February 1st Regular Decision Deadline + Sealing Decision Letters in mid-March = Crunch Time in Payson Hall!

Application review 'season' is well under way in Payson Hall (Yes, it's actually a 'season' for us).  I speak on behalf of our entire office when I say it is quite a privilege to read the academic achievements, athletic and co-curricular accomplishments, jobs, internships, travel opportunities, and inspiring personal statements of potential Laurentians...aka The Great Class of 2014!  For those of you who were accepted through Early Decision and have enrolled, congratulations!  Here is a link to see an updated list of your classmates:  http://www.stlawu.edu/admis/2014.html

Do you often wonder what exactly happens to your application once you press the "submit" button?  A few days after our Regular Decision deadline, I snapped a few photos to give you a glimpse....

First, applications are downloaded from the computer and printed.  They are all sorted, date stamped, and matched with pieces of mail.  I took this picture yesterday, which was a very "light" day of mail that arrived: 

Next, application pieces head to data entry, where they are entered into our computer system: 

At the same time, folders are assembled.  Below you can see one of our student workers, Andrea McCoon '13, from Camden, NY, hard at work:

Next, complete files are ogranized and placed on the filing shelves: 

Then, admissions counselors begin reading files!  Here you can see Kevin Mathes reading away.  (All applications are reviewed at least three times by three different people before a decision is made).

The hardest part of the college decision process is the waiting game.  We are working as diligently as we can so we can get decisions in your mailboxes by mid-March.  Time for me to get back to reading!! 

- John

P.S.--a sure sign it's February in Canton...there is sand EVERYWHERE!