What’s New Vol. 2: Twitter and Hopkins Now!

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So what’s next with “What’s New,” you ask? Well as I foreshadowed at the end of the last post, this entry will feature some advancements we have made to Hopkins Interactive over the last few months.

For those new to this Hopkins Insider blog, you might not know that the blog is just one part of the much larger Hopkins Interactive Web site project. Back in December of 2005, we (and when I say “we” I mean myself and the amazing group of current students who are featured on the site) launched H.I. and the blogs and since that time we have always been updating the content and trying new things. At the on-set we had blogs and message boards — and since we have added many more blogs, created a massive forums section, developed unique video content, launched Facebook groups, participated in online chats, posted over 20 student profiles, and provided endless content from the “insider’s perspective.” The ultimate goal of Hopkins Interactive has been to provide prospective audiences with an inside, uncensored, virtual connection to the Johns Hopkins community. I am confident to say, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. [[[If you are interested in more history about this massive project, I recommend reading my September 16 REBOOT post or check out the entries listed under the "Hopkins Interactive Updates" category or the "Milestone Entries" category.]]]

But, as is commonplace, when you launch a successful project the only way to remain successful is to expand and try new things. So this semester, I have worked with the Hopkins Interactive students on two new projects that we hope everyone enjoys. We also hope that these new undertakings continue to aid prospective students in learning about the real Johns Hopkins University and what it is like to live, study, and enjoy life at Homewood.

TWITTER: “HopkinsInsider is using Twitter”

This summer I got a message from one of the first Hopkins Interactive students, JHU_MichelleT. Michelle graduated a couple of years ago and is now a first-year law student at some well-known law school in New Haven, CT — I forgot the name though, ooops. (Actually, read Michelle’s recent alumni blogfor details about her post-JHU years.) The message was a simple one and I think it stated:

“You all [the H.I. team] should be on Twitter.”

At the time I had never heard of Twitter. I did a Google and Wiki search and learned a bit more about it … but honestly, I still had no idea what it was. So I emailed some of H.I. students and asked what there thoughts were on Twitter. The feedback ranged from “great idea, let’s do it” to “what the heck is it?” We tabled the discussion for a bit, but then at the start of the semester I asked a few other students to do some research on how we could use Twitter through Hopkins Interactive, and to answer two simple questions: (1) Are other college using the system? & (2) What would we use Twitter for?

The answers came back — yes some colleges are using the system but not many. And, simply put Twitter is a site where you can frequently update your status and your friends can follow your updated status page. OK, that really isn’t that simple. If you are curious to learn more about Twitter … read this … and read this. Ultimately, the idea was to use Twitter as a way to highlight all the new content to Hopkins Interactive.

So we put a plan forth to create a Twitter page. Prior to launching the HopkinsInsider Twitter page there was a ton of skepticism, mainly on my part. But we pushed forth, JHU_Lauren created a great design for the page, and we posted our first TWEET at 9:02AM on October 29th from the web. As you explore Twitter you will find a whole lexicon of terms related to the system … for instance a “tweet” is the name used for posting a status update. I know … strange … and hence skepticism.

However, after we launched almost universally all the students and I loved the new system. We use the system to post when new blog entries have been posted by the students. We use the system to highlight cool happenings at Homewood like Will Ferrell coming to speak, the soccer teams making the NCAA tournament, or the selection of a new JHU President. And we use the system to highlight sections of Hopkins Interactive.

Now we just need FOLLOWERS. And those FOLLOWERS should be all of you. It is simple to set-up, then just bookmark it, and every few days learn about what is new at JHU and stay up-to-date with all of our blogs.

Click Here to Visit and Begin Following the HopkinsInsider Twitter Page

HOPKINS NOW! – Our New Video Show

The other advancement has actually been a re-imaging of sorts. Back in the Fall of 2007, the Admissions Office purchased a video camera for the Hopkins Interactive students and we began to shoot some random videos of the Homewood campus. Some of the students honed their editing skills, and in December 2007 we launched the Hopkins Interactive Video Blog. In the beginning, the videos introduced various locations around campus like Gilman Hall, the MSE Library, the Dining Halls, and Charles Commons to name a few. We really hit our stride with the Hopkins CRIBS videos.

