It's that time of year again. I look forward to December every year. Without fail.
And it has nothing to do with Nat King Cole, the latest 'hot' gift (they want how much for that thing?!) or even snow. Although the snow is gorgeous. And plentiful this year.
Nope, none of the traditional holiday fare is the reason for my excitement. It's *that* time of year again. Yes, it's… application season!!
OK, so the thing is… never mind, I’ll just go ahead and fess up now. I might be kind of a nerd.
But here's the thing about application season. It's fairly brief (about two-three weeks in length, once in late November/early December for Early Action and again in February for Regular Decision), it's fairly stressful (admission counselors in our office read anywhere from 100-700 applications in every cycle. Each. Seriously.), and... it's fairly fascinating.
Imagine 500 strangers telling you the story of their life. Imagine learning about their highs and their lows; their trials and tribulations; their childhoods; their formative years; their choices; their strengths; and their aspirations. As a logophile, a ‘people person’ and a reader since birth, I appreciate and value the opportunity to learn about our applicants in their own words. They truly make for captivating reads.
So, really, it depends on your definition of 'nerd.' If I'm a nerd because I enjoy reading about the myriad activities our applicants are involved in, because I share in the joy of the accolades and honors they are winning, and because I love reading 500 college essays - then yes, I proudly declare myself nerd-like.
(Honestly, though, it's incredibly fun - I recommend it.)
Stephanie Tengelsen, Assistant Director of Admission and Communication
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