Tales of an Admissions Rep

On the Road Again, Part 10

2009-11-03T15:50:00.000-08:00

Last night, I went to the Lancaster County College Fair at Conestoga Valley HS. On the way there I saw a hot air balloon really close! And, I got to have dinner with my sister, who is a sophomore at Franklin & Marshall College. We went to Panera and it was amazing!

At the fair, I met some really nice people, but I didn't meet as many as I was hoping. We have a lot of applications from the Lancaster County area but I guess there was a big game last night because I didn't get to meet any.

That was my last fair this fall, so I will continue to update as Open Houses occur and throughout the rest of the fall and spring as big things happen! Thanks for all who tuned in!

Open House # 2

2009-10-24T17:35:00.001-07:00

The entrance to the college!

A dusting of leaves!

People walking at the Open House

Pretty trees in Martha Washington Square

Good evening, readers!

Today was our second Admissions Open House! I sadly only recognized one student that I had met at the Gloucester County College Fair, but that's alright. I'm out to make new friends at open houses! Today I got to see Allison Jones, one of our Admissions Representatives who is out on the road visiting high schools in the mid-Atlantic region and I also got to explore the new dining hall with Admissions Counselors Sean Titus and Derek Trott, which was AWESOME! The new dining hall is opening NEXT WEEK! Here's a link to the photos that have been posted of the inside on the website -- http://news.washcoll.edu/events/2009/10/hodsonpreview/

It's nice and autumn-y in Chestertown, so come to the next Open House on November 21st to enjoy it!

On the Road Again, Part 9

2009-10-20T18:04:00.001-07:00

Archbishop Spalding gave me a present!

Hello readers! Last night I was over in Severn, MD at Archbishop Spalding HS's College Night! I met some really nice families, an applicant, a '74 graduate, a former rower of John Leekley's (our current Men's Rowing coach), and the President of Archbishop Spalding! They also gave us Archbishop Spalding umbrellas as a gift for coming to their college night!

I had never been to Archbishop Spalding before and everyone there was so sweet! It was so cool to see the president of the school walking around and talking to the students, seeing what colleges they were talking to. I've never seen an administrator so invested in their students at a college fair.

My next and final fair of the season will not be until November 2nd and I will be in Conestoga Valley, so either I will see you there, at one of our 2 open houses coming up, or around the office!

On the Road Again, Part 8

2009-10-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

My doggy sitting on the top of the couch!

A poster in my high school cafeteria!

Yesterday, I went to the Howard County College Fair which was held at Atholton HS (my high school!!) I got to meet a lot of really nice families, which was a shock because apparently there were a few football games going on that afternoon. I'm glad people took the time out on a Sunday afternoon to visit with us! I saw 2 families I knew from lifeguarding at the Hammond Pool for 7 years as well as a student from Hammond HS that remembered me from when I visited that high school this fall! I love it when people recognize me because I'm sure students meet lots of admissions representatives along their college search. Thankfully because I went to Atholton, I got to come home for the weekend and see my family, which was awesome and definitely made the trip that much more awesome!

Tonight, I will be at the Archbishop Spalding College Night in Glen Burnie, so see you all tonight!

On the Road Again, Part 7

2009-10-16T04:55:00.000-07:00

A little traffic going up to the Delaware Memorial Bridge!

Hello readers! I have been a little busy so I'm just updating you now on my travels. This past Wednesday, I hopped all over Waldorf, MD stopping at Lackey HS and North Point HS. Both good visits for me. I talked to students at North Point HS for an hour! Hope they didn't miss much in class! I was supposed to go to a college fair in Haddonfield, NJ that night but got completely lost on the Turnpike so I never made it. My apologies to anyone expecting us.

Last night, I went to the Gloucester County College Fair and met some awesome prospectives! The drive there was pretty trafficky so I took a picture. At the fair, I was standing next to a college representative that I met at a college fair last year and we talked about South Park, religion, the meaning of nothingness -- it was awesome! I love making friends at college fairs! As far as students, I actually got to see a Washington College student that was home for Fall Break but going to a college fair with a friend. I think she has some bias to us though ;)

I also met a girl who wants to go to WC really badly for English and Creative Writing and we had a long conversation about Harry Potter once she saw my DA necklace! Weee!

I'll be at the Howard County College Fair on Sunday, so see you there!

You know you work in Admissions when...

2009-10-12T16:34:00.000-07:00

...the daily schedule explodes in 6 different directions on school holidays!!!

