Thank You!
May 19th is graduation day here at Tufts and, as I watch the stage set up just outside my office, I can’t help but reflect on my year as a Jumbo (employee).
One of the great perks of my job is working with current students and, to be honest, I’m sad we’re losing some of our best workers (and friends) to “real life” when they accept their diploma. Its an huge moment for them and, for the time being, I’m allowing myself to be wistful.
I want to offer a public (there’s nothing more public than the internet) thank you to the graduating seniors I worked with over the year who made this office special and made my job even better. In alphabetical order (honestly, how I could I rank them?):
- Abha Gallewale – The wildcard senior intern who had never worked in admissions before but wasn’t afraid to jump in with both feet, thank you
- Bronwen Raff – The Senior Intern from Idaho who helped me plan my travel (I travel to Idaho) and changed the face of blogging, thank you
- Maddy Conway – The Senior...
May the Fourth be with You
Yes I know it's May 7th but use your imagination, would ya?
As many of you know, this past Saturday was ‘Star Wars’ day. Through a bit of clever phrasing, people all over Facebook can declare ‘May the Fourth be With You.’ It’s a wonderful day to celebrate Star Wars (though I choose to do that every day) but this year I found it’s also a great day to borrow another bit of Jedi philosophy and conquer your fears...
Procrastinator’s “Guide” to Finishing Your College Search
After all the hoopla and chatter of April, it’s time to decide. This thing is over, and yet a hefty pile of procrastinators (more than you’d guess, trust me) still ponder their choice with 48 hours to go. Maybe they’re emulating Hamlet? Perhaps they’re trying on an array of collegiate sweatshirts to see which one fits best?
I can imagine the scene as you dissect your decision, compare the pros and cons of each option, analyze data, mull over this program versus that major. You seek guidance on Facebook as you face the moment of truth: “Help!” you type. “Tufts or X? Can’t decide!!!” Your exclamation marks plead for urgent assistance.
While I don’t (won’t) add my voice to the Facebook chorus, here’s my procrastinator’s “guide” to picking your college. And it’s just four words: stop thinking about it.
I know. Such ridiculous advice, isn’t it? The dean’s gone mad, you think. Choosing your college is a big decision and “thought” is usually a sound approach. Of course it is,...
Why I Choo-Choo-Chose Tufts (And Now Might Never Leave)
Six years after my first journey through the college selection process, I was working in admissions and ready for a change. This meant embarking on a grown-up college search. My main criteria: I had to work for a school where seventeen-to-twenty-two-year-old-me would have thrived. As an admissions counselor, you spend all year talking about the institution you represent, an uncomfortable task if you can’t speak honestly and passionately on the topic. These were my must haves:
- Location: I think a real campus with city access is the ideal setting for college. For seventeen-year-old-me, a (continued) life of rural isolation was a non-option, as was the thought of taking public transit between classes. In the burbs/urban-burbs, you can live an idyllic college life of debating single-payer health care on the quad, while still feeling connected to the rest of the world (read: food, internships, food, shopping, food, museums, food – sensing a theme? I was raised in an area where there...
The Interwebz
The internet is a wild place and, like most wild places, its far more fun with a local guide. With the class of 2017 guiding the way, I have had the loudest of laughs, the most compelling “ah-ha” moments, and even shed the occasional tear. You need to know what they know and so I offer my favorite interweb moments inspired by our newest Jumbos.
Ramiro Sarabia (one of our 2017 bloggers) posted a video called The Evolution of Music
Rima Desai – This is me when I play sports too…
Drew wins for getting me closest to a tear with this cheesy but still touching video called “Kindness keeps the world afloat.”
Elliad, a member of 2017, found the humor in this article. I found the real humor in Evan Moulson’s response.
McKenzie Welter will be responsible for the serious paper clip swag in my future by alerting me to the existence of Jumbo Paper Clips. Available here.
And, deserving its own category entirely, I present the nonsensical: