Admission: Not Impossible

Well what are you waiting for?!  There are still lots of opportunities to have a personal interview through the admissions office.  Holy Cross offers interviews until December 30th.  Early decision candidates- your interview deadline is November 25th.  So get on the phone and give us a call!  On-campus interviews are offered every weekday 9-4 p.m.

If you’re traveling from outside the northeast and can’t get to Holy Cross, off-campus alumni interviews are available.  All you need to do is submit your common application and then fill out the alumni interviews request form on our Web site.

An interview is the best way to show your interest in a school and also the best way for the admissions committee to get to know you in a personal way.  Transcripts and recommendations are nice, but nothing beats an interview when we’re trying to get a clear picture of what you’re all about.  So if you’re wondering “what can I do to make my application stand out?” here’s your answer:  schedule and interview!

Amanda Juriansz
Assistant Director of Community Outreach

So it’s July and while you’re (we hope) sitting by the pool enjoying your summer break, we’re here in the office thinking about your college applications.  Yes, we’re already planning for next year.  Over the past few weeks we have begun planning our fall travel schedules.  We put a lot of thought into what schools we will be visiting.  We consider where we have visited in past years, where we receive applications from, and also where we would like to build awareness about Holy Cross.  After much deliberating, scheduling and rescheduling,  each counselor will have approximately a seven week itinerary of high schools, community based agencies and college fairs to attend spanning from September to November.  We can’t always visit every school or attend every event we would like but we do our best to fit everything in.  In August,  our schedules will be posted on the web page, so be sure to check that out to see when we’ll be in your area.  We’ll see you on the road this fall!

Amanda Juriansz
Assistant Director of Community Outreach

We know you have a big decision to make.  Over the next few weeks, members of the Holy Cross community will share their thoughts on what makes Holy Cross so special.

I love Holy Cross because the people here really look after one another.  Before coming here,  I had never experienced such a selfless community. Here,  getting lost in the crowd is impossible.  If you lose your student ID card, start to feel homesick,  or need help with a class,  there will be ten people there to help you get back on track.  You’re not in this college thing alone.  If you ever need help, you just have to say the word (and usually help is there before you can finish the thought).

Amanda Juriansz
Assistant Director of Community Outreach

Hello from Oklahoma City!

Travel season has been busy.  In the last two weeks I’ve been through Texas, Arkansas, and now Oklahoma.  A question that’s come up several times is, “How do I plan a visit?  Do I have to call ahead?”  Visiting is one of the most informative ways to decide whether or not a college is right for you.  Most schools do not require you to call ahead to let them know you would like to go on a tour or attend an information session.  All you have to do is show up in the Admissions office!  The exception to this is if you would like to have an interview or sit in on some classes.  These types of visits require you to call at least two weeks ahead of your visit to schedule a time.  It’s usually possible to visit two schools in one day, so get out those maps and start planning your road trip
!

Amanda Juriansz
Assistant Director of Community Outreach

I can’t believe it’s September already!  Where did the summer go?  My name is Amanda Juriansz.  I am the Assistant Director of Community Outreach in the Admissions office here at Holy Cross.  I have some new and exciting travel territories this fall.  I will be covering Essex and Suffolk counties in Massachusetts.  I will also be traveling to Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.  I grew up in Rhode Island and graduated from the University of Rhode Island.  I’m also getting married in RI next summer.  I’m a New Englander for life and will probably never leave.  I think it has everything to offer.  Big cities, small towns, beaches, mountains all within driving distance.  What more could you want?

Amanda Juriansz
Assistant Director of Community Outreach

Phew!

Let me tell you how stressed I was when I applied to college.  I had never spent so much time writing, editing, rewriting, having others read, and writing some more.  Those essays nearly caused me to have a breakdown.  I’m sure none of this is news to you.  You’ve all been experiencing the same thing over the last few weeks.  But the best part is that it’s over!  You’re done!

But wait!  What if I don’t get in?  What if I didn’t say everything I should have?  What if the waiting makes me have an even bigger breakdown?!  Take a deep breath.  Not a big deal.  Take Patrick’s advice and calmly look over the application.  If there’s anything you left out then send it along.  If you’ve said everything you wanted to then you need to remember that you’ve done your best and it’s out of your hands.  Relax, stop the stressing.  Push those applications far from your mind and just enjoy your last semester of high school.  Do your homework, hang out with your friends, forget that college exists.  Really, it will help you out.  Trust the girl who panicked endlessly.  In April when the letters start arriving it will be a nice surprise and not a burden that’s been looming over you.  Then you’ll have a fun decision to make!

And then, in another few years, the process will begin over again for graduate school

Amanda Juriansz
Assistant Director of Community Outreach

While in New Jersey last week a common question that kept coming up is, “What if my guidance counselor doesn’t know me very well?”

Holy Cross asks for two letters of recommendation; one from a teacher of your choice and one from a guidance counselor.

So what if you guidance counselor doesn’t know you very well?  Don’t stress!  Make an appointment with your counselor to sit down and talk about you: your classes, interests, what you want out of college, etc.  Tell them about you so that they will have something to write about.  All you need is a half hour.  No big deal!  You may want to ask him/her to write you the recommendation in person anyway so if you set up a meeting you can get both tasks done at the same time!

If you’re still worried about the counselor recommendation, get another recommendation from someone else.  Two recommendations does not mean you are allowed to send only two.  If you have a coach, employer, volunteer supervisor, mentor, etc. have him/her write a recommendation for you as well.  Anyone who has another point of view on your abilities or personality may write you a recommendation (parents don’t count, you know they’re biased).

Sending in 5-6 recommendations is OK.  Sending in 10-12 maybe not.  As long as each additional recommendation tells the Admissions staff something new and different about you it is acceptable.  Send it in!

Amanda Juriansz
Assistant Director of Community Outreach