May on the Hill

DianeSoboski.BLOG2May is an interesting time of the year on a college campus. As we’re getting ready to bid farewell to the graduating seniors and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors, we’re also excited about welcoming in our newest class that will be arriving at the end of the summer.  

The students have been busy celebrating at Spring Weekend, studying for finals, and packing up their dorm rooms to head home for the summer. There has been lots of activity on campus!

Here in the admissions office, we’re splitting our time between reviewing the past year and gearing up for the next recruitment cycle. As you walk around the office, you’ll find counselors looking over final numbers and comments from the events that we’ve hosted this year. You’ll also find counselors pouring over lists of prospects, reviewing application data, and trying to determine where they’ll be visiting in the fall. All of this reflection and preparation is done to ensure that we will do the best we can to meet the recruitment needs of the incoming class.

So in the spirit of May, I’d like to say:

  • Best of luck to our graduating seniors! (Especially those of you who have donated plenty of your time over the years to volunteer in our office).
  • Welcome to the Class of 2014! We can’t wait to see on you on campus in the fall!
  • Lastly, to those just beginning their college search, we’ll be seeing you soon!

 

Diane Soboski
Assistant Director of Admissions

Newest Admissions Counselor Krystle Allen

IMG_6796 - krystleMy name is Krystle Allen and I am an Admissions Counselor here at Holy Cross. Having recently graduated with my master’s degree, I am new to the staff and all too familiar with the college search! My graduate studies degree, in Cinema and Media Studies, turned me into a movie buff. I love to watch old movies and catch all of Hollywood’s new releases at the theater on Friday nights. I am also busy planning a wedding this summer and, while I am enjoying spring at Holy Cross, I cannot wait to be enjoying my honeymoon in Italy! Watch out because come August I will be Krystle Leveille.

I am excited to be a part of the Holy Cross Admissions department and, while I am blown away by the college’s academic rigor, I am even more impressed with the caring and dedicated community. I feel that our job in Admissions is to provide the college with an academic and social community. After being here only a few months, I truly understand how important my job is and feel lucky to be a part of such an outstanding community.

Though I have been living in Chicago for the past year, I am excited to return home to New England. I have lived in the Worcester area most of my life and I am happy to not only help students discover all the opportunities Holy Cross has to offer, but also to experience all that New England and Worcester have to offer.

I hope to hear from any interested student this summer at an info session, interview, or even an e-mail. If not, perhaps I will see you this fall when I travel to Georgia and other great states! Good luck in the college search. I know it can seem like a daunting process, but we are here to help you!

 

Krystle Allen

Admissions Counselor

Tours Pick Up Again June 1st, But Feel Free to Visit!

LaurenThornton.BLOG2The flowers have begun to come into full bloom and the trees are finally full of green leaves again. Needless to say,  it is an absolutely beautiful day at Holy Cross.  Unfortunately, our students have just finished their spring semester classes and are eagerly (or begrudgingly) spending these gorgeous days locked away in the library preparing for their final exams.  Although our campus tours for the spring semester have officially come to an end, it does not mean that you as a prospective student cannot enjoy our campus during this beautiful month.  If you have some free time and want to visit during the month of May, you certainly may do so.  Feel free to stop by our office, fill out a walk-in visitor form and grab a map of campus to explore on your own.  We are more than happy to direct you and point out some of the highlights of campus to you and your family.

If you would like an official, student-lead tour of campus this summer, our summer tours will begin June 1st.  Please check our website for specific details about visiting this summer.

 

Lauren D. Thornton
Admissions Counselor

The College Fair: Where Do I Start?

NicoleZervos.BLOG2This past week, I’ve been doing a few college fairs at high schools and at national events. College fairs are a good way to start seeing what types of colleges are out there, but they can also be extremely overwhelming. Students often come up to our table and not know what to do or say. I thought I’d share a few pointers to get you started:

 

 

  • Know that we’re here to talk to you. Our job as Admissions Counselors is to talk to students about our institutions. Don’t be afraid to approach us. We’re all friendly people and we want to tell you why our college is the place for you.

 

  • It’s OK if you don’t know anything about the school. One of my favorite parts of college fairs is talking to students who know nothing about Holy Cross. Often, by the time we’re through talking, they’re signing up for the mailing list and excited to come for a campus tour.

 

  • Go beyond asking about the numbers. While it’s ok to ask about average GPA or test scores, that type of information is easily accessible on the internet or in a school’s literature. Try to make your questions as specific as possible. Ask what makes an application successful or find out what campus life is like, how well the professors interact with students, if internships are offered, etc.  

 

  • Filling out the card does matter. A lot of students who are already on our mailing list ask if they need to fill out an inquiry card. While this is not the case at all schools, we do keep track of the type of contact you’ve made with Holy Cross. We want to give you credit for putting in the effort to talk to us at a fair. Printing up pre-made labels is a quick way to avoid writer’s cramp at college fairs.

 

If you see me at a college fair this spring or next fall, don’t be afraid to stop by and say hi! Ask me a question and I’ll be more than happy to answer.

 

Nicole Zervos ’09

Admissions Counselor