As the students and I brainstormed on how we can improve our video output, JHU_Josh(our resident Film and Media major) suggested the idea of a regular video show. And Hopkins Now! was born.

This past semester the team has created three episodes of Hopkins Now! The concept is a bi-monthly video show highlighting different aspects of Johns Hopkins University for a student’s perspective. Fully produced by the students of H.I., each episode features segments like Blue Jay Waking, News from the Nest, Baltimore Revealed, Question of the Week, and Hot at Hopkins.

We have great plans for the spring semester episodes, and will continue to improve the quality and content. Scroll to the bottom of this post for each of the videos, and remember …

Click Here to Access the Video Blog and all the Hopkins Now! Episodes

That’s it for this What’s New entry. Check back later this week for the part III. Now enjoy the videos.

Hopkins Now! Episode #1

Hopkins Now! Episode #2A and #2B

Hopkins Now! Episode #3

Top Ten: Best Blogs of 2007-08

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For an admissions professional like myself the summer is really split into two phases. Phase number one is when we focus on finishing up everything related to the previous year’s admissions cycle: completing tasks related to the incoming class, wrapping up any major projects, and reflecting on everything through reports and analysis. Phase number two is all about moving forward and planning for the coming admissions cycle. The other part of the summer for admissions people, and probably the best part, is we take A LOT of time off and vacation — much needed and well-earned vacation time.

A few weeks ago I returned to the office after 18 days of vacation quite refreshed and relaxed. The problem since my return is that I am stuck in the middle of the two phases. I still have a few items to wrap-up the past year and then I really need to start planning for the coming year. I’ve got two fall travel trips to plan, revisions to Hopkins Interactive to organize, and planning for this year’s incarnation of the Student Admissions Advisory Board, to name a few “to do” list items.

As I transition between these two phases, and also count the 14 days or so until my second long summer vacation, I thought I would compose a blog entry that looked back over the past year. Specifically, I have gone through the nearly 400 entries and chosen the TOP TEN BLOG ENTRIES of the 2007-08 admissions year. These were chosen primarily by me with a bit of input from colleagues and students, and I feel they all are fantastic examples of the amazing work produced through the Hopkins Interactive web site this past year.

So enjoy this top ten list and flashback, and I strongly encourage you TO FOLLOW ALL THE LINKS posted below. You will not be disappointed by taking your time and reviewing these amazing blog entries:

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I. Alumni Blogging Tales from Google

In my opinion, all of the Alumni Blogs this past year were fantastic, but my favorite had to be 2006 JHU grad Bryan Kaminski’s “From One Bay to Another.” The entry featured Bryan’s six simple points of advice to future college students and graduates. These points all had a central theme of making the most of your collegiate and post-collegiate years and were formulated during Bryan’s four years at Hopkins and in his post-JHU career working for Google’s University Programs Team in San Francisco.

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II. Roxi Details Surviving the Tough Times at Hopkins

Hands down for me, the most risk-taking student blog entry of the past year was Roxi’s well thought out and written discussion on academics at Hopkins. Her “No Joke … To the Class of 2012” entry perfectly displayed her emotions during a very rough academic period at Hopkins. This one entry paints a true honest picture of the academics at Hopkins, while also dispelling many of the myths about the hard work it takes to succeed.

Her final paragraph sums it up perfectly:

One of my favourite shirts that people wear around campus is the “Hopkins: Only the Strong Survive” shirt (I think it’s for this graduating class, but don’t quote me on that I could be wrong). At any rate that’s maybe one of the truest statements I’ve heard about this university. You think you’ve got what it takes? Great. Ready to get your butt kicked, pick yourself up, and start over? Excellent. Do you want to do something really meaningful with your life and you won’t let anything get in your way? Perfect: I’ll see you next year Class of 2012.

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III. A JHU Dad Reveals His Emotions

The Parent Blog was one of our best ideas of the past year. Once again each entry had its own special attributes, but the one that people most commented to me about was written by our one father — JHU Class of 2011 Lauren’s father Glen Carney. “Tales From a Freshman Dad” is a heartfelt entry that brought some people to tears, and thoughtfully and realistically discussed the emotions of a Dad sending his daughter off to college. I applaud Mr. Carney’s ability to share these emotions, something that very few fathers would discuss (though they clear share similar feelings).

