Happy Holidays from Admissions!
Deadlines, Deadlines, Deadlines
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…or so they say. With the busy holiday season quickly approaching, we all have a lot on our minds – what present to buy Dad, what to wear to that holiday party next weekend, where to spend New Year’s Eve…w and the list goes on. While most of us are stressing about these menial details, all of you high school seniors are most likely stressing about the ever-looming college application deadlines. I won’t preach to you about the importance of meeting said deadlines, but instead offer a friendly reminder of our upcoming deadlines:
December 15th – Deadline for EARLY DECISION applications
December 29th – Deadline for ON-CAMPUS INTERVIEWS (Regular Decision applicants)
January 15th – Deadline for REGULAR DECISION applications
February 1st – Deadline for FINANCIAL AID applications
Hopefully these deadlines will allow you to plan ahead and enjoy this busy time of the year. Have a wonderful holiday season everyone!
Lauren D. Thornton
Assistant Director of Admissions
Admissions and Additions
I submitted my Regular Decision application way back in October, why will I not hear the decision until April?
Great question. Although math is not my strong suit, I will put on my Stat. Hat and consult with the Fraction Faction to provide you with an answer:
Holy Cross will receive roughly 7,000 applications this year. Each application is carefully read by two members of our thirteen member admissions staff between January 1st and February 15th. Therefore, each counselor must read ((7,000 apps x 2 reads)/12 counselors) applications over that six week period. I will not go any further with the math in terms of applications read per day, but I will note that a typical 5 day/8 hours a day work weeks go out the window in the Admissions world during reading season (and travel season for that matter).
So, why don’t we hear on February 15th?
Full of great questions, are we? Well, the process does not stop after reading season is over. Our twelve person Admissions staff then goes to Committee through the end of March to revisit every single file to make our final Admissions decisions as a group (majority rules – all votes counted evenly). Therefore, (12 counselors discussing 7,000 apps/6 weeks) = (396 cups of coffee/x bathroom breaks)+(8,326 insightful questions asked + 178 Counselor calls) A.K.A. The creation of the Class of 2015.
So, please remember that we are working on par with Santa’s elves this holiday/application season before you pick up the phone to inquire if we have made a decision on your Regular Decision application yet. My advice: Munch on Holiday cookies, enjoy time with your family and friends, and leave the application stress to us.
Dan Weagle ’08
Admissions Counselor
A Slam Dunk for Perspectives
November was an exciting month full of unpredictable weather, the beginning of college basketball season, and the Perspectives program put on by the admissions office here at Holy Cross. This is after all my favorite time of year and I was able to capture all of the glory in one weekend with Perspectives and the Holy Cross Crusader Men’s Basketball home opener. Perspectives is a program designed to showcase diversity at the college as well as give participants an opportunity to have intellectual debate, understand the selective college admission process, and envision themselves as members of the ‘Sader Nation’.
Throughout the program, the students were challenged to step out of their comfort zone and have serious conversations about diversity; from ethnic diversity to religious diversity, socio-economic diversity, diversity of opinion and more. Through conversations with each other, faculty/staff and current students they were each able to feel like Holy Cross students for the day and express their thoughts and opinions through rigorous discussion.
We then put the academic discussions aside to witness the Sader Nation in full swing with the men’s basketball team’s home opener against the College of Charleston. Nothing beats the first home basketball game, the stands were full with fans eagerly awaiting our team and new coaching staff looking to predict what the next five months will hold. We came to the game prepared…faces painted, purple, black and white shirts on ready to cheer on the men in the packed gym! Unfortunately the men ultimately fell to the Cougars but the Crusader spirit was alive in our group. I can’t wait for more!
Julliana Jennings
Assistant Director of Admissions
