Meet Your Admissions Counselor VI: Dana Messinger

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Name: Dana Messinger

Meet Admissions Counselor: Dana Messinger

Region: PA, VA, Canada, Malaysia & Philippines

Educational Background: BA from Johns Hopkins University; JD Georgetown University Law Center

JHU Start Date: August 2009

Years in Admissions: 2 +

Why did you choose to go into college admissions?
Although my path to college admissions isn’t a straight one, it’s something I’ve been interested in since I was a student here at Hopkins.  In college, I was an admissions intern, tour guide, and student interviewer.  At the time, I thought I wanted to be a lawyer (hence law school), but I continued to volunteer for the admissions office at my law school and was active in recruiting lawyers for my firm.  After I left the law firm, I spent a year on the road campaigning, initially service as the youth outreach coordinator in a number of states.  When the campaign season ended, I decided to jump in with two feet and accepted the position I’m in now.

What do you like best about working in admissions at Johns Hopkins University?
I love working on a college campus.  I’ve been involved with the overnight programs and now coordinate the on campus interviews with Katie Rieder, so I get to spend a lot of time working with current students who are as passionate about the school as I am.  Hopkins also has a really pretty campus, so it can be really relaxing to take a walk mid day or go for a jog when the weather is nice.

What is your ideal set-up for reading applications?
I like to read from home – preferably in my PJs.  I’ve set my desk up with a big monitor, by a window (and far away from the TV).

What do you do when you need a break from application reading?
Reading applications can be really interesting, but when they all start to look the same, I usually take a break and go to the gym.  I find spending 45 minutes or an hour on something purely physical helps me to relax and stay focused.

What is one of the quirkiest things an applicant ever did with their application?
I like really quirky applications, but when it’s really out there, I sometimes find myself playing the “is this quirky or weird” game.  I think my favorite quirky essay came from a kid that made up his own language, complete with grammatical structures and conjugation rules.  He would leave post it notes around the house to learn it and had a whole list serve of kids at school that wanted the weekly quiz and word of the day.

What makes an application essay really stand out for you?
A good college essay is personal.  No matter how well written it is if I don’t feel like I know the student any better at the end, it doesn’t really stay with me.  The best essays are the ones that let me picture what the applicant is like in some facet of his or her life.

What is the funniest thing you’ve overheard or seen while at Johns Hopkins?
We threw a holiday party for the student interviewers and there was a bit of an ugly sweater competition amongst the student exec board.  Seeing Ardi wear a rhinestone eyed Santa sweater was pretty amusing.

If you could take a class at Hopkins, which one and why?
I’d probably take another political science class, like Crime and Society with Professor Ginsberg (great teacher!) or Global Environmental Politics – I loved the department as a student and am still quite the political nerd.

What is your favorite place on the Homewood campus?
I love to jog around campus – the loop is 2 miles long and it takes me past the gym, the freshman quad, the beach, etc – it’s a little bit of everything.

If you could teach an Intersession class, what would be the class name and description?
I’m a big football fan, and intersession coincides nicely with playoff season, so it would probably be a crash course on the rules and how to throw a great football watching party (guacamole recipes being the key here).

What is the craziest question you’ve ever been asked while recruiting for Johns Hopkins?
I was once cornered in the parking lot by a mother who wanted to know what the admissions rate into Hopkins Medical school is.  Aside from the fact that we’re two separate institutions, she must have gotten a description of what I’m wearing from her kid, because the presentation was for students only.

If you could be a student at Hopkins for a day, what would you look forward to most?
As hokey as it sounds, my favorite thing about being a student here were the friends I made.  I still talk to and hang out with a lot of them, but getting to spend the day with all of them again would be special.

If you could join any Hopkins club or organizations, which one would you join?
We didn’t have a club squash team when I was a student here – I’ve started to play a bit with friends, so I could easily see myself joining that group.

What song or book or movie makes you think of your college days and why?
The Social Network – but only because it was filmed on this campus

If a movie was made about your life, who would play your part and why?
I’ve heard I look a bit like Rachel Weisz.  She’s taller than I am, so that’s a plus as well.

Want to know even more about Dana Messinger? Re-visit some of her past Admissions Staff Profiles: February 16, 2010, March 12, 2010.

Meet Your Admissions Counselor V: Rachel Cowan Jacobs

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Name: Rachel Cowan Jacobs

Region: North Carolina, South Carolina , Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and all international countries other than the US, except for Canada and Mexico

Educational Background:BA from Columbia University; M.Ed from UVA

Meet Admissions Counselor: Rachel Cowan Jacobs

JHU Start Date: September 2003

Years in Admissions: 16

Why did you choose to go into college admissions?
When I was a high school senior, I was so intrigued by the college search process and so curious about what the admissions offices were doing with my application that I decided I wanted to work in this field.  It sounds weird, but it is true.

What do you like best about working in admissions at Johns Hopkins University?
One of the best things I like is getting to know the applicants.  Having this job opens your eyes to so many different aspects of life and allows you to reflect on things you might not otherwise be aware of.  I especially like learning about regions of the country that I haven’t lived in and countries that I don’t know too much about.

What is your ideal set-up for reading applications?
I read in a room that has windows on three sides so it is very cold in there. My ideal reading set-up is a sunny day with temps in the 80’s.  Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen in Maryland in January/February, so I wrap up in blankets instead.

What do you do when you need a break from application reading?
When I need a break, I take my dog running. But that’s only once a day. When I need another break,  I step away from the computer and putter around the house for a few minutes.

What is one of the quirkiest things an applicant ever did with their application?
I recall an applicant writing the essay completely in rhyming verse. That was different.

What makes an application essay really stand out for you?
An essay that goes beyond the surface stands out for me.  It can be challenging to write a deep essay without going into too much story-telling. I find those to be effective essays because they tell me more about the applicant and showcase his or her writing ability.

