Posted in Food

Candy-Coated Committee

Some of you may have heard a description of the committee process before where we perform the final review of the applications. It probably sounded something like this: A group of admissions counselors are huddled around a table. Laptops are open. Glasses are on. Thinking caps are donned and files are read, discussed, and voted on. Can you picture it?

The one piece left out of this image is what many in the business consider the darkest side of committee, and what I find to be the most important. In the middle of the table is the part that strikes fear into the hearts of many-an-admissions counselor…

Best Laid Plans

Best Laid Plans...

Here I am a month and a half after my last blog post, blushing with embarrassment for two reasons.

1. It has taken me this long to get back to the blogosphere.

2. I may or may not have completely lost track of one of my reading season resolutions. Okay, I admit it: I totally lost track. 

I'm still heading to the gym. My spin addiction has not waned and I have discovered Zumba (how did I ever live without you?!?!). I've added buttermilk corn biscuits, shrimp and scallop scampi, chicken and potato curry, pepper and herb crusted pork roast and spicy corn chowder to my repertoire. I have a couple new confections ready for the gluttonous decision making fest that is regular decision admission committee.

 But reading... Reading books for fun has come to a screeching halt. After reading for 9+ hours a day filling my head with your stories and the anecdotes relayed by your teachers and interviewers, I pick up a book and my eyes cross. If I'm to get up the next day...

Committee (and Thanksgiving) Reflections

There were times when I was in grad school and my first few years as a professional when I couldn't always make it home for Thanksgiving. This was true for a many of us in my group of friends: limited numbers of vacation days or graduate school obligations kept us from making the trek to our family tables so instead we were hodgepodge group of friends of friends gathering for a potluck feast. Those "Boston Family Thanksgivings" remind me of admissions committee.

Yes, I have a food-related metaphor from my own life that relates to admissions work.

Our eclectic group contained a southern Californian, a Houston Texan (not actually a pro footballer), a Tennessean- a Memphian in fact, two New Yorkers (me the Upstater and another guest from Albany- and yes, there is a difference), a northern NJ girl, a couple from Detroit, a Denver Coloradoan, and a few folks from the suburbs of Boston near Paul Revere's famous ride. As a group, we covered a wide range of the professional and academic worlds:...

Tennessee Eats

When you work in admissions and have a territory for a while, the counselors start to get to know you pretty well. I’ve been reading Tennessee for long enough that the counselors I visit have my number: after asking me all the usual questions about last year’s yield, new majors, and changes in the application process, they ask me where I’m going to eat and dole out eatery suggestions. I’m developing a bit of reputation on the road and back here in Bendetson: food is never far from my mind (if I were writing the Tufts supplement I’m sure at least one of my answers would be about food and its role in my family as centerpiece to everything!). One of my absolute favorite parts of travel season (and if you read our previous admissions committee blog you know this already) is trying out new restaurants. It’s a little bit of anthropology - what does the food, the ambiance, and the clientele tell me about the local culture.

It seemed appropriate that when I visited Memphis is year a friend reintroduced...