your application in between the time you hit submit on your computer and we receive your folder on our desk. There are actually more steps involved than one would think and our clerical staff work hard to make sure that every piece of information that you submit is recorded in our records. Here’s a glimpse of what they do “behind the scenes”….

You happily (nervously?) submit your application online or put that big envelope in the mail to us (either way is fine!).
We receive your application. If you submitted it online, it goes into our queue to be downloaded.
Once downloaded, we send this batch off to be printed. (This time of year, we are receiving hundreds of applications daily, so the process of downloading the applications and printing them out can take a several days. Please be patient.)
Once the application and any attachments (essays, recommendations, etc) have been printed, a folder is made for your application.
The folder is then given to one the members of our operations team, and they have the task of entering your application into our system. They will assign you an identification number and create a checklist for you in our system.
We then go through all of our materials to make sure that any information that has been received separately for you (interview write-ups, recommendations, e-mail correspondence that we’ve printed out, etc) is put into your folder.
That information than needs to be recorded in our system.
Your file will then live in the drawers and this process of matching and entering will continue until we have all of the pieces of your application.
When your file is complete, a member of the counselor staff will snatch it up and happily add it to their “to be read” pile that teeters on the edge of each and every desk.

It’s quite a process. Why am I telling you all of this?

Because if you check the status of your materials online and see that we have not received an important piece of your application – do not panic. Do not call the office; we won’t have any more information than you have. IF a piece is not listed as received, it probably means that whatever you submitted is being processed. Please check again after a few days and hopefully it will appear.

It can take anywhere from 3 – 10 business days for this miraculous process to be complete (remember – hundreds of applications are processed every day). So, please be patient and we’ll do our best to keep things moving along.

And now…the Web site link!
To check the status of your application materials, please go to the following link:
https://apps.holycross.edu/checklist
You’ll be asked to either login or register. First time users, please register with our system, and put your login name and password in a safe place!

*Note – this Web site will not provide an update on your acceptance status. It is merely for application materials. All decisions made for those applying in our regular decision pool will be mailed out at the end of March.

Thank you and we look forward to reviewing your application!

Diane Soboski
Assistant Director of Admissions

January 14, 2009

Happy New Year…. Happy Reading?

The New Year has officially begun but this year as I welcomed 2009 I did it with a little bit of hesitation. I have spent the past few months hearing about what “reading season” is like in admissions but did not know what to expect. I had my first full day of reading yesterday and am beginning my second one today. I can honestly say that despite the paper cuts, frequent trips for caffeine, and refilling the lead in my mechanical pencils — I am enjoying it. Each of the applications I have read seems to tell me a story and my job is to present that story to our selection committee. Through your counselor and teacher recommendations, interview write-up, high school transcript, personal essays, newspaper clips, and pictures I like trying to get to know each and every one of you. When I pick up an application for the first time I feel as if we are just meeting each other. As I finish the last page in your file I want to feel like I know a lot about you. As I read each application I ask certain questions to myself, like how will you enhance the Holy Cross community? Will you excel academically? Will you bring something different to the campus? Do you already bleed purple? Do you strive to be a man or woman for others? Ideally, I discover the answer to these questions in time. I can admit if I happen to be reading your application, I am guilty of being a bit protective of my Alma Mater. I want to make sure the students that we accept this year will not only thrive and contribute during their college years but will continue to do so after their time on the hill has ended. You may have visited, interviewed, come for a day-visit, attended a football game and online chat. I get it, you are hooked, and you love Holy Cross. But do you also care and love for your family, the community around you, and the greater world. Do you want to make a difference after college and work to live out the Jesuit mission? Holy Cross students are a special type, they definitely have the brains but they most undeniably have the heart. Basically amidst all the numbers (grades, test scores, GPA distribution charts, class rank) I really want to see your heart.

Alyssa Trometter
Admissions Counselor

January 11, 2009

Tis the Season….For Reading Applications!

You’ve finally scaled the cliff that is first semester senior year. SATs are behind you, essays are edited, and recommendation letters are signed, sealed and delivered. As you hold your breathe and finally convince yourself to click submit on the application, You’re there. You’ve reached the summit. It’s now out of your hands and into ours.

As you wait, we begin furiously reading your applications and working to make decisions on our applicants. We’re buckled down in the office or at home in some of our most comfortable clothes and each day we read about all of the wonderful things you’ve accomplished in your lives. For me, I love every minute of it. All of the counselors at Holy Cross have spent months on the road, meeting with students and guidance counselors, and conducting several interviews hearing about your high school experiences. After this journey, for me, reading applications is when everything comes together. It’s the first time that I get to see all that an applicant has submitted and all that he or she can potentially bring to Holy Cross. So while it takes a long time to get through these applications, its time well spent. We try to put as much thought and time into evaluating an application as you put into making it shine. Tis the Season, thanks for applying!