What is the funniest thing you’ve overheard or seen while at Johns Hopkins?
Within Admissions, we have had a few larger than life-sized cardboard cut-outs of employees. Those are pretty funny to have around the office.

If you could take a class at Hopkins, which one and why?
I would take a Yiddish class if it were offered at lunch. I could nosh and schmooze with others while learning a language that is on the decline.

What is your favorite place on the Homewood campus?
I enjoy the garden in front of the President’s home. It’s a very peaceful, pretty spot to sit a spell.

If you could teach an Intersession class, what would be the class name and description?
With all my years and miles of airplane travel behind me, I would teach a class called Traveling Light.  I know how to pack a suitcase like you wouldn’t believe.  Not only can I skillfully cram more clothes in a small suitcase than you would think possible, but I can also convince you of all the things you don’t need to bring with you on a trip.

What is the craziest question you’ve ever been asked while recruiting for Johns Hopkins?
Believe it or not, I have been asked if we have a campus in California.

If you could be a student at Hopkins for a day, what would you look forward to most?
I’ve been a college student.  On some days, I looked forward most to a favorite class. On other days, I was eager to attend a club meeting or meet up with friends for an outing.  So, I guess it would have to depend on the day. But that’s not a real answer. My real answer is I would look forward to that day’s adventure, whatever it might turn out to be.

If you could join any Hopkins club or organizations, which one would you join?
I miss playing volleyball, so I would get on an intramural team.

What song or book or movie makes you think of your college days and why?
Dirty Dancing immediately brings me back to college.  It was a favorite of mine and my roommates. I’m not saying it was the best movie ever made but we loved watching it.

If a movie was made about your life, who would play your part and why?
Speaking of Dirty Dancing, several people have said I resemble Jennifer Grey from the film. I guess I would chose her (pre-nose job) to play me.  I think they say this because of the hair.

Want to know even more about Rachel Cowan Jacobs? Re-visit some of her past Admissions Staff Profiles: February 10, 2006, February 7, 2008.

Meet Your Admissions Counselor IV: Sarah Godwin

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Name: Sarah Godwin

Meet Admissions Counselor: Sarah Godwin

Region: Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New York (Long Island), North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Wisconsin

Educational Background: University of Vermont,  B.A., political science, The George Washington University,  M.A., Education and Human Development (higher ed. Leadership program)

JHU Start Date: 8/12/2008

Years in Admissions: This is my 8^th admissions cycle :)

Why did you choose to go into college admissions?
Once upon a time in a land far away, in a millennium that has passed, I wanted to be a lawyer.   I ended up working as a legal assistant and toiled in a gray cube.  I found the work just about as interesting as my gray cube.   When I was 23 – I switched to something that better fit my personality and who I am as a person.  Talking to students and their families and reading fascinating applications from all over the world is far more appealing to me than writing a legal contract.

What do you like best about working in admissions at Johns Hopkins University?
I manage a volunteer group, Engineering Ambassadors.  They give engineering tours, speak to prospective students, and staff our “lunch with an engineer” program.  It is great to know a group of such smart, interesting,  and funny engineering students.   It’s a huge perk.

What is your ideal set-up for reading applications?
While I don’t feel comfortable submitting a picture of the inside of my apartment – (hello creepy!) here is a picture of my view that I see from my desk at home.  Okay, so the double rainbow isn’t there every day – but on New Year’s day 2012, I looked up from reading files (yes, admissions officers read on holidays) and saw this amazing rainbow!  Even without the rainbow, it’s still a great view.  This view is from downtown, facing north towards Hopkins, I can see the Spring Fair fireworks at Hopkins from here.

What do you do when you need a break from application reading?
Either go for a walk, do some jumping jacks, do dishes, anything that will have me doing something totally different (i.e. nothing on the computer or anything that I have to read).

What is one of the quirkiest things an applicant ever did with their application?
I read an essay this week of a student who did his student government speech in the form of a rap song – he was nervous – but it worked! The school loved it and he is now president of the student body at his high school.

What makes an application essay really stand out for you?
When it is something only you could have written about. For example, being on a soccer team is a fairly common experience that many people can write about,  but growing your own organic garden or telling me about your elaborate take-out menu collection and how it defines who you are, well that is an “only you could write that” kind of essay.

What is the funniest thing you’ve overheard or seen while at Johns Hopkins?
In 2010, the entire Johns Hopkins campus played a joke on the world.  Our communications office issued a press release announcing we had officially dropped the “S” in Johns, and from here on out would be known as The John Hopkins University.  There was a quote from the president of JHU, staff, students, etc. as to why.  We made the evening news with Tom Brokaw and many people believed this, but quickly realized it was April 1^st.  HA HA! We love Uncle Johns way too much to ever drop that “S”.If you could take a class at Hopkins, which one and why?

If you could take a class at Hopkins, which one and why?
I really want to take one of the B’more intersession classes.  This year there are fourteen different courses, each allowing you to explore various aspects of Baltimore in depth.  Here are the top 2 I’d take:  History – Blue Collar Baltimore,   and/or Public Health – B’more Vaccines and Child Health .

What is your favorite place on the Homewood campus?
I know I’m incredibly biased, but Mason Hall. For 2 main reasons – first, if you’ve visited us on campus, you may have noticed it is one of the newer buildings on campus and it is beautiful.  The 2^nd (and more important) is that the people in this building are amazing; my fellow admissions counselors, our PR staff, our student volunteers, etc.  everyone (including our visitors!) makes this a great building to be in.

If you could teach an Intersession class, what would be the class name and description?
Impress your roommates: Easy cooking for the true beginner.  This is/was me!  2 years ago I decided I wanted to teach myself how to cook, and I did!  Well, to be honest I’m still a work in progress but I’ve perfected a few things I could probably teach.   We’d learn how to roast a chicken, make beef burgundy, a vegetable frittata and an apple tart.  Thankfully intersession is only a few weeks because I would run out of things I knew how to make if it were much longer.