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IV. Sage College Advice from a Rising Senior

Political Science student Julia became a budding college counselor this past year, dispensing sage advice in a number of posts. Taking many of her blog topics from education articles in The New York Times, Julia presented two entries this past year that I hope all prospective students will pay attention to. First in October she wrote “Don’t Worry Be Students,” a look at how students find the things they love at their chosen college — basically that the majority of students make their chosen college the best place for them. Stemming from these concepts, Julia encourages all prospective students to “chill out” and not stress out as much about the college selection process and admissions statistics, as is the end they will end up where they are supposed to be.

Then in January she published her “College Counseling” entry that stemmed from a NYT’s article that provided helpful advice on working with one’s guidance counselor during the admissions process. Julia emphasizes that working with counselors is helpful, but students should also do their own research and focus primarily on what they want in a future college environment. Both entries provide great advice, and you didn’t have to pay thousands of dollars to an independent crook — oops, I meant independent counselor.

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V. Every Month is Newsworthy

This was one year with a ton of noteworthy events and we tried to document them as much as possible in our This Month at Hopkins entries. Each month brought amazing stories, like the feature on the new study abroad office in November, or the Hopkins in Egypt features in February, or the Commencement wrap-up in May. But the biggest newsworthy month had to be “March at Hopkins” with the announcement of President Brody’s retirement.

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VI. The Mystery of Carbon

Every once and a while one of the student bloggers will compose an entry that after reading it I will encourage everyone I know to read it because it is that thought-provoking and enjoyable. This past February, Class of 2011′s Mandy wrote such an entry. Her “So, What is Carbon” entry was one of the first that came to mind when I thought of the best blog entries of the past year. I could summarize the entry here but then I would really spoil it. Just click on the link, read the full entry, and see what makes Hopkins students so unique and scholarly.

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VII. Studying Abroad – A Short Film

For the first time in Hopkins Interactive history we had student bloggers writing while attending a study abroad program. First in the Fall, Esther wrote while in Switzerland and then in the Spring, Laura detailed her experiences while studying in Florence. It was wonderful to read each of their blogs on a regular basis not only so you could hear about their wonderful adventures abroad but also it made you want to head to Europe right away.

The best of the study abroad entries for me has to be Esther’s “Another Short Movie” post this past November. Here Esther uploads a 90 second little video where she educates us on the four things everyone needs to know before heading to Switzerland: Cash + Cows + Cheese + Chocolate. A very clever post from a very creative Hopkins student.

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VIII. Viral Video Hits Hopkins

The top Hopkins Interactive improvement over the past year was the implementation of our Videos section and our new Hopkins Interactive Video Blog. The Hopkins Cribs entries are always a highlight of the great video work of the Hopkins Interactive students, and are some of the most popular blog entries of all time. For me though, my personal favorite was the “Inside the MSE Library” video presented by Jessica, Blake, and Josh. Their 7-minute exploration of the MSE Library was not only humorous and informative, it also helped to dispel some of the myths and mysteries of the Hopkins library. Check it out.

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IX. Summer Blogging Experiment

Some of the strongest student blog entries continue to be posted on our Hopkins Interactive Guest Blog where we feature a different student each week. It was really difficult to pick my favorite entry of the past year, but when I really thought about it I had to go back all the way to August when we published the winners of our Summer Blogging Contest for the incoming freshmen of the Class of 2011. Those four selections were fantastic and shed light on the transition from high school graduate to college freshman – the summer transition.

• Joshua: “The Quiet Things No One Ever Knows”
• Jessica: “Metamorphosis…”
• Celeste: “Slippery Marble, Crab Cakes, and Dropped S’s. Oh My!”
• Lauren: “You, Your Bed, and Your World”

If you are an incoming member of the JHU Class of 2012 you can compete in this year’s Summer Blogging Contest — more details can be found here.

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X. The Class of 2011 Takes Over

Three of the winners of last year’s blogging contest went on to become freshman bloggers and write some of the best entries of the year. Since there were so many great freshmen bloggers who created the 2011: Hopkins Freshman Blog — a new idea of a shared blog by four first year students. Stephanie, Rob, Jessica, and Josh presented four similar but also quite different at times perspectives on one’s first year. In addition to the Freshman Blog, Lauren and Mandy (see VI. above) also became full-time bloggers.

As I went back and reflected on the great work done by the freshmen, three entries for me were quite memorable.

