Yesterday in an admission office water cooler conversation, a coworker and I compared the weeks between March 10 and May 1 to watching a Georgia Tech football game. You see, in an admission office, we are daily watching the numbers to see who has accepted our offer of admission. We celebrate each increase just like a GT touchdown (except, without the steam whistle). Even with our mid-game celebration, the 2nd quarter score does not determine the end result. In our office, the final score of a game can be compared to the final numbers of the incoming freshman class, determined on May 1 (the national deadline for students to make a deposit at their school of choice).
The months after decision release see a drastic change in office atmosphere. We go from reading applications all day, every day to our busiest time of welcoming visitors to campus. These months see a drastic increase in visitor volume as high school students visit Georgia Tech on their spring breaks, and many of them are admitted seniors weighing their upcoming college decision. Our admission counselors are always on the go, ready to answer questions such as, “which is the best dorm to live in?” or “where is the closest mall to campus?” I would encourage all students to visit the campuses of the schools they are looking to attend. Even when this is not possible, there are multiple opportunities provided to have questions answered. At GT, we offer Skype chats, an active Facebook page, and we are always ready to take an email or phone call.
One of my favorite parts of these few weeks has been the Skype chats I’ve had with prospective international students. I spoke with students from all over the world- Sri Lanka, Turkey, Germany, Australia, China, etc. – to answer their questions and to hear what they were looking for in a college experience. Ultimately, I was able to express to these students that a college decision is about which school is the best fit for their educational and personal goals. At Georgia Tech, it is often very easy for students to see themselves “fitting” into one of Tech’s fun traditions, 400 student organizations, undergraduate research, or so many other opportunities available for a Yellow Jacket. This is an exciting season in the Office of Undergraduate Admission; I hope you have enjoyed your peek inside!
