Admissions Staff – Page 35 – Admission: Not Impossible

October 10, 2008

College Fair Information Cards

Suzanne
So you’re at a college fair and you see a representative from Holy Cross. You’ve already visited, interviewed and come to our October Open House and so you ask yourself “what’s the point of stopping by the table and filling out one of those information cards? I’m clearly already on the mailing list.”

Well guess what, there’s more to those little cards than just adding you to our mailing list and sending you our glossy viewbook. And the point is what most colleges call “demonstrated interest”. Most schools you’re looking at track all of the times you’ve made contact with the college and add it to your admissions file. So when you apply we find glowing recommendations, your high school transcript, your college essay and a list of all the times you’ve taken a tour, attended an open house, met with us at your high school, and taken advantage of an interview or Day Visit.

The biggest way that demonstrated interest can help you with the college process is that the more time you spend engaged in conversation with college admissions staff and visiting the campus, the more you get an idea of what a particular school can offer you. By sitting in on classes, taking advantage of an interview, taking a tour or attending an Open House, you get a real first-hand glance of a particular campus climate. Ultimately, this will help you to determine which school is the best fit for you.

One thing to keep in mind is that not all colleges value demonstrated interest the way we do. It’s a good idea to ask every college that you’re applying to what their policy is regarding demonstration of interest.

See information on our visit options.

We hope to see you on campus soon!

Suzanne R. Timmons
Assistant Director of Admissions

October 7, 2008

Visiting Campus

Amanda Hello from Oklahoma City!

Travel season has been busy. In the last two weeks I’ve been through Texas, Arkansas, and now Oklahoma. A question that’s come up several times is, “How do I plan a visit? Do I have to call ahead?” Visiting is one of the most informative ways to decide whether or not a college is right for you. Most schools do not require you to call ahead to let them know you would like to go on a tour or attend an information session. All you have to do is show up in the Admissions office! The exception to this is if you would like to have an interview or sit in on some classes. These types of visits require you to call at least two weeks ahead of your visit to schedule a time. It’s usually possible to visit two schools in one day, so get out those maps and start planning your road trip
!

Amanda Juriansz
Assistant Director of Community Outreach

October 7, 2008

Open House Reflections – Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions!

Julia_2
Thanks to all of you who came out to Open House on Sunday, October 5th.
It was so nice to see all of your smiling faces (sometimes for the second or third time!) And, for those of you who missed it – fear not! We’re holding a second one on November 16th, from 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM. You can register in advance online.

Open House is our “one stop shop” for experiencing life at Holy Cross. You and your family can take a campus tour; sit in on faculty, student, and admissions panels; talk to representatives from various clubs, organizations, and athletic teams; and most importantly, sample the food!

And now for some reflection and advice:

While I spoke to many wonderful students and parents with many wonderful questions, at times it felt like I wasn’t getting enough questions. I left Open House wondering if I somehow came across as more intimidating than I had previously considered. I mean, I suppose the hefty 6’4 stature, guns of steel, and world champion logger status could throw you, but I’m actually quite warm and smiley when you get to know me. I kid, I kid (I’m actually rather lanky and clumsy), but I kid to drive home my point: Colleges host Open Houses and other similar programs specifically to give you the opportunity to get your questions answered. We know that trying to decide on where to apply to college can be a very overwhelming and stressful process. And the guidebooks, independent counselors, school counselors, and best friend’s sister’s of the world only know so much. So be smart consumers, and take advantage of the people in the know. We are here to help. And we are not scary.

Julia Sanders
Admissions Counselor

October 7, 2008

The Best College Visit Ever

Drew
The last few weeks have certainly been a blur as all of us in the Admissions Office have crisscrossed the country visiting high schools, meeting with guidance counselors and chatting with perspective students. Regardless of what city we’re in, one thing stays consistent for all of us – they’re just aren’t enough hours in the day to get all of the work done. In that way, we have something in common with all those high school seniors that we are meeting with on the road – many of them seem overwhelmed by the combination of the commitments in the classroom and the pressure of the application process. There simply isn’t enough time to get it all done and this carries over into their college visits. The family pours out of the car, runs to catch the tour, the information session and then sprints back to the car to make it home to write essays and finish homework.

