Admission: Not Impossible

Kailey Verni: My favorite place on campus is Fenwick Hall…most notably in the fall when the ivy begins to change color. Fenwick is my favorite spot because not only did my first visit campus begin there, but also a huge portion of my HC experience was in this hall. Having been an English and Philosophy double major, many of my classes and professors’ offices were here. I frequented the second and third floors, spending hours talking with professors and learning more about my particular interests. During my time as a tour guide, I spent my fall and winter breaks familiarizing myself with the first floor. Fenwick Hall holds a special place in my heart as a central part of my Holy Cross experience.

Emily: My favorite spot on campus is definitely Cool Beans 2. As an International Studies major, many of my classes are in the humanities, so I definitely spend a lot of time in Stein! CB2 is a great spot to grab coffee with friends, catch up on some homework, or meet for a group project. There are a ton of nice places to sit — I usually try and snag one of the high-top round tables! My favorite thing to get is absolutely their vanilla latte!

Joanna: My favorite spot on campus is definitely the Hoval, located conveniently behind Hogan Campus Center. It’s a great place to take a quick study break or hang out with friends! There’s always something going on, whether it’s bouncy houses during Spring Weekend, or free food trucks on Fridays. The Hoval is where I like to catch up with friends over lunch and lay underneath the tree for a reading break, making it my favorite spot on campus!

Joseph: There are many reasons why Cool Beans is my favorite spot on campus. Most importantly they have some of the best milkshakes and smoothies I have ever tasted! I made it a goal my first year to try each and every smoothie and I have no regrets. Aside from the shakes, ice cream, and awesome ice tea, another reason I like Cool Beans so much is because I always meet up with friends there. Since the shop is in our campus center I see so many people walk by and I’m bound to meet up with one of my friends.

Sara:  In addition to Cool Beans, my favorite spot on campus is the Hart Center Lawn (especially at sunset).  The Hart Center, which is currently being renovated, is at the top of the Hill and has one of the best views of Worcester.  At Fall Orientation, the Mass of the Holy Spirit is held on the Hart Lawn and marks the beginning of one’s time at Holy Cross.  I love to take walks around campus, especially during the summer, as it is not only relaxing, but you experience campus in a new way each time.  The view from the back of Hart, at the soccer field, also offers a beautiful outlook into Auburn.

Hi, my name is Emily Sullivan! I am a rising junior from Sudbury, Massachusetts. I am an International Studies major specializing in Middle Eastern studies and International Law and Global Governance, and I have a dual minor in French and Education. On campus (besides volunteering in Admissions), I am heavily involved in SPUD (Student Programs for Urban Development). Through SPUD, I volunteer at the Nativity School of Worcester, where I tutor and assist the Reading Specialist.  This summer I am working as a tour guide before I head to Tours, France where I will be spending six weeks studying French at the Institut de Touraine.  Next fall, I will be taking part in the College’s Washington Semester Program where I will be interning in the city, taking a course on Public Policy, and writing a 40-50 page thesis. For the spring semester, I will be heading back to France and studying at the Université de Strasbourg!

Hi! My name is Flavia Sula, and I’m a rising senior in the Class of 2017. I’m an English major in the College Honors Program, and I studied abroad at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland for the entirety of my junior year. This summer, I’ll be guiding tours here at Holy Cross, and spending quality time in my hometown of Worcester, MA! For the upcoming academic year, I will be working on an independent thesis, which will focus on medieval gender portrayals in Game of Thrones. Besides working in the Admissions Office, I have led student retreats through the Chaplain’s Office, and been a summer orientation leader for the Class of 2018.

My name is Joanna Aramini, and I am a rising sophomore from Westborough, Massachusetts. I am an Art History major and am planning on double majoring with Sociology. In addition to volunteering in admissions, I am involved in the College Choir and SPUD (Student Programs for Urban Development), in which I am a mentor to a local Worcester elementary student. While I’m not studying in the library or involved in extracurriculars, I love playing intramural volleyball, painting, and playing the piano. This summer, I am working as a tour guide at Holy Cross three days a week, while also holding an internship at the Worcester Art Museum. I will be heading back to campus early in the fall for SPUD training, in which I will be a Co-Program Director for the Boys and Girls Club next year. At the end of my sophomore year, I am planning to study in Rome through our Maymester program.

Hi, my name is Joe Aramini, a rising sophomore from Westborough, Massachusetts. I am History major with a classical Archaeology minor. In addition to guiding tours, on campus I volunteer at the Boys and Girls club through SPUD (Student Programs for Urban Development), I am a midshipman in the NROTC battalion, and next fall I will be a resident assistant. This summer I am excited to be giving tours in June, July and August until reporting for resident assistant training. At the end of sophomore year I would like to do a Maymester in Rome and then get a spot on the Archaeological dig in Poggio del Molino.

Hi, my name is Kailey Verni, 2016 grad from the College, double major in English and Philosophy. My hobbies include hiking, practicing yoga and reading. I am from East Setauket, NY. This summer I plan to work in the Admissions Office and finish my yoga teacher training certification. This August I will begin my year as a JV in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in Los Angeles, California and will return in the Fall of 2017 to begin my first year of law school at Suffolk University in Boston.