What is the craziest question you’ve ever been asked while recruiting for Johns Hopkins?
Do you have pre-med?  Asked every day, multiple times.

If you could be a student at Hopkins for a day, what would you look forward to most?
Getting  juice from the fresh squeezed O.J. machine in the Fresh Food Café.

If you could join any Hopkins club or organizations, which one would you join?
One of our several female a capella groups.  What? You have to actually be able to sing? I thought this was a hypothetical question.

What song or book or movie makes you think of your college days and why?
Titanic – it came out when I was in college and my friends and I all saw it together and when it finally came out on VHS (it’s a tape that you use in a…nevermind) we watched and quoted it non-stop.  And to think, that was just the beginning of block busters for Leo!

If a movie was made about your life, who would play your part and why?
This one stumped me as I’m not great at remembering names and faces of celebrities.  Luckily, Admissions_Daniel knows everything about movies and said Nicole Kidman. Why? Because Admissions_Daniels said so!

Want to know even more about Sarah Godwin? Re-visit some of her past Admissions Staff Profiles:
February 6, 2009, February 24, 2010.

Meet Your Admissions Counselor III: Sherryl Fletcher

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Name: Sherryl A. Fletcher

Region:Illinois, Michigan and Ohio

Meet Admissions Counselor: Sherryl Fletcher

Educational Background:  MA The University of Michigan, BA Albion College

JHU Start Date: 1996

Years in Admissions: 29 years, 14 at the University of Michigan’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions and 15 at Johns Hopkins University’s Office of Undergraduate Admissions

Why did you choose to go into college admissions?
I was a tour guide as an undergraduate student for the President’s Office and for special campus visitors for the Bonta Office of Admissions and really enjoyed the experience. When I began my Masters degree in 1983 in Higher Education at the University of Michigan, the Office of Admissions needed a graduate assistant who had a bit of admissions experience.  I quickly found that the profession was a great fit for me! Many thanks to my first two Michigan administrators, Dr. Cliff Sjogren, Director of Admissions, and Dr. Lance Erickson, Senior Associate Director of Admissions, for believing in my potential.

What do you like best about working in admissions at Johns Hopkins University?
I really enjoy the balance of meeting exceptionally talented prospective students and currently enrolled undergraduates. The colleagues I work with on campus and nationally are also terrifically talented and have become wonderful friends.

What is your ideal set-up for reading applications?
My reading of applications is a unique and creative approach which is most often at my desk in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions or during the evening and weekends, at my dining room table at home. My office desk is my favorite place because I use an incentive system to set goals, with rewards, for my reading. If you look closely at this picture, you will see a chewy candy reward (Swedish fish are a favorite choice) as an incentive to read 5 applications, another reward for 10 and another reward for 15, and so on. I also reward myself with a quick walk after each 10 applications read!

What do you do when you need a break from application reading?
My breaks on campus are spent in meetings which remind me of the richly diverse sense of place here at Johns Hopkins which I need to keep in mind as I review applications.

What is one of the quirkiest things an applicant ever did with their application?
I will substitute quirky with creative. One of my favorite applications arrived with a box with a glass globe within in, picture a fortune teller’s globe! Around the globe were pennies with wishes attached to them. What was memorable was that all the wishes were for others and not one wish was for the applicant. The theme was one thousand pennies, one thousand wishes to change the world. Thank you, Carleigh.

What makes an application essay really stand out for you?
When a student is writing in an authentic voice, their own experiences stand out as unique views of who he/she is and the potential to contribute within the classroom and within the Johns Hopkins community.

What is the funniest thing you’ve overheard or seen while at Johns Hopkins?
I really enjoy watching our Johns Hopkins University video which we use during our admissions information sessions because it showcases one of many talents our President has, he is filmed as he manages a hula hoop extremely well!

If you could take a class at Hopkins, which one and why?
Any class in the History of Art department would be a top choice for me as one of my undergraduate degrees was in studio art, an early BFA program, and I did not have the chance to take as many art history courses as I would have hoped for.

What is your favorite place on the Homewood campus?
Gilman Hall is my favorite place on campus. It is a beautiful place to read applications on my laptop with a great cup of coffee or tea.

If you could teach an Intersession class, what would be the class name and description?
My Intersession class would focus on the role of positive thinking and visualization as a method for creating success as an athlete or a member of any team. I played tennis for some years at the competitive level.

What is the craziest question you’ve ever been asked while recruiting for Johns Hopkins?
The craziest, yet possibly predictable question I usually receive when representing Johns Hopkins is, do your sons attend Johns Hopkins? My response is that they would have loved to have been students here if I did not work here! Maybe I should not have mentioned that I could have had lunch with them each week.

If you could be a student at Hopkins for a day, what would you look forward to most?
I would have loved to have been a student here at Johns Hopkins because of the balance between engaged learning in the classroom and the leadership opportunities with organizations outside of the classroom. I would have loved to have played DIII field hockey and tennis for the Blue Jays.

If you could join any Hopkins club or organizations, which one would you join?
I would have joined a sorority as well as Blue Key, our admissions tour guide society, combined with being a two season athlete.

What song or book or movie makes you think of your college days and why?
Any song that was recorded by the Doobie Brothers brings back college memories, and I am certainly dating myself with this response.

If a movie was made about your life, who would play your part and why?
I think I would have my two sons, Christopher, age 22, and Cameron, age 19, narrate an independent film/ story of my life interspersed with pictures of my favorite places, because the central theme is the balance of family and dear friends with a professional career between my home state of Michigan and our family state of Maryland.