1. One of Josh’s more recent entries was a look back at his completed freshman year. “Sentimental Heart” should be read as a freshman year survival guide.

2. Jessica consistently wrote detailed entries about her first year experiences, but is was her “Intersession” entry that became my favorite. In the entry she neatly detailed her different experiences with classes, work, and hanging out with friends, during the optional January term at Hopkins.

3. We all know Lauren as the blogger that uses the most words each entry, but as an avid fan of her blog I can attest that each word is necessary. Her lengthy entries proved their worthiness in her “The Year in Review” entry.

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I hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane, and took the time to click on the links and experience these great blog entries. Do you have any favorites not mentioned here? If so, let me know by sharing your favorite Hopkins Interactive blog entries in the comments section below.

Cheers!

REBOOT: H.I. Version 3.0 Arrives

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Way back on December 12, 2005 a little endeavor created by a team of 12 creative Johns Hopkins students, a risk-taking admissions counselor, and a few talented web and marketing professionals was launched. This project was the initial incarnation of Hopkins Interactive, a new way of connecting with prospective students and providing them with authentic information about Hopkins and a transparent view of the Admissions process. The launch of this site was revolutionary for its time, and was all about providing access: access to current students providing honest answers; access to an actual Admissions counselor; access to unfiltered and direct information; and access to some fun. (Read about the initial launch of Hopkins Interactive in the first ever Hopkins Insider blog entry.)

Eleven months later on November 15, 2006, Hopkins Interactive was re- launched. This was a truly ambitious re-visioning of the H.I. site as previously we had just two pages of material that included 10 blogs, a message board, and some fun facts.  Version 2.0 was much different, as the content expanded in a grand way, the design radically changed and improved, and the ability to interact with current students exponentially increased. All involved with the re-design and re-launch were overwhelmingly satisfied with the finished project. (Read about the re-launch of Hopkins Interactive, version 2.0 in this Hopkins Insider blog entry.)

The sign of a creative and talented crew is that they do not rest on their laurels after achieving a sense of success … and that is just what the team behind Hopkins Interactive did. Following the 2.0 re-launch, all involved began to think of better and more effective ways to present the Hopkins Interactive content and increase the level of interaction. Though it has taken us more than a year for version 3.0 to make its debut … the wait has been worth it.

So now March 22, 2008 will hold a place in history, not just as  Admissions_Daniel’s 33rd birthday, but more importantly as the launch of HOPKINS INTERACTIVE, VERSION 3.0. This Hopkins Insider entry is dedicated to the new features of this fantastic site.

At first glance, it seems that little has changed. The design and structure of the site is based on the re-visioning that took place for version 2.0. However, a closer examination of the front page reveals two brand new sections 04: @ HOPKINS & 05: VIDEOS. We will get to those sections soon. The other changes to the main page include brand new Polaroids of our 8 new freshmen, some new Polaroids of returning H.I. students, and a collection of new “did you know” fast facts. Remember keep refreshing to see all 22 Polaroids and over 40 fast facts.

Now let’s take a section-by-section look at the content and new features:

01 – STUDENT PROFILES

My favorite part of Hopkins Interactive, and in many ways the best place to navigate the site when trying to connect with our current students. Here you will find 22 student profiles that represent the best cross-section of the Hopkins undergraduate student body. We have re-organized the profiles main page by sorting by class year, but still you can go down the list and select profiles of students from your region of the country (or the world – yeah Tabitha), or from your academic area of interest. Each profile page has also been updated with new survey questions, new pictures, links to the students’ blogs, and an updated feature where you can ASK ANY STUDENT A QUESTION (just click on their pictures). So let’s say you are from Texas and may be interested in Public Health Studies – then click on Roxi’s profile, check out her profile, read her blog, and then ask her a question (or just provide her some feedback). The students love to chat with you all … so don’t forget to post on their personal discussion threads.

02 – BLOGS

The most popular section of Hopkins Interactive continues to be the Blogs, and there is no problem with that. Name another University site where you can find 11 student blogs, a shared Freshman blog co-written by 4 students, an Admissions blog, a special Guest Blog, a conglomeration blog, and oh yeah a new Video blog. I am constantly amazed at how enjoyable reading our student blogs can be (yes, I know I sound like a proud Papa). If you really want to know about the daily life of Hopkins students following the stories of these amazing students is one of the best paths. Every once and a while we will update the “Recent Entries” column on the left so you infrequent visitors will be able to find some of the more popular or unique blog entries. And don’t forget, all of the content and design of the blogs is created by our volunteer students – they are not paid and they are not told what to write about — just like Lauren’s blog “Wish You Were Here.”

