Introducing the Admissions Committee IV: Rachel Cowan Jacobs
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Posted by: Admissions_Daniel | 
February 7 2008 | 
Comments (1)
Name: Rachel Cowan Jacobs
Territory: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, U.S. Virgin Islands, and most International regions
Education: Columbia University – B.A. in American History with a focus on American race relations; M. Ed. in Counselor Education from University of Virginia
Johns Hopkins Start Date: September 2003
Years in Admissions: 12 years
Why did you choose to enter the profession of College Admissions?: I have always valued a college education and the college experience. When I was going through my college search process, I was also deeply intrigued by the mechanics of what the admissions staffs at the various schools I visited were doing. I decided that I wanted to be a part of that process: bringing in the right group of high school grads to any given institution.
What is the most enjoyable part of reading college applications? And the least enjoyable part?: I love getting to know each applicant through the different components of the application. I feel as though I have expanded my own horizons by meeting so many different people through the paper pages. Least enjoyable part? Sitting in the same position for hour after hour. Get me to a yoga class!
What is your personal approach to reading an application?: Reading from home, I want to be relaxed when I confront my pile of apps, with no known distractions waiting for me (like my dog, wanting to go for a walk). My ability to concentrate is fierce, so I can read for hours without taking a break. I structure my day in chunks of time so that when it’s break time, I give myself so many minutes and get a lot of things done. Then, when I return to reading, my mind is clear and relaxed, and I’m ready to tackle the next stack.
What is your favorite thing about Johns Hopkins University?: The people. From students to staff to prospective applicants, for me, it’s all about the people. They make the atmosphere pleasant and rewarding.
If working in College Admissions wasn’t an option, what would you be doing as an occupation?: I think I’d want to be a trainer for guide dogs.
In your personal opinion, what is the top issue facing the field of higher education currently?: This is a tough one because there are so many different angles to answer this question from. Wearing an admissions officer hat, my answer is the rising cost of attendance and how to make it affordable for more students.
What is your top Johns Hopkins University memory to date?: At Commencement in 2005, I met Al Gore. That was very cool.
What book, what movie, and what album should all students have read, watched, and listened to before enrolling in college?: Too many choices!
- Book – A current Atlas of the World
- Movie – Fantasia
- Album – Free to Be You and Me
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By Jessica, February 28, 2008 @ 6:16 AM
Hi, this may come off as completely random, but on a scale of 1-10, how familiar are you with the ‘popular’ music these days? Many such ‘popular’ artists include Jack Johnson, John Mayer, etc…