Want to know even more about Sherryl Fletcher? Re-visit some of her past Admissions Staff Profiles:
March 3, 2010; February 14, 2008; February 14, 2006

Meet Your Admissions Counselor II: Daniel Creasy

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Name: Daniel Creasy

Region: New England (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont)

Meet Admissions Counselor: Daniel Creasy

Educational Background: Brown University; BA in Political Science

JHU Start Date: August 25, 2003

Years in Admissions: 13 years

Why did you chose to go into college admissions?
Originally my plan post-college was to work in communications and specifically political journalism.  Following a stint working for CNN I realized that I was not cut out for working in the media. I decided to find a job that I would not have to commit a career to and would provide me time to re-evaluate my professional history. Since I had enjoyed giving campus tours and helping out in the Admissions Office I applied for entry-level college admissions jobs thinking I might enjoy the field for a few years. Thirteen years later I have discovered a career and a passion.

What do you like best about working in admissions at Johns Hopkins University?
This used to be a hard question to answer as I could think of so many responses, but now there is a clear cut answer that comes to mind: The Student Admissions Advisory Board (SAAB). Working on a regular basis with such creative, determined, engaging, and dedicated students has become the true joy of my job and why I love what I do and where I work.  SAAB is in many ways my pseudo-family and I care for each of the students greatly. Last year I wrote about my “love” for SAAB past and present in this blog entry: Featured Students: SAAB Legacy. And seriously, how could my answer be anything else … these students got Hopkins to be the #1 social media college in the country.

What is your ideal set-up for reading applications?
I need to be at home. I need water, a good iTunes playlist, warm socks, and Soze suntanning near me.

Admissions_Daniel's Home Office

Soze's normal position while I am reading applications.

What do you do when you need a break from application reading?
I am an early riser so my reading day is pretty unusual. I normally start reading around 5:30 a.m. after walking Soze and having a quick breakfast. I usually read until 11:00 a.m. with either VH1 music videos or Mike and Mike in the background. I then take a break, play with Soze, have lunch, and watch a favorite show I TiVo’ed from the night before. Then it is usually nap time. I am back up and reading around 3:00 p.m.  and will read straight until dinner time around 7:00 p.m. After dinner and a nice walk for Soze, it is back to reading until my eyes can’t stay open. So pretty much Soze, food, TV, and/or a nap are my go-to activities when not reading.

What is one of the quirkiest things an applicant ever did with their application?
My colleagues always get the quirky things from applicants, but I did get a unique “gift” when I was at a college fair a few years ago. It was at the Summer College Fair at Brown University. The event is held in the gym, in the summer, and for three hours I will typically have over a 1000 students visit my college fair table. Profuse sweating doesn’t even begin to describe what a college rep goes through while attending this event. So a few years ago a prospective student went around handing out pocket fans for each school he was interested in, and on the fans he had printed all of his contact information  to get on our mailing list. I still have the fan, but unfortunately the student didn’t apply.

What make an application essay really stand out for you?
It absolutely needs to be personal. I need to have a better sense of who the applicant is after reading the essay. In fact, I want applicants to think of it less as an essay and more as a personal statement. Being personal makes an essay effective, being original and creative makes an essay stand out.

What is the funniest thing you’ve overheard or seen while at Johns Hopkins?
This past summer I was giving an information session to a large crowd of visitors in the Auditorium of Mason Hall. I show a 9-minute video overview of Hopkins to start my session and then when the movie is complete I raise the video screen and shades to the large windows at the base of the auditorium. It is a pretty impressive use of technology, but as the shades and screen are rising, just outside on the patio of the Colonnade that surrounds Mason Hall there is a young man with his pants down tucking in his shirt and putting on a tie. There was an audible gasp from the crowd and then laughter. The laughter got out of control because the man had no idea we were watching him and he took more than a minute to finally raise his pants.

If you could take a class at Hopkins, which one and why?
Education Politics in Urban America – In college I never took a single Education class and now I guess after 13 years working in higher education I would be curious to take one. My student worker Miranda actually took the class last spring and when we chatted about the class it sounded like I would have really enjoyed it.

What is your favorite place on the Homewood campus?
I know it is not a creative answer but my office in Mason Hall. I have a great view overlooking the Decker Quad and I often have my students in my office which makes it a ton of fun.

If you could teach an Intersession class, what would be the class name and description?
Manage 3 TiVos: Tales from a Television Addict OR How to fix the Academy Awards - Anyone who has followed this blog or my Twitter account knows I have a serious addiction to television and movies. The first class would be a class on organizing one’s television addiction while maximizing the effectiveness of DVR recording space. The second class would be a survey and discussion class to determine how to get younger generations to connect with the Oscars.

What is the craziest question you’ve ever been asked while recruiting for Johns Hopkins?
Do you have hair? This was at a college fair in rural Maine and after a few awkward moments I realized the girl was asking if we had a program for cutting hair. After even more awkward remarks I referred her to the Barbizon website.

If you could be a student at Hopkins for a day, what would you look forward to most?
Eating at the FFC. My memories of college cafeteria food at Brown bring back nightmares. I have been to the FFC a number of times and the food is quite good, and even more impressive is the options. If I had just one day I would eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and make sure I get late night in as well.

If you could join any Hopkins club or organization, which one would you join?
I guess saying SAAB would be too easy, so I probably would choose either trying out for the Woodrow Wilson Debate team or writing for the News-Letter. Debate because I do love to argue intelligently, and the newspaper because I have some really good ideas on how to improve their content.

What song or book or movie makes you think of your college days and why?
Song would have to be anything by Sade. The French girl who lived next door to me my sophomore year used to play Sade on repeat all day and night. The walls were so thin, and I literally almost went crazy listening to the soft melodies 24/7. When I asked her to please play the music lower or have a bit of variety she cursed me out in French and blew smoke in my face. She was not a nice neighbor. So I started playing Nine Inch Nails and Ministry on repeat. Book would have to be Crime and Punishment and movie would have to be Priscilla Queen of the Desert but those stories will have to wait until another blog profile.