I’m here today to call upon everyone just to slow down.

Seriously – slow down.

Holy Cross alum and former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins said the following about education:

Although teaching and learning themselves have been motorized by the hyper-pace of information, it is good to remember that the true tempo of education has always involved a deceleration. . . . a shift from the urgencies and demands of the world to the more leisurely pace of discussion, the cadence of study and reflection, the seeming stop-time of engrossed thought.

So, when visiting colleges this fall, instead of sprinting from car to tour to info session to car, you should encourage your family to simply slow down. Schedule your visits so there’s enough time to linger, to truly experience a college. The most valuable insight from a college visit often comes when you’re not looking for it – a door held for you when you least expect it; the friendly smile from a professor who passes you on the sidewalk; or an inquisitive student’s question in the classroom as you walk by. You’ll only notice these if your pace is leisurely and you just might experience the best part of education – the deliciousness of deceleration.

Andrew N Carter
Associate Director of Admissions

October 7, 2008

The why and the how

Lynn Fill out Common Application? Check! Request transcript? Check! Ask favorite teacher for letter of recommendation? Check! Have mom or dad write a check? Check! Schedule admissions interview? Screeeeech! Wait, what? Do you really need one more thing to add to your endless to-do list? We say yes. At Holy Cross, we encourage all applicants to have a one-on-one interview. We know you’re busy (and hey, we’re busy too!), but we know that the 30 minutes we’ll spend with you is well worth it.

An application for admission contains a lot of information. Most of it falls into the categories of who (you), what (track team), where (school, community) and when (4 year captain!). All good information, but something is missing. The purpose of an interview is to uncover the why (my older sister who I really admire ran track and I wanted to follow in her footsteps) and the how (6 practices a week, rain or shine, even through shin splints) of what you do. As interviewers, we want to dig a little bit deeper to help your application file resemble the true, whol
e “you” just a little bit more. That’s it. No trick questions, no riddles, no puzzles. Just a friendly conversation with someone who finds you (and your shin splints) interesting.

Interviews are offered on campus through December 31. Call us now, and cross off one more thing from that ridiculously long list. We’ll get to know you a little bit better, and maybe you’ll learn something about Holy Cross–and yourself–in the process.

Lynn Verrecchia
Sr. Assistant Director of Admissions

September 12, 2008

Introduction – Lynn Verrecchia

Lynn
Hello everyone! We’re excited for the new school year and for new HC blogs. We hope that you will check back frequently to hear what’s going on in the world of Holy Cross Admissions.

My name is Lynn Verrecchia. I grew up in Port Chester, NY and first came to Holy Cross as a student 1997. I chose Holy Cross for many of the same reasons I hear students mention today, including our close-knit community and focus on creating well-rounded individuals.

I began my admissions career in 2002, and returned to Holy Cross in my current role just over four years ago. I love having the opportunity to talk with students about a college that has played such an important role in my own life. In addition to working with high school students, I coordinate our transfer process, and recently began working with our alumni volunteers.

I live with my husband, a fellow Holy Cross grad, in Somerville, MA. I’ve spent much of the last two years picking out paint colors, and highly recommend “caliente”. True loves of my life include foreign language, travel, cookies and Alton Brown.

My recruitment territories include Texas, Tennessee, Maine, and parts of Massachusetts. I hope to see many of you “on the road”, and others on campus this fall! I truly believe in the importance of finding the right “fit” in a college, and hope that many of you will find just that at Holy Cross. Happy searching!

Lynn Verrecchia
Sr. Assistant Director of Admissions

September 12, 2008

Getting to Know Me

Dianes My name is Diane Soboski and I am an Assistant Director here at College of the Holy Cross. I’m new to the staff, having just graduated with my master’s degree in May. I grew up about an hour east of Worcester in Winchester, MA and am a New Englander through and through. I love spending time outdoors, and especially enjoy being by the water. I come from a family of sailors, swimmers, and beach enthusiasts so I’ve never been able to keep away from the waves for long.

This year, I’m thrilled to be trying out some new travel territories and seeing parts of the country that I have never visited. If you happen to live in: Washington, Oregon, Wisconsin, Nebraska, or Minnesota – I hope to see you on the road! I’ll also be swinging by schools in the Albany/Saratoga Springs area of NY which is not new to me, but an area that I never tire of exploring.