Hi, my name is Mitchell Axelson and I am a rising junior from Holden, Massachusetts. I am an econ major and participate in the pre-business program. Besides volunteering for admissions, I am a resident assistant and play club tennis. I will be giving tours throughout the month of June before working as the site leader at Camp Tenacity ( a free program for Worcester children that provides tennis instruction and help with reading skills). Next year I will be on campus during the fall semester before spending the spring semester in the first year of the New York Semester Internship program, which is modeled after our popular Washington DC Semester.

Hi, my name is Sara McLean and I am a rising senior from Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania and an Architectural Studies Major.  Upon my first visit to Holy Cross, I felt the sense of community and knew that I was called to be a part of it.  Many of my experiences through the Chaplain’s Office have helped me to make Holy Cross a second home and find the community that I felt when I visited. I have been a part of the Women’s Spirituality Group, Magis, and traveled to Beards Fork, WV and Narrows, VA, as a part of the Spring Break Immersion Program.  I am also a part of Gateways Summer and Fall Orientations, Agape Latte, Relay for Life Planning Committee, and Student Programming for Urban Development, as a volunteer at the Nativity School of Worcester.  In my free time, I love to cook, bake, and explore new places and  I have a passion for design and often watch HGTV and the Food Network!  This June, I was a part of the Summer Gateways Orientation Team, and I will be working as a Summer Tour Guide in Admissions throughout July.

Hi! My name is Joe Cataldo and I am a rising Junior from North Andover, Massachusetts. I am a Political Science major with a concentration in Peace and Conflict Studies. Besides giving tours, I am also a head greeter for Liturgical Ministry. I am also involved with retreats and spring break immersion trips through Campion House and participate in various intramurals. Additionally, I volunteer  through SPUD (Student Programs for Urban Development) at Friendly House which is an after school program for generally elementary school kids. I got back from a Maymester in late June. My Maymester was called Memory and the Holocaust in Central Europe in which we traveled to LIthuania, Poland, Czech Republic, and Germany to see how the Holocaust is memorialized and remembered in these different places. I will be working as a tour guide for the month of July and part of August, until I head down to DC to participate in the Washington Semester. In DC, I will be interning at the National Fisheries Institute, taking a class in public policy, and writing a 40-50 page thesis.I am so excited to be back at Holy Cross and eager to spread my Purple Pride!

This is the last part of our “Why I Chose Holy Cross” series! Thank you to all who participated, and I hope you have a lovely weekend! We wish our admitted students all the best as they make their decisions!

Lynn Verrecchia: To start, it made sense on paper. The size, location, distance from home, academic programs, and study abroad opportunities made it a “match.” So, Holy Cross made it onto my “to visit” list. I can’t say I enjoyed visiting colleges. While I was excited by the new opportunities college life represented, I was nervous to leave my “small pond” and really struggled with the notion of leaving my family and friends behind. I toured a variety of schools and spent most of those visits too distracted and anxious to take in much valuable information. My excitement to panic ratio solidly registered at 10:90. The minute I set foot on the Holy Cross campus, that all changed. 10:90 flip flopped to 90:10, with excitement trumping panic in an instant. Something just clicked. It’s not that it felt safe or reminded me of my high school–it didn’t. But even on that first visit, I just knew it was a place that could, and would, feel like home. Many of the students I interview describe a similar feeling of “just knowing” when they drive up Linden Lane for the first time. They’ll often start their statement with, “this might sound silly, but…” And I smile, nod, and implore them to continue with this familiar tale. After graduating from the College, I had about 2 1/2 years of admission experience when I learned of an opportunity to work in Admissions at Holy Cross. The chance to do something I loved professionally at a place that meant so much to me personally, was more than I had ever hoped for.

Kirsten-Gail Vanhorne: Why did I choose Holy Cross nearly five years ago? Definitely for similar reasons to that of current students and alumni: tight-knit community, challenging academics, great professors, beautiful campus, “the feeling,” and that personalized experience. The decision to attend Holy Cross, as important a decision as it was, seemed rather simple. I believe that once you know, you know….and I knew. At that point, the campus had already begun to feel like home, and I was already envisioning myself as a student. I imagined learning from great intellectual minds, serving as a leader on campus, and taking part in many different social activities. Throughout my college search, I knew I wanted to be challenged academically, but I also knew that I wanted an environment where I could grow, learn, and be involved in service. In my mind, Holy Cross stood out as a place where the education gained and the opportunities available couldn’t compare to anywhere else.

With a little more than a week until the National Enrollment Deadline, I wanted to share more of my colleagues’ stories on how they decided to attend the College of the Holy Cross. Here is what Tom had to say:

I was looking at Catholic schools, and I knew I wanted a small liberal arts college, but I was also drawn in by the big Division-1 sports program. I had been familiar with Holy Cross’s academic reputation and had seen the campus at various soccer and basketball clinics I attended throughout my youth. The more I visited and got to know the culture, and feel the deep care and concern that everyone expresses for one another, the more I became convinced that Holy Cross was the school for me. I had a great experience in my undergrad years. I have many fond memories on the Hill, and seeing the familiar sights of campus always puts me in a good mood. I knew it would be a welcoming and accepting environment, and I thought it would give me the opportunity to give back to an institution that has given me so much. (Also, I dig that we can use the gym on our lunch break.)