Secret Agent Man…
I love the fall. I love airports. I love meeting people. I love talking to students about the most exciting time of their life. I love making people feel like the admissions process won’t kill them…I love saying, “Everything is gonna be alright” and knowing - really knowing- that I’m right. So yeah, it was a good day.
I have a strange job, and I know this. When I (infrequently) tell people I’m an admissions officer, people look at me and politely say “Oh…” before they move on to someone else who says “I’m a (insert lawyer, electrician, ballet dancer, stock broker, here). It’s these types of conversations that make me almost 100% sure that no one (not one single person) has ever written their 3rd grade “What I want to be when I grow up” essay about being an Admissions Officer. People handle admissions officers like they handle Unicorns. We’ve all heard of them…but we’ve never seen one with our own eyes.
I think that’s why I’m writing this blog. I want people to know what I do, and perhaps more importantly, why I do it. I feel like understanding what I do will make the student’s part of the process easier to understand. The only example I can think of for this is the Food Network, when they show the “behind the scenes” footage at the Twinkie Factory at the point where they are inserting the cream…and once you understand that, you have so much more appreciation for the genius behind the Twinkie-making process. Except, I’m not a genius…(in case you couldn’t tell from that poor example).
Anyway, I’ll be writing every so often. If you have questions, just shout.
Until next time,
1 comment:
I'm a prospective freshman and this blog is looking a bit lonely on the comments. So I guess I'll just go ahead and do that for you.
I feel as though you undermine your work as an admissions officer by saying that you don't receive the same recognition as doctors, lawyers, etc. (people move on and ask someone else) In reality, however, your job is invaluably important in determining how these people's lives end up. Plus, it must be really incredible shaping the student body from such a talented group of young adults.
Just because "no one has ever written their 3rd grade 'what I want to be when I grow up' essay" on being an admissions officer does not mean that the work is not compelling or satisfying.
Personally (and especially during the college process), I feel that work as an admissions officer is one of the most important jobs that can be done. I just wonder if essays and grades are the best way for admissions officers to truly grasp a student's essence.
Oh. And I love the unicorn simile.
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