If a movie was made about your life, who would play your part and why?
John Belushi. Many people have told me this before and I can see it … big guy and very loud. Yeah, that’s me.

Want to know even more about Daniel Creasy (me!)? Re-visit some of my past Admissions Staff Profiles:
February 21, 2010; February 21, 2008; February 7, 2006

Meet Your Admissions Counselor I: John Birney

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Editor’s Note: This entry begins a multi-part blog series where members of the Johns Hopkins Admissions Committee respond to a a series of questions to help applicants and other prospective audiences “get to know us” better. Check back every Monday and Thursday for the next six weeks to read a new profile. We will be following the order of our Meet the Staff page: http://apply.jhu.edu/contact/staff.html. Enjoy!

Name: John Birney

Meet Admissions Counselor: John Birney

Region: Connecticut and New York (except Long Island)

Educational Background: Lynchburg College; BA in History and MEd in Curriculum and Instruction

JHU Start Date: August 21, 2000

Years in Admissions: 17 years

Why did you choose to go into college admissions?
As I was completing my graduate degree, I was unhappy with what I was doing – teaching high school history.  So I went to my graduate adviser who had a friend in the admissions office.  She made a call on my behalf to see if admissions could use an intern for a semester.  They did, I went, and I was hit with the bug of enrolling college students.  The rest, as they say, is history.

What do you like best about working in admissions at Johns Hopkins University?
I’d like to think that many staff have distinct and favorite parts of working in admissions.  My two favorite areas, as my colleagues would agree, are my work with the Hodson Trust Scholars group, and my involvement with Hopkins Athletics.  I have responsibility for the selection of the Hodson Scholars – clearly some of the finest and most involved students on campus – and we’ve now designed that group as a student organization.  My work with JHU Athletics is both extremely fun and rewarding.  Recruiting athletes who have the both the intellectual stamina and athletic prowess to continue our longstanding tradition of winning is something to which I’ll never tire.  A quick look at our national ranking of 13 in the Learfield Cup is a testament to our success.  To read more about Hopkins sports, please see: www.hopkinssports.com.

What is your ideal set-up for reading applications?
The picture included is of my office set up.  I only need a couple things to make reading a success: the second monitor, cold drink, comfortable clothes, music, closed door, and a minimum of interruptions.

What do you do when you need a break from application reading?
I have a few shows I like on TLC or Discovery that I try and catch up on.  You’d think that reading is the last thing I’d do, but I like to catch up on the newest books of my favorite authors: Patterson, Grisham, Cornwell, Evanovich, and Kellerman.

What is one of the quirkiest things an applicant ever did with their application?
An applicant wrote an essay on the inside of a fishing lure box, which included the actual lure.  The lure happens to be a plastic spot with dual treble hooks.  I use this lure every year when I fish for stripers in the fall.  It’s caught two fish so far.

What makes an application essay really stand out for you?
The topic needs to be unusual and interesting.  I love to find out those characteristics of students which are rarely known.

What is the funniest thing you’ve overheard or seen while at Johns Hopkins?
In my first year, I witnessed a tour guide, walking backwards, fall down a flight of steps while on tour.  She was not injured in the fall.

If you could take a class at Hopkins, which one and why?
Beer History and Appreciation. To many, beer is an acquired taste.  I enjoy the many nuances between varietal types of beer; it’s pairings with food and the complexity of how they are produced.  This course provides the introduction and sampling to broaden my knowledge and palate.

What is your favorite place on the Homewood campus?
Standing on Homewood Field – especially during home lacrosse games.

If you could teach an Intersession class, what would be the class name and description?
Auctions: Unexpected Treasures. Learn the auction business from an experienced auction house bidder.  Participants will go behind the scenes working with an auction house as it writes contracts with sellers, appraises items, and writes marketing campaigns.  Students will complete the class by working on the auction floor as items are sold to the highest bidder.

What is the craziest question you’ve ever been asked while recruiting for Johns Hopkins?
Do we have a medical school?  OK, not the funniest, but that question is more common than you’d think.  More funny is the student who asked about a mortuary science degree.  Sorry, we’re not in the business of creating future funeral directors.

If you could be a student at Hopkins for a day, what would you look forward to most?
I’d look forward to my time after class.  The social time, club and organization meeting, intramural sports, fraternity life, etc., would be the highlight of my day.

If you could join any Hopkins club or organizations, which one would you join?
I’d join The Allnighters, our only all male a capella group.  One of my college minors was vocal performance (I even went to college on a music scholarship) and tight harmonies are my favorite to perform.

What song or book or movie makes you think of your college days and why?
“Lay Your Hands on Me”, Bon Jovi, New Jersey.  This was the first song I queued up on my new stereo – and I played it LOUD.  I was trying to impress the guys on the hall that I had monster speakers – I can’t tell you if they were impressed.

If a movie was made about your life, who would play your part and why?
Chris O’Donnell.  We’re the same age and height, plus I’m a big fan of Scent of a Woman.

Want to know even more about John Birney? Re-visit some of his past Admissions Staff Profiles:
March 1, 2010; March 3, 2008; January 4, 2006.

Welcome to the Team Bryan, Calvin, and Katie

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Though we never like saying goodbye to colleagues when someone leaves our staff, the silver lining is we get to welcome new members to our team. At the end of this summer we welcomed three new members of the Admissions counseling team and they have already made a positive impact on our office. Bryan, Calvin, and Katie all joined us just in time to head out on the road and begin recruitment travel. Now they are back in the office regularly and diving into the application review process just like the rest of the staff. Since we know our applicants like learning a bit about who reads their applications, I asked my new colleagues to compose some short introductions. So now join me in welcoming Bryan, Calvin, and Katie to the team.

