Our job in admissions is to admit a class of students who will have a positive impact on our university both academically and socially. Each new class is made up of a group of students who will spend four years shaping our community. In order to best understand who our students are, we need to understand where they are coming from.
Every fall our team of admissions counselors hits the road to visit schools in their territories. I visit schools in Maine, Vermont, Michigan, Indiana, Long Island, and Massachusetts. When I travel to these areas I’m not just there to meet potential students, but also to see the schools and communities they are coming from.
Earlier this month, I traveled to Maine where I visited a number of different high schools. I had some great visits and met some very interesting students. It was really cool to be able to hear about their interests and aspirations. I was able to witness first-hand the vibe and atmosphere of not only the schools but also the cities, towns and communities—not to mention the local restaurants in Portland, or the L.L. Bean outlet in Freeport.
During reading season our admissions office will read over 22,000 applications. We all read for our territories so that we can best understand the context of each application. When we all get together in committee meetings, we are able to discuss each individual applicant and share our experiences from traveling to that part of the world. Though we cannot visit every school, our travels allow us to connect with students and communities far beyond the Medford/Somerville city lines.
My colleagues will spend the rest of the fall traveling around the world, sharing information about Tufts, and meeting future Jumbos. So if you happen to meet one of our counselors while we’re on the road in your area, be sure to give us tips on the best local restaurants!
Photo Credit: madgic.chat, Flickr