Admissions

I kicked off my travels in Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio last week. I am excited for this year's travel adventures as I deem myself a “seasoned” counselor and to meet the next generation of students interested in St. Lawrence. Like anything else, travel comes with complications and there is nothing like kicking off eight weeks of travel with a bang.

Packing for 5 weeks on the road. Not easy....

Once again, time has gotten the better of me. It has been a whirlwind of events in Payson Hall and across campus these last two weeks. Our Admissions Summer Internship Program ended, our Admissions Ambassadors arrived, the Class of 2016 was welcomed, and the next thing I knew, my fall travel season was staring me in the face.

While out on tour or just wandering around SLU's campus, I often wonder
which buildings people claim as their favorites. With such a beautiful
campus, there's no way we could limit it down to just one. So I thought
I'd poll the office and see what buildings made the favorites list among
the admissions crew. 

Here's what they said:

After meeting with Jenna, I had a chance to catch up with Ryan and ask him about his transition back to SLU! I am also happy to introduce my new colleague, Ryan Walsh.

Ryan Walsh '12, Assistant Director

I had a chance to catch up with Jenna Farmer this week and ask her about her transition back to SLU, working in Admissions, and what her goals are for her future! I am happy to introduce my new colleague, Jenna Farmer!

 
Jenna Farmer '11, Assistant Director

That is how the saying goes isn’t it? I am embarrassed to say I have NO idea where the last five weeks have gone! Summer in admissions is supposed to be a bit slower right? No events to attend, no high school visits or college fairs. That is what I anticipated when Commencement concluded and a quiet peacefulness fell over campus. And then, the Admissions Summer Interns started and poof, my quiet and productive summer slowly slipped away (along with my blog posts).

First and foremost, apologies are in order for my recent web absence. April proved to be quite a busy month for the St. Lawrence University Admissions Office. We wrapped up our last two Visit Days until fall, we hosted three Admitted Student Open House Days events, and several counselors were in and out on spring travel. Poof, it’s May! April was so busy and went by so fast I am just unpacking from my week of spring travel in Connecticut. I wouldn’t consider myself a seasoned admissions traveler yet but after spending 11 weeks on the road (10 during my fall travel and one for my spring travel), you pick up a tip or two to help complete your travel as hassle and worry free as you can. So, if you’re an Admissions Counselor, planning the ultimate road trip or fun vacation for the summer months with your friends, here are a few quick tips I think you will find helpful!

Last Friday was what we call Mailing Day in Payson Hall. Our entire staff gathers on the third floor and we spend the morning sealing envelops for the next class. It was my first “sealing celebration” and while it took us months to read these files, it took merely 30 minutes for us to seal all the letters, stack them up, and wait for the mail truck to arrive.

Well, there it is. Light. Light at the end of the tunnel! Countless hours, thousands of applications, six boxes of Girl Scout cookies, and many packets of gum later, reading season for the Class of 2016 is complete. Reflecting on my first reading season, now, it kind-of-maybe-really was not too bad, a few late nights and a few weekends, overall, I am quite excited to mail our letters Friday and welcome the next class to St. Lawrence University.