Calvin, Katie, and Bryan (left to right)

Bryan Nance – Associate Director of Admissions
Region: Delaware, New Jersey

Hey Skeech how did we get here? (Movie trivia #1) Good question! Please allow myself to introduce… myself. (Movie trivia #2)

I was born in Queens, New York, and I’ve lived in Seoul, Republic of Korea; Tacoma Washington; Indianapolis, Indiana; Newark, Delaware; Ithaca, New York, Medford, Massachusetts; and most recently Oxford, Ohio. I am a graduate of Norfolk State University (Home of the Spartans!) and the University of Delaware (Home of The Fightin’ Blue Hens!). I served as an active duty US Army Officer (Adjutant General Corps) where I learned how to jump from perfectly good aircraft while in flight. (AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY!). Finally, I am married to Kristina with two daughters Lauren (20) and McKinley (8), and son Miles (5).

Twelve years ago I had the crazy idea that I could change the world by becoming an admissions counselor. So with my master’s degree in hand, I headed off to Ithaca, NY, intent on doing just that. In that time I’ve worked at Cornell, MIT, Miami University, and now Johns Hopkins, I have been successful in recruiting, admitting, and enrolling students of color. Yet the more I do, the more that needs to be done. I’ve always been interested in causes where I can make a difference. I am pleased to be a member of the Hopkins family and hope to make Hopkins more diverse one admit at a time.

Calvin Wise – Assistant Director of Admissions
Region: Maryland, Oregon, Washington

My name is Calvin Wise and I have been at Hopkins for just over two months now. I am originally from the Baltimore area, graduating from Calvert Hall College High School in Towson. Before coming to JHU, I spent six years at St. Mary’s College of Maryland; four years as a student and two years as an Admission Counselor.

For the high school seniors, not too long ago I was going through a very similar process as you. Although I’d like to think graduating high school was not too long ago, I am referring to transitioning to a new job. Making the decision to leave what was my home for six years was my most difficult decision to date. St. Mary’s was where I was comfortable, with plenty of good friends and memories. However, I knew it was time to move on. After I interviewed at Johns Hopkins, I strongly believed I had found my new home, but did the Admissions staff share the same feeling? Day after day, I waited in anxiousness to hear word from the Admissions Office. A couple of weeks later, I received the good news and initiated my transition to become a member of the JHU community. Filled with mixed emotions, I loaded up my car and set my sights on Baltimore. Once on campus, I unpacked my office; went through orientation; and, most importantly, purchased my sweatshirt! The students, staff, and faculty here are amazing. They possess a unique caring and passionate nature with the strong desire to help others.

The lessons I learned during my college search process were reiterated during my transition in employment. The key to success is finding a place where you will be happy. Do not take the process of finding your next home lightly. Always trust in your abilities and do not be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Change can be a great thing, providing us with new challenges and opportunities!

Katherine Rieder – Assistant Director of Admissions
Region: District of Columbia, Maryland

Early this September, I accepted the position of Assistant Director of Admissions and Alumni Relations at Hopkins, but my JHU story really began 15 years ago. My parents and I pulled up to the AMRs (the freshmen dorms) during Labor Day weekend 1996, a group of students swarmed our car and very efficiently transported all my worldly possessions to my room, and I officially became a Hopkins freshmen. I remember looking around, admittedly pretty stupefied after driving all the way from Michigan, and being frightened and excited all at the same time.

My four years as an undergraduate here, as cheesy as it sounds, shaped the path my life has taken ever since. I came here thinking I was going to be a diplomat; I ended up changing my major to art history, doing research and interning at museums on campus and beyond, and went on to get my PhD in American art history. I participated in a ton of extracurricular activities—I was in a sorority and spent all of my four years on the student committee that runs one of Hopkins’ most beloved traditions, Spring Fair—but I was also an Admissions volunteer. I gave tours (I was an elite backwards-walker if I do say so myself) and interviews. And look where I am now! Most importantly, my very closest friend to this day was one of the first people I met freshmen year (she lived across the hall) and my now husband ambled into my life sophomore year when we met while working on Spring Fair. I am a walking advertisement for Hopkins—the doors it opens, the experiences you’ll have, and the friends you’ll make—and I am so happy to be back!

Bryan, Calvin, and Katie now join John, Sherryl, John, Rachel, Sarah, Dana, Shannon, Chloe, and I on selecting and shaping the Johns Hopkins Class of 2016. Check out our Meet the Staff page for contact information for the admissions staff and our regional breakdown. Also, to learn more about the other members of the counseling staff review past blog entries in our Admissions Staff Profiles category.

Don’t Forget to Enjoy the Ride

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Just the other day, I received a Facebook invitation for my 10-year high school reunion.  At first, I was shocked—I couldn’t believe 10 years had gone by since I walked across the stage in my green cap and gown. As I thought about the four years I spent in high school, I couldn’t remember all of the teachers I had, nor how I did on certain exams or what grades I got on my papers. What I did remember was being sold in the senior auction, going to prom with all of my friends, team spirit days for the athletic teams I played on, and decorating for homecoming. While I certainly learned a lot in the classroom (this is, after all, why we go to school), experiences like these helped to round out my high school years. I really do think that in order to make the most of your senior year, you not only need to do well academically, but also take advantage of everything high school has to offer.

So, since many of you are just beginning your senior year, or are parents watching your son or daughter go off into their last year of high school, I thought it would be fun for our Admissions Counselors to share some words of wisdom on how to make the most of your last year before you head off to college. (These words might also help with your first few weeks of college when the time comes as well!)