Suzanne R. Timmons
Assistant Director of Admissions

December 23, 2008

What’s a verification sheet? Is it important?

It’s about that time of year – applications are pouring in, the phone lines are flooded with calls, and admissions counselors are buried under stacks of files.

You’ve sent in your Common Application, checked with guidance to make sure that they’ve sent along their packet, what’s next?

Verification Form!

Here at Holy Cross we require one final piece of information from you, a verification form. This magical piece of paper will arrive to you in the mail 7-10 days after you send in your application. Enclosed with a letter thanking you for your application, you will find a light purple sheet of paper.

When you receive the form, you will need to do the following:

•    Check over the information at the top and make sure that it is accurate
•    Provide your social security number and birth date (we often have duplicate names in our system, and need to make sure that we can match you to your application)
•    Answer the questions regarding standardized testing, contact with Holy Cross, and limited enrollment programs (*note – we will not use your testing unless you check off the “Yes” box on this form, nor can you be considered for biology or premed with out returning the form)
•    Mail the form back in as soon as possible!

It’s simple, quick, and easy! It will take two minutes and I’d highly recommend filling it out as soon as your receive it, before it makes it’s way to that universal “to be answered” stack of papers in your house.

That’s it from me. Have a great holiday, and enjoy your break from school!

Diane Soboski
Assistant Director of Admissions

December 22, 2008

What Happens to my Application Once It’s Been Submitted?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

Well it’s that time of year again. For some of you, this time means finishing up some work before the holiday break, searching for the best deal at the mall or relaxing and spending time by the fire with family and friends. For the world of admissions, it means that reading season is almost upon us.

At this point in time, many of you are probably wondering exactly what happens to your application once it’s been sent to our office. Once your application file is received and is considered complete (it has your application, counselor recommendation letter, teacher recommendation letter, and transcript) it is filed alphabetically in a number of huge filing cabinets located in our office. An admission counselor is assigned to each drawer and is required to complete what we call a “first read” of your application. This requires our lovely yellow reading sheets, in which we record you name, high school, GPA, rank, test scores (if you chose to submit them of course!), the courses you’ve taken, the number of honors, APs, accelerated, advanced classes you’ve taken, the grades you’ve received, and what contact you’ve had with Holy Cross. We also read ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING you send us and briefly summarize each, as well as recording what service, leadership, and extra-curriculars you have been involved in. Once the entire sheet is complete, your application is ready for a “second read” by another counselor. The role of the second reader is much less taxing than that of the first. This second reader double checks the work of the first reader and then records anything else that might stand out. After the second read is complete, the reading of your application is now complete and it is ready to go to our committee!

Happy holidays, happy application completing and happy winter!

Lauren D. Thornton
Admissions Counselor

December 16, 2008

Holiday Greetings

Wishing you and your families the very best this holiday season!

The Holy Cross Admissions Staff

December 11, 2008

I Want an Interview… and I Can’t Get One.

Two months ago I wrote a blog about the importance of the interview. Many of you got the message. You probably got the same message if you attended an information session on campus or if you met a Holy Cross representative at your school this fall. You nodded, you understood, you made a mental note — and then you missed the deadline. Or you called our office recently and found out that we are booked solid through the end of the month. What now? Remember not just that we told you to have an interview, but what we said about why. We want to know you, and our full schedule does not change that fact. But unfortunately, that fact does not change our full schedule. So you may not be able to have an interview after all, but you can still help us to know you better. Some students choose to submit a letter or e-mail “filling in the blanks” that may exist in the absence of an interview. Such letters can provide additional information about accomplishments, interests and passions. They can answer some of the questions an interviewer might ask.

If you write it, we’ll read it. So start filling in those blanks.

Lynn Verrecchia
Sr. Assistant Director of Admissions

December 8, 2008

Taking Time to Reflect on the Application Process

In his commencement address at Kenyon College in 2005, the writer David Foster Wallace began his speech with the following parable:

There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, “Morning, boys. How’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes “What the hell is water?”

Foster’s point was that “the most obvious, important realities are often the ones that are hardest to see.”

In the college search and application process, it is so easy to get wrapped up into the details – deadlines, checklists, forms, supplements and requirements. Taking care of these things is necessary but it can cause students and parents to lose perspective in this process. This process is one that enables – nay demands, reflection and personal growth on the part of the student and that is perhaps the most valuable part of the college search process.

So as we reach the end of 2008 and you meet your final deadlines, submit your final forms and complete your final checklist, stop for a minute to think about how far you’ve come since this process began, how you’ve matured, begun to think and act independently and are now prepared to make one of the first truly adult decisions of your life – where to spend the next four years.

If you take that time to reflect back on this process, you’ll be prepared with your answer if you’re ever asked the question.

“The water is great – never better. Thanks for asking.”