I wish you all well throughout this process. And don’t forget to swing by and let me get to know you better!

Diane Soboski
Assistant Director of Admissions

September 10, 2008

Greetings from the Hill

Suzanne
Hi Everyone!

My name is Suzanne Timmons and I am an Assistant Director of Admission here at Holy Cross. I joined the Admissions Staff in July of 2006 and my experience here has been everything that I hoped that it would be. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been impressed with the Holy Cross students I’ve met and the stories they have to tell. I hope that in your college search you’ll be equally as impressed with the things Holy Cross can offer you.

Life both inside and outside of admissions has been busy these days with preparing for my annual admission’s travel while also helping my younger sister move into her first year of college and preparing for my older brother’s wedding.

Speaking of travel, next week I’ll be hitting the road and visiting with students all over Missouri, Illinois, Maryland, Washington D.C. and Massachusetts. I hope to see you somewhere during the journey.

As you continue with your college search, don’t be nervous of the unfamiliar. You should know that we recognize how hard you work on applications and essays, and we are here to work just as hard for you. Please take advantage by asking as many questions and gathering as much information as possible. We’ll definitely get you an answer, and if nothing more, point you to our fun website. We specialize in helping you find out as much as you can to know if this is the undeniable school for you. Good luck and I look forward to working with you during your college application process!

Suzanne R. Timmons
Assistant Director of Admissions

September 9, 2008

Bleed Purple

Allison
6 mo: purple and white Crusader onesie w/matching bib
18 mo: purple and white Crusader cheerleader outfit
5 yrs: purple and white Crusader sweatsuit
12 yrs: purple and white Crusader basketball t-shirt
17 yrs: purple and white Crusader hoodie
22 yrs: black and white Crusader diploma

I bleed purple. I always have. My father, uncles, and aunts began the brainwashing at a young age. Years of watching football games, attending basketball camps and visiting my sister’s dorm room convinced me that there was only one college for me. As the application process approached, I took the search seriously and visited many campuses. These visits, however, only strengthened my love for Holy Cross. My decision was a no-brainer.

My time spent on Mt. St. James revolved around student government, reading voraciously, and being a Crusader Superfan. I sled on Kimball trays, tanned on Wheeler Beach, and climbed the Fenwick tower (not really). On a daily basis I picked my English professors’ brains during office hours, sought help in the Calc Workshop, and repeated Spanish verbs in the MRC. I attended a retreat, led a retreat and found comfort within the cozy walls of Campion. I studied at Oxford, studied in my room, and studied in the fish bowl. I soaked up everything this institution had to offer and still thirsted for more.

At the end of my four years, I wasn’t quite ready to leave. It’s been nearly two and a half years since I graduated and in that time I’ve spent my days (and many nights) gushing about my experience at HC and meeting potential students, many of whom share my passion. This year I’ll travel to Colorado, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Westchester County, New York and Norfolk County, Massachusetts. I hope to see you in my travels and would love the chance to tell you about my school.

Allison P. Rose ’06
Assistant Director of Admissions

September 5, 2008

Welcome from Alyssa Trometter!

Hi! My name is Alyssa Trometter and I graduated from Holy Cross in May of 2008 where I majored in History and created my own minor through the CISS program in Indigenous Studies. I decided to come to work in the Admissions Office after having a fabulous experience volunteering as a Tour Guide, Day Visit/Overnight Host, and Senior Interviewer during my time on Mt. Saint James. As you probably could have guessed I love Holy Cross and life on the Hill — even though my junior year (which I spent abroad in Melbourne, Australia) was almost as picturesque! I was born and raised in San Diego, California and moved to Gladwyne, Pennsylvania (a suburb outside Philadelphia) before high school with my family. Even though I live in Massachusetts now, I still always look forward to visiting my parents, older brother, and our two Pugs, black Lab and Tabby cat whenever I can. I also love rowing, the color pink (and HC purple), watching cricket, desserts, sundresses, Vegemite and anything involving the ocean.

Alyssa Trometter ’08
Admissions Counselor