Don’t be afraid to take a chance. If there is an activity you’ve always wanted to try, someone you’d like to meet, or a class you’ve always wanted to take, put yourself out there and make it happen. You don’t want to leave high school with any regrets and you just may find a new passion, a best friend, or what you want to study in college.
- Shannon Miller, East Brunswick High School, New Jersey

Admissions_Shannon ready for high school graduation.

Admissions_Shannon ready for her high school prom.

Enjoy it!  The college search process should be fun.  It’s the first time in your life that you get to choose your next home.  Also, typically it’s the first occasion students sit down and reflect on their accomplishments to date.  Be proud.
- Calvin Wise, Calvert Hall, Maryland

My advice to high school seniors is simple: stay involved, stay focused, stay balanced, and continue to engage in your best efforts in your classes. Senior year is an exciting year and one that requires great organizational skills to continue to lead and to contribute in school and community organizations as well as to grow academically.  When you add the commitment to completing college applications and the thought needed to make a final college enrollment choice, your terrific organizational skills will support you in all you do this year. Enjoy the year!
- Sherryl Fletcher, Dearborn High School, Michigan

Congratulations seniors! You made it—well, almost. It may seem like your life is on auto-pilot between meetings, practice, homework, and dinner.  Things are humming along (okay, rushing along like a high speed train).  If you can, take a deep breath and try to spend a few minutes every week with someone who has been supportive of you the past three years. It could be a neighbor, your rabbi—you get the idea. Spending some of your busy time with this person will do two things: first it will let them know how much you appreciate them. Second, it will help your stress level in this occasionally stressful senior year.  These are people who are proud of and support you regardless of your swim time or what colleges you get into. They just want to see you happy.  The extra time will make you both feel better. That, and NEVER pass up tater tots in the lunch room.
- Sarah Godwin, Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Vermont

Have fun with your friends!  Make it a priority amidst all the other craziness—including college applications :) They’re the ones who’ll make your senior year memorable. Also, try to avoid taking unfortunate senior pictures (see mine).  Your mom WILL keep them for the rest of your life.
- Katherine Rieder, J.W. Sexton High School, Lansing, Michigan

Follow Katie's advice, avoid "those" senior photos.

Katie ready for her high school graduation.

Keep a camera in your bag to take pictures of your friends, family, favorite haunts, and memorable moments.  Pictures make for great going away presents, freshman dorm wall decorations, and are (almost) as good as mom’s cooking when you miss home.
- Dana Messinger, Calhoun School, New York

Bucket list for senior year of high school:
*go to prom
*attend a home game of each of your school’s teams
*skip school on senior skip day
*take a class just for fun
*apply to college (and get in)
Most importantly: don’t worry about what others think—it’s your thoughts that count!
- John Birney, Strath Haven High School, Pennsylvania

Although you certainly need to keep your grades up in the second semester of your senior year, also take a breath of fresh air. Enjoy the successes you’ve had, especially in terms of college admissions, even if they weren’t exactly what you had envisioned. And, take a risk in asking someone to prom!
- Chloe Rothstein, Trinity School, New York

Senior year of high school is for many the most enjoyable time of their schooling ever, but also tends to be the most stressful. The best advice I can give to the high school Class of 2012 and future college class of 2016 is to maintain balance and cherish each experience. Prepare for each milestone event on the calendar whether it is college application deadlines or senior prom. You will need to balance out the stressful activities such as writing college essays with the fun memories of your last homecoming, your senior trip, and sharing thoughts in your class yearbook. The time will soar by, so document the year by taking lots of photographs or keeping a journal. Make the most of every moment since you only get to be a senior once—well actually, you will be a senior again in four years so just repeat my advice then too.
- Daniel Creasy, Sachem High School, New York

Admissions_Daniel ready for Junior prom.

Admissions_Daniel reflects on graduation.

I hope your senior year of high school starts off well and gets better every day because enjoying all aspects of school (academic and social) will allow you to thrive as an individual.  My advice to you for this year is to use your best judgment and think clearly before making decisions and don’t live your life in regret.  Good luck and don’t forget to have some fun.
- Rachel Cowan Jacobs, Woodrow Wilson High School, Washington DC

Getting to Know the Admissions Committee: Question #10

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QUESTION #10: When on the road recruiting in your region, what are some of your favorite places to visit in your free time?

Sarah: This is the easiest question of all for me. Every year I attend a college fair in Minnesota (hi MISP kids!) and I make sure to build in a little time to go to The Mall of America. It is massive. The fair is in October, which happens to be my birthday month, sooooo….I give myself permission to buy me a *little* birthday present. Traveling on your birthday isn’t fun, except when you buy yourself gifts, then it becomes okay.

Dana: I love Reading Terminal in Philadelphia, the Warhol museum and Strip District in Pittsburgh, and all of the outlet discount stores in Northern Virginia (DSW, Loehmanns, TJMaxx, etc).

Mark: Having domestic and international regions, I do a lot of travel for work, but I do have some favorite spots. Short Hills Mall (NJ), Bent Spoon Ice Cream (NJ), any gas station in NJ (they pump it for me!), any Marks & Spencer (London), Leicester Square (London), Pont-des-Arts (Paris) and any book stores.

Leicester Square, 2009

Sherryl: I love to be outside when I travel in Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. You might see me stopping at a lakeside view, walking a beach before a high school visit, visiting a local grocery store, chatting and then eating lunch outside, or stopping at an orchard for a snack.

John B.: Because I’m fortunate enough to recruit in New York City, my favorite place to go is a diner named The Flame, located on the corner of 9th and 58th. I suggest trying the turkey club—delicious.

Lester: I handle Montgomery County, Maryland, which abuts the northwest boundary of Washington, D.C. I confess to having stopped at the Montgomery Mall more than once to have my shoes shined at Nordstrom, to shop for clothes for my infant and toddler at Naartjie and Hanna Andersson, and to eat at Chick-fil-A.

