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Incompletes, ED2 & the Timekeeping Shrubbery
Jan. 24, 2008—This morning we are sending out notifications to all students that as of this morning, are still missing pieces of their application. Don’t panic, simply work with your Vandy OUA counselor to get the materials in to us (who is that? Check out http://www.vanderbilt.edu/Admissions/applyCounselor.php). All of those crates of mail we showed you before have...
The Januaryist
Jan. 11, 2008—My hand hurts. Like hardcore cramping. I have the makings of a perma-claw, and I’m closing this reading day as I began it, with The Decemberists on WXRT, no lie.After a relaxing dinner with the family, I have just now finished off the prepped stacks of files meaning I completed 30 first reads and 4...
The midday music express . . .
Jan. 11, 2008—I am what is known in technical admissions speak as a “slow reader” [I am making those hooked double finger gestures to no one in particular, I forget you can’t see me]. I have always been so, which really was a pain as an English Literature major in college, trust me. I read each section...
Lin Brehmer’s in my living room . . .
Jan. 11, 2008—As I mentioned in my last post, today’s a reading day for me at home in Nashville. That means sweatpants, cups of coffee, and all Chicagoland all day. I am a creature of great distraction, meaning I treat these days with an increased level of organization, because hey, at any moment, I could flip on...
time travel and high school. Huh?
Jan. 9, 2008—In my most vivid dreams, I am an amateur astronomer with a philosopher’s mindset. I love astronomy. No telescope, but sometimes the imagination provides more detailed lens than the naked eye for viewing the undiscovered countries of the universe. Just finished reading a book on time travel and time singularities. Is time travel possible? Theoretically....
“Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.”
Jan. 9, 2008—A student visiting campus yesterday asked me how you manage to read the quantity of files you do and (more or less) still have a life? Quality reading takes time, for sure. But, I really enjoy opening a new file and starting the process of getting to know a student (as much as is possible...
Hitting “Shuffle”
Dec. 27, 2007—My birth year says that I’m a member of Generation X. We were one of the first to embrace random bite-sized info. Early adopters of ADD. That and grungy plaid. And maybe a culture of ennui too . . . so like whatever. Chance me It is a guilty pleasure to log on to College...
Paper Blizzard
Dec. 20, 2007—Brad went downstairs and got some shots of all the crazy paper we’re dealing with right now. Though it pains me to say so (sorry, Mother Earth), we estimate that we will deal with over 1,000,000 pieces of paper in this year’s application cycle. We try to use technology to minimize the paper where possible...
“Wave on Wave”
Dec. 19, 2007—The ED1 wave has just passed here at 2305 West End Avenue. About a week and a half ago I visited the Georgia Aquarium in downtown Atlanta. It’s stunning. So big you can’t see it all from any one vantage point, and can only be absorbed in small portions. Out of all of it though,...
ED I Mailing Day
Dec. 13, 2007—Well, the files have been read, second read, debated over, and decisioned, the letters printed, checked, double-checked, and today they leave our office. It was without a doubt the most competitive Early Decision year Vanderbilt’s ever seen. A couple of important reminders: 1) As Christina has mentioned before, and as you can see in this...
Al Gore is our co-pilot . . .
Dec. 13, 2007—What’s up blogland? This is Thom and I’m a member of the freshly minted Vandy Admissions Blog Team. Like Chick-fil-a says, “We didn’t invent the chicken, just the chicken sandwich” so say we. “We didn’t invent the Admissions Blog, but Al Gore invented the internet and he’s a Vandy guy . . . so yeah.”...
Go 'Dores!
Dec. 13, 2007—Since I’m a new part of the admissions blog team, I thought I’d drop in and say hi. I’m an admissions officer in my seventh year at Vanderbilt, and I’m a VU alum as well. I don’t think any of us new guys will be able to match Christina’s early posts on admissions, but we’re...