An Ode to Our Counselors
Leading group information sessions by day. Reading applications by night. Even though I’ve only been out of high school for three years, they already understand our youth better than I do. They know the coolest extracurricular activities, the most popular AP classes, and which leaders of today inspire students most. In the fall, they cover thousands of miles to meet hundreds of prospective students from across the country and globe. By winter, they drink countless cups of coffee each day and work in the Gilliam Admissions House into the wee hours of the night. Sometimes they have to make tough decisions. But when they work for a highly selective institution, those tough decisions come with the job.
Who are these dedicated individuals? Our phenomenal Admissions Team. Here’s to these incredible admissions counselors, the ones who have to make exciting and heart-breaking decisions, even when they wish they didn’t have to.
My Two Weeks Notice
That’s right. Mock Convention has given me my two weeks notice. Well, sort of.
This time in two weeks, I will be manning the Convention check-in tables inside the Elrod Commons Living Room. When the Executive Committee asked me to spearhead the Convention check-in, I could not have been more flattered. It’s definitely been a time-consuming process, but like my work with the Fundraising Committee, it’s been a labor of love. With each addition and modification I make to our master spreadsheet, I know we are one step closer to a successful Mock Convention.
It really is incredible to think that people like Tricia King ’12, Tucker Pribor ’12, and Zach Wilkes ’12 have been working on the Mock Convention since their freshman year. The majority of their college careers has been devoted to this single weekend, which is only two weeks away. The anticipation is so thick in the air that you could cut it with a knife!
Two weeks from this evening, Ann Coulter and James Carville will kick-off the weekend with what I’m sure will be a heated debate! Following the debate, our opening speaker, Mike Huckabee, will address student delegates, faculty members, and our distinguished friends and guests of the W&L and Lexington communities.
And the best part is, this is only the beginning of the action-packed Convention weekend! Stay tuned for more Mock Convention news; with the amount of time that Ali and I have dedicated to this exciting event, we’re sure to have more details as we get closer to “getting it right in 2012!”
Is it Winter yet?
- What the Colonnade should look like on a normal January 25th.
- Cake Approximation of what the Colonnade looks like on January 25th, 2012. 50° and Sunny!
Hale and Hearty
Well it’s that time of year again…the time when just about everyone seems to be coughing or sniffling in class. While our Student Health Center is a wonderful resource for those feeling under the weather, W&L has other great opportunities to help us maintain our health and stamina year-round.
With a new semester’s class schedule comes a new weekday schedule. I’ve been experimenting with my daily routines, trying to figure out when are the ideal times for me to workout, grab lunch at the sorority house, work here in the Gilliam Admissions House, trek to Walmart for the weekly haul of food and cleaning supplies, and so on and so forth. Since I depend on exercise for my daily stress relief, the Fitness Center’s flexible hours are a major plus. But as much as I love to read a magazine on the elliptical or watch The Today Show on the treadmill, sometimes I need to jazz up my workout routine. Thankfully, our Campus Recreation offers AWESOME group exercise classes. My favorites include Sports Circuit, Group Cycling, and Cardio Kickboxing, but I still need to try Zumba and the newest class, Cardio Interval. Fun fact: our very own Assistant Director of Admissions, Robert Koch, leads one of the Group Cycling classes!
In addition to the fun exercise opportunities, we’ve got plenty of great food options on campus, regardless of whether or not you’re on a meal plan. One of the most convenient places to grab coffee before your next class or lunch-on-the-go is Cafe ’77 (also known as the “co-op”). I was delighted to see the co-op’s new layout, wall colors, and menu items when I returned for the Winter Term! I know the make-to-order salads have already been a huge hit among the student body. On the days I don’t have time to trot over to the sorority houses for lunch, I will definitely make a beeline for the co-op!
Technology abound.
One of the coolest (and most useful) perks of being a W&L student is our almost unlimited access to the latest academic technologies. Whether it is through smart classrooms, LEED certified buildings, Information Technology Services, computer labs or 100% wireless on campus; W&L students definitely stay up to date. While connected to the W&L network, students gain access to countless databases and news sources, as well as free downloads of the latest operating systems.
What I am getting at is that there are resources for everyone and everything:
- Laptop malfunction? Just bring it to the help desk! (You can even check out a replacement laptop while it is being fixed.)
- Need the latest version of Windows? We have you covered at no extra cost!
- Want to type your term paper in the sun? Lay a towel down on the Colonnade and access the internet from the front lawn!
- Need to print that “impossible-to-find” research report from 1974? JSTOR has your back!
Not to mention we are currently undertaking the largest solar-panel project in the state of Virginia.
Tony
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Robert
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Jonathan
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Ali