Daniel: I have been traveling in New England for 10 years now. I enjoy exploring various restaurants throughout Boston, especially those that focus on seafood. But by far my favorite city to visit is Providence each spring and fall. I lived in Providence for four years and it is always great to go back and revisit Thayer Street, Atwells Avenue, the Cable Car cinema, Hemmenway’s, and Roger Williams Park.

Zak: Regardless of where I am visiting (Oregon and New Orleans come to mind), I always try and visit sites that are unique to those places. For example, when I was in Oregon I visited the headquarters for Nike and when I traveled to New Orleans I spent some time in the French Quarter trying out all of the Cajun style food! Although traveling for 4-6 weeks is tiring, being able to visit locations that are exclusive to the area that I am in always helps to lift my spirits.

Rachel: As a staff member who travels internationally, I am very lucky to find myself most often in Europe, and I always try to fit in a few hours for myself if flight schedules permit. I love walking around London because you can see so much on foot. When I am in Istanbul I try to do something along the water (crossing a bridge doesn’t count, although you could certainly be over the water for a long time that way) and shop. In Greece, I try to visit anything old, which is pretty easy to accomplish. On the domestic side, I enjoy whatever free time I can manage in Miami, be it South Beach, Coconut Grove, or Calle Ocho.

Chloe and the Tecnion mascota in Mexico

Chloe: Restaurants in Scottsdale, Arizona; long scenic drives in Montezuma, New Mexico; and museums in Mexico City, Mexico.

Shannon: (1) San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park. Love this place! (2) Fisherman’s Wharf. Have to have clam chowder in a bread bowl, and I can usually find some fun and funky necklaces around there being sold on the streets (If not, I go to Chinatown). I can also stare at sea lions for hours… (3) In and Out Burger.YUM! (4) The Beach. It is great to read a book outside to relax between school visits and presentations or college fairs…especially when in Hawaii. (5) Outlets. There’s nothing like a good sale on the road..

Amy: In Los Angeles: early morning runs in Brentwood, mid-day strolls through the Getty, and the occasional late night adventure in Hollywood. My drive through sun-drenched Ojai is a yearly pilgrimage I wouldn’t miss, as is the lucky late afternoon I can catch in Culver City, Pasadena’s Old Town, or Santa Monica. In Seattle: walks around Capitol Hill or the Olympic Sculpture Park with Stumptown coffee in hand, Belltown for eats, and Ballard for boutique-hopping. Let me assure you that recruiting IS the focus, much as it might seem otherwise!

Getting to Know the Admissions Committee: Question #9

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QUESTION #9: How can you tell if an applicant is a good fit for Johns Hopkins?

Sarah: Do you love to learn? Can you become very passionate about an academic subject? Are you going to be able to have fun once you get here? Is there evidence from your essays, your teacher recommendations, and your transcript that supports this? If so, you may be a good fit for Hopkins.

Dana: I think of Hopkins students as the work hard, play hard type. Generally speaking, they are strong students, interested in independent learning and exploration, leaders in their community, and involved with a number of extracurricular activities.

When applying to colleges, enthusiasm is key!

Lester: We’ve got a broad spectrum of students here, so rather than looking for certain student profiles, more than anything I think applicants will be a good fit if they are excited about the unique things we offer. Students who are willing to take ownership of their own curricula, who are interested in independent scholarship and research, and who look forward to close interactions with their professors and fellow students will find what they’re looking for here.

Mark: Fit is very personal and there are certain qualities which I look for in either the application or letters of support. I think the big piece is being open-minded to upcoming experiences. Humility also goes a long way.

Getting accepted is only the first step: figuring out where you "fit" best can sometimes be the hardest!

John B.: I ask myself a few simple questions. Do they have the academic abilities to do well in the classroom? Do they desire to learn? And, what will they contribute to campus life? If a student falls short in any of the three (and when they do, it’s typically their lack of contribution), I know they are not a good fit for what we seek.

Amy: There are so many students who would be terrific fits for Johns Hopkins: They’re interested in studying a wide variety of topics from the humanities to engineering; they’re self-propelled learners who engage collaboratively with those around them; they care about the world and they want to do as much good as they can. Education and learning for the sake of learning are important for Johns Hopkins students.

Chloe: If they are intellectually curious, independent, and quirky, and love to have fun.

Rachel: I find a sense of purpose and interest in an applicant who is a good fit for Hopkins. This goes beyond all the quantitative data we have. Even if it’s something as simple as readiness for college (any college) that comes across strongly, that can be enough to know the person would fit well.

Sherryl: I join my admissions colleagues in reading every item within every application to consider the applicant and his or her possible place at Johns Hopkins. It is so very important to consider multiple opinions when making such significant decisions about admission.

Shannon: He or she is passionate about learning and their activities. The student is genuinely interested in moving forward and making a change. As our mission statement says, we want students to learn, develop, and research to “bring the benefits of discovery to the world.”

With JHU's support, many students feel prepared to explore and discover what the world has to offer.

Daniel: For me there are always two terms that I keep in mind when evaluating an applicant as a fit for Hopkins. First is academic enrichment. Students who have gone “above and beyond” the norm with their academics make a smooth transition to an institution like Hopkins where research is key. Second is dedication. Students who know what they are passionate about, whether with academics or with their extracurriculars, and have proven that they actively pursue those interests also make strong Hopkins undergraduates.

Zak: We want students here that are going to be open to new ideas and new perspectives and the application process helps us to figure that out. An applicant who has an open mind about things that he/she has never experienced would be a good fit here. Someone who won’t be scared to take risks and reap the benefits of those rewards. Students that are a good fit for Hopkins have passion and excitement for a certain activity or cause that they are involved with. It doesn’t necessarily mean they need to keep up with those same activities when they arrive to campus, but we want them to be active members of our community. An applicant with a good fit will have that quality above all else.