03 – MESSAGE BOARDS

Hopkins Interactive is interactive primarily through the message boards. The Hopkins Forums are your chance to ask any question you might have about life and learning at Hopkins. Admissions_Daniel (me) and the 22 students are available 24/7 (ok, that is a bit on an exaggeration) to answer your questions. Ask Admissions, ask the current students, get information on student life, and answers to everything academic. The great part of the message boards is that the answers and conversations stay forever, so even if you don’t have an original question, you can get more information than you could imagine by spending some time scrolling through the forums.

What’s New with the Message Boards … how about:

• Parents’ Corner: tell your parents that we have created a forum for them to ask their own questions, and we have recruited current Hopkins parents to respond.
• Off-Topic Discussion: get to know the Hopkins students even more through random “favorites” threads, some fun games, and even a few quizzes. Not everything has to be so serious.
• Featured Forum Topics: check back regularly as we highlight the topic discussions of the past few weeks.

04 – @ HOPKINS

One of our two new section, @ HOPKINS is an expansion of our old Hopkins 360 section. Once again you will find our Virtually Here section with virtual tours and webcams, our News Links section that links you to a variety of Hopkins news sources, our fun Top 10 lists, and the Hopkins Speak guide to JHU lingo. As well, the HOPKINS CRIBS page still exists, and is about to go through a complete update in the next couple of week – with a lot more videos.

The name change is not the only update to this section, as we launch two brand new pages too. First is the “How To” Hopkins page. As we state on the site, the How To Hopkins section is your “cheat sheet to all aspects of Johns Hopkins life, both social and academic.” Here the students have compiled interesting entries that provide suggestions, advice, and to-do lists on Hopkins-related topics like how to explore Baltimore, how to avoid the freshman 15, how to select a major, and how to find a research position. In the coming weeks and months we will be adding new entries, and if you check out the section you can email us with your suggestions. (Make sure to check out the “How To” … Experience Baltimore entry for some interesting videos.)

The other new page is all about our Blue Jay Buffet blog. This is definitely the section to check out on a weekly basis so you can stay up-to-date with our Parent Blogs, Alumni Blogs, Mascot Blogs, Engineering News Briefs, and the This Month at Hopkins entries.

05 – VIDEOS

This is the section of the new Hopkins Interactive that I have the most interest in, as I am impressed with the content we have at this time, but am even more excited when I think about what this site will be like in a year. The new Videos page provides you with links to an array of videos that exist throughout the many pages of the full Johns Hopkins University web network. Enjoy watching these videos, but consider them just the teaser for the main part of this new section … the Hopkins Interactive Video Blog. The students have been hard at work on a variety of online (viral?) videos that show you the world of Hopkins. We hope you have enjoyed these early parlays into the world of online video, and we promise to keep improving. If you haven’t been watching the Video Blog entries, then I share with you my favorite video to date, to encourage you to check out our current, past, and future projects:

06 – CHAT WITH US

Here we have made the fewest changes, because in many ways this area is still under construction and contemplation. Over the years we have had a mixed experience with online chats, so the team and I are re-thinking the ideas of chats in the future. Stay tuned.

In the mean time, we have added a great way to connect with the Hopkins Interactive team … FACEBOOK. Read all about the JHU Facebook group here, and check out this former Hopkins Insider blog entry about the launch of the Facebook group.

Happy exploring Hopkins Interactive version 3.0, and as always leave your feedback. Maybe your suggestions will be incorporated in H.I., v. 4.0.

Back … and Better Than Ever

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So it’s Sunday evening … the clocks have sprung forward … and I am back to writing the Hopkins Insider blog. I hope you all enjoyed the last five weeks of entries introducing my colleagues, the Admissions Committee. I work with these people on a daily basis, but I too enjoy getting to know a bit more about them and their thoughts about our profession.

Today is actually a significant day as well because it might actually be the last day I get a good night sleep for a while. Why? Well, starting tