File Reading Explained Category
Hot Chicken and Data Days
Feb. 24, 2009—Nashville has plenty of culinary choices. But there is one type of food which is distinctive to Music City: Hot Chicken. Hot Chicken is southern-style pan-fried chicken cooked in a cast-iron skillet. There is, however, one twist. The chicken is breaded in a super-secret blend of spices which give the chicken its…hot. And trust me,...
Would Da Vinci have Gotten the Small Envelope?
Feb. 18, 2009—A wonderful article appears this week in the Chronicle of Higher Education's Chronicle Review by W. A. Pannapacker of Hope College. In it, Pannapacker portrays the well known genius of Leonardo da Vinci set against the lesser known backdrop of growing biographical evidence that he was a chronic procrastinator.
Being a "reading person"
Jan. 29, 2009—Now that Early Decision 2 is almost done, we’re settling in for the bulk of our “reading season.” This is when we spend every waking moment either, a) reading applications, or b) feeling guilty for not reading applications at that moment. My job turns into a 7-day-a-week undertaking that includes many long evenings, less time...
Of Prom Dates and "Demonstrated" Interest
Jan. 14, 2009—Don’t judge me but I love Family Guy. I’m not like overly zealous Simpsons-guy or anything like that, I mean I don’t own any of the DVD’s (although I do have all seasons of Entourage and Arrested Development). Peter Griffin has a short stint on the local news doing stand-in op-ed pieces called “What Really Grinds My Gears” which involved nonsensical rants about lindsay Lohan and Starwars. Demonstrated interest, in its current incantation in college admissons, is one of mine.
What's in a name? – post-ED1 musings
Dec. 19, 2008—Q&A Time: Q – How do I check the completeness of my application (i.e., do you have my stuff)? A – Call 800-288-0432 between 8am-5pm CST or email us at admissions@vanderbilt.edu. We started running double shifts with our processing staff a couple weeks ago to be able to handle the mountain of paper (remember last...
And Then There Were Files: ED I and Front Yard Football
Nov. 18, 2008—It was a moment a couple Sundays ago. On the couch, my 2.5 year old playing quietly on the floor in front of me, the Titans game on in front of him. Nothing too remarkable about the exact moment really when I realized this would be last weekend without file reading. The clicking of Matchbox...
Vandy Admissions Deadlines: Your to-do list for this weekend
Oct. 31, 2008—There’s a great line from an Arrested Development episode, spoken as a teaser by a TV news anchor, “Packs of wolves loose on the streets of Orange County – we’ll tell you what it means for your weekend when we come back.” Just thought of it when I was writing the title for this post. ...
The College Admissions Essay Part II: Beyond gimmicks and hooks
Sep. 12, 2008—We talked yesterday about the importance of voice in your college application essay. Today let’s discuss the second insight your college application gives our admission officers, specifically, how you put your thoughts together to convey a point. In college a buddy of mine introduced me to a friend of his at a party like this, “Hey...
The College Application Essay Part I: Answers from the wizard in aisle 9c
Sep. 11, 2008—My two year old son likes to ask me to tell him stories right before bedtime. I weakly protest but ultimately acquiesce in the effort to get him off to dreamland. Quite candidly though, I suck at it. He is a tough, but forgiving audience, mostly finding a matchbox car more entertaining after about two...
reading files and philosophy books
Feb. 1, 2008—Yes, I am one of those gentlemen who views philosophy as a way of life. I incorporate as much of the intellectual musings of philosophers – as well as my own thoughts into just about everything I do. I have been reading student applications for most of the day. I take breaks. Listen to some...
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...