I met a few really awesome students today during my interviews! Even though it was a really full day, it was totally worth it and it definitely makes my job worthwhile. Not only was I occupied by meeting awesome people, but in between interviews, I was studying the cranial nerves, neurotransmitters, and the subdivisions of the brain for my Biological Foundations of Behavior exam tomorrow. Soooo, I'm gonna be asleep by 9:00pm from complete exhaustion! Oh, a day in the life of a masters student and admissions representative is never over! :)

On the Road Again, Part 6

2009-10-07T17:34:00.000-07:00

Me and my pumpkin spice latte outside of Long Reach HS.

Cool light-up feet at my parents' house!

We put a bat on our lamppost!

Today was another awesome day in Howard County, Maryland! I got to visit Long Reach HS, Centennial HS, and Wilde Lake HS. I met some really awesome students -- some that had heard of WC and some that haven't. I think I convinced a Wilde Lake student that WC would possibly be a good fit for him, so that was exciting! He sent me a thank you email so that was cool! I decided to post a picture of me with my pumpkin spice latte outside of Long Reach HS this morning, and some decorations from when I visited my parents house today!

On the Road Again, Part 5

2009-10-06T14:34:00.001-07:00

Pretty sunrise on Route 50 this morning through my side mirror!

Today I got to travel to my hometown of Columbia, Maryland to do some high school visits! Today I saw Hammond HS, Atholton HS (woo! AHS '04!), Oakland Mills HS, Mount Hebron HS, and Marriott's Ridge HS. Once I got to Columbia, I stopped at Starbucks and got a delicious pumpkin spice latte, which is the most wonderful thing in the world. On an admissions-y note, I got to meet a lot of really nice students and I saw some familiar faces! While at Atholton, I saw a student that came to visit us this August again and I also got the lucky chance to catch up with a Spanish teacher I had senior year there :). I was nervous she wouldn't remember me but she recognized me right away! I was PUMPED! I got to meet 2 students at Mount Hebron that had already visited WC, including one who did a baseball recruit weekend here not that long ago.

Tomorrow I'll be in Howard County again and after I finish my visits, I'm going home to my parent's house to decorate the house for Halloween!

Chaos of the Gods

2009-10-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

Dr. Corey Olsen, English Professor at Washington College

English Professor, Corey Olsen, was on the History Channel's "Chaos of the Gods" documentary examining where JRR Tolkien got his ideas for The Lord of the Rings! I had him for my Foundations of Western Lit class sophomore year of college.

That's the second WC professor I have seen on the History Channel, the first being Ted Widmer in a documentary a few years ago about Abraham Lincoln's fight with depression.

On the Road Again, Part 4

2009-10-04T17:06:00.000-07:00

Hello followers! I got back from the Atlantic Cape College Fair a few hours ago and thought I should report. It wasn't a HUGE turnout, but I did get some interest at the fair. The people doing the fair made us balloons with our college name on them so I took a picture of mine to post on here. I should probably report that I think some of the most common majors I am seeing these days are Psychology and Environmental Studies, which I was asked about today. I've been to Jerset before but never to Mays Landing, NJ. It is a really pretty place and a relaxing drive there too. It was especially pretty now with the leaves just starting to change. I take back the bad wrap that I've given Jersey in the past.

The only thing I didn't like about the trip was that I got a little lost on the way back to Chestertown. I thought I could improvise on Route 1 in Delaware and boy was I wrong. Oh well. Note to self: follow the directions I printed out and don't assume I know the way home ;)

Waterfront Festival 2009!

2009-09-26T13:15:00.000-07:00

A small portion of the crowd at the regatta!

The race begins! And one boat sunk.

The Yellow Submarine lived up to it's name :(

When I mention that WC holds an annual Waterfront Festival featuring a Cardboard Boat Regatta, most people look at me like I'm crazy! So, I thought I'd post a picture or two of this year's regatta so people can see how awesome it is!

On the Road Again, Part 3

2009-09-26T13:10:00.000-07:00

I have neglected posting lately, sorry about that! I was able to make it to the Charles County College Fair on Wednesday, which was held at the fabulous North Point HS. What a great fair! I got to meet sooo many prospectives as well as some applicants, a Chestertown native, AND a '70 grad of WC! I was extremely lucky that day! I got a picture of my booth at the fair!

On the Road Again, Part 2

2009-09-17T12:33:00.001-07:00

One of the information cards we pass out!

I don't drink coffee, so after getting up at 4AM to make it to Great Mills, 2 cans of Coca-Cola was brilliant!

I found Spongebob!

