Behind the Scenes of Jumbo Days
I remember my Jumbo Days experience very well. My dad and I woke up around 6:00 AM (groan) to take the T from our hotel in Kendall Square to Davis Square. We didn’t know that the Joey existed, so we then hopped the 96 bus from Davis to Tufts. When we arrived on-campus around 7:15, we registered in the lobby of Granoff and ate breakfast before being herded into Cohen Auditorium. (The latecomers had to watch the morning presentation over live simulcast in Distler Auditorium.) Music was blaring, and everyone was a little sleepy but excited to be there. Then the power went out. We assumed it was a blown fuse, but no. The power was out in all of Medford and Somerville. Oops!
Three years later, I now get to look at Jumbo Days from the other side as an admissions intern. What is it like over there, you ask? This is what my Jumbo Days is like from my new perspective:
5:00 AM. Wake up. And I thought 6:15 was bad!
6:00 AM. Arrive at Bendetson Hall. Put cases of water, orange juice, fruit, and water bottles into cars and drive to Cousens Gym.
6:05 AM. Realize sign needed for leading visitors to the Science and Technology Center is missing.
6:15 AM. Start setting up for registration. Tablecloths and balloons galore!
6:30 AM. Where is Panera??
6:40 AM. Intently discuss how to arrange water bottles at registration table.
6:45 AM. Panera just got here. Cue mad dash to set up breakfast. Try to prevent Megan from having a panic-induced heart attack.
7:05 AM. Visitors start arriving for registration. Interns and admissions officers head straight for the coffee.
7:20 AM. Explain the difference between light and dark roast coffee to a parent. (Bottom line: light roast has more caffeine and is therefore the best thing ever.)
7:35 AM. Realize that you are dressed just like Yulia. Make Greg take a bad cell phone photo of the two of you.
7:45 AM. Missing sign is in the Science and Technology Center and will be brought to Distler before the engineering department visits leave. Crisis averted.
8:02 AM. Dean Coffin is about to speak. Hope and pray that the power stays on.
8:10 AM. Lights still on! This is a good sign!
8:40 AM. Prepare announcements with the other interns. Joke that I should introduce myself as the reason we have to clarify what year we are. Junior senior intern problems.
9:20 AM. The visitors are off to classes! Run to Halligan to print essay that is due at noon.
9:30 AM. Get distracted by two adorable dogs walking to turn in essay. (I was as happy as this dog to see them!)
9:35 AM. Actually turn in essay.
9:40 AM. Head back to Bendetson to break into the leftover bagels and coffee.
10:30 AM. Take other engineering department visit signs to Distler. Listen in on the engineering session. Dean Knox is hysterical!
11:20 AM. Head to Halligan to talk to prospective computer science majors. Confuse friends and professors by being dressed in business attire.
1:00 PM. Lunch! Surprise fellow admissions employees by knowing where they “hide” the apple crisp in Carmichael.
1:33 PM. Eight members of the admissions staff teach one admitted student how to make a Nutella brownie sundae.
1:50 PM. Check the Student Outreach email account. Spend the next hour answering emails.
2:50 PM. CUPCAKES.
4:00 PM. Go home and take a much-needed nap!