A one-legged seagull!! Aww

Today I got to visit 4 high schools in Leonardtown, MD. I decided that I'm gonna start taking some pictures of interesting things I see along my journeys. Today, I went to Great Mills HS, Leonardtown HS, Chopticon HS, and St. Marys Ryken HS. I met some really good students today and David Hamilton, the college counselor at St. Marys Ryken actually gave me some graduate school tips! So, overall today was a very productive day.

On the Road Again, Part 1

2009-09-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

Good evening! Today I had my first set of high school visits! I spent the day in Huntingtown, Maryland and visited Calvert HS, Huntingtown HS, Northern HS, and Calverton School. I met some really awesome prospectives today and some really sweet college counselors! Here are my top 3 frequently asked questions I got:

1. What do people do at WC, since it's suburban/rural?

Like anything, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. If you're really involved in college -- whether in your major, sports, clubs, greek life, community service, etc. -- you'll have an amazing time!

2. What was my favorite thing about college?

So many to choose from...(1) independence, (2) meeting lots of new friends, (3) cheering for your college at sports games!, (4) dorm life!!, (5) 3 or 4 professors changing my life!

3. Why did I choose WC?

I chose WC for the English and Creative Writing program, though I did end up switching to Psychology (sorry English department!). I liked being only an hour and a half from home...not too far, but not too close. I also really liked the colonial feel of the campus and the history behind the school. I mean, we were founded by George Washington in 1782....the first college founded after the signing of the Declaration of Independence! And, everyone's really friendly!!

More tomorrow after new visits!

Open House #1

2009-09-12T17:10:00.000-07:00

Today was the first of 3 of Open Houses at Washington College. I believe there were about 175-ish students and their families there today. Not only did I get to meet a student from Glenelg High School that I will be seeing again next month on my Howard County recruiting circuit but everyone on campus today got to walk through the first floor of our brand new dining hall & student center -- Hodson Hall Commons!

The first floor of the building contains the student center and The Cove, which is the grab-and-go snack bar. It was great to walk around and explore, even if it is not yet complete! I wish I had brought my camera to post up some pictures! Maybe next time...

And then there were ducks

2009-09-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, my friend Carol Funck '09 came to visit and we went down to the end of High Street in town to feed the ducks! Thought I'd post a picture!

End of the First Week

2009-09-04T15:44:00.000-07:00

Well, the first week back to school ends for the WC undergrads. I got to help train some new Admissions Office student aides this week on how to answer and use the phone, send out mailings, and I've given a few tours. It was cool to meet some new friends, one of which is a freshmen this year that I definitely remembered from all those times I opened the mail to find and classify the bits of her application! I'm pretty excited because next week my grad classes start! I'm taking 2 new classes that I've never taken before:

Biological Foundations of Behavior
Dynamics of Addiction

Those should be awesome. I need to go buy my textbooks next week. We have classes on Labor Day but the Admissions Office lucked out with a day off! 3-day weekend for me! What am I going to do with all this free time this weekend??

Upperclassmen Arrive, Part 2

2009-08-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

Tonight was the All-Campus Picnic! Students, alumni, professors, staff, and families came and it was great to see the Washington College community together for another year! I got some pictures of the picnic and the fireworks afterwards at the stadium!

Upperclassmen Arrive, Part 1

2009-08-30T12:22:00.000-07:00

Greetings! Yesterday, I was able to go out on the town with 2 girlfriends of mine who are members of the Class of 2010 -- Victoria Heydt (Humanities major & RA) and Kirsten Hower (Art History major). We walked down and had dinner at the Fish Whistle, which is the seafood restaurant right on the Chester River. We stopped by Music in the Park afterwards, which happens every Saturday night during Chestertown summers. I thought I'd post some pictures of the fun!

Playfair!

2009-08-27T18:43:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I was able to attend and get some pictures of 2 of our freshmen orientation events! Playfair, which is a series of games on the campus green, and afterwards a 2-man band from Boston called Cahill in Martha Washington Square. The group in the 3rd photo was standing around FREE RITAS ITALIAN ICE while they listened to the band!

Welcome WC Class of 2013!

2009-08-27T18:29:00.000-07:00

Today, the Washington College community welcomed the Class of 2013! I was on the lookout for new friends from the big windows in the waiting room of the Admissions office and it was so great to see the smiling faces of all of our new freshmen and their families! The peer mentors were standing in a group as the welcoming committee and cheered on every oncoming student and family! I was especially excited to see the faces of the students that I either interviewed, gave a tour to, and/or met on my high school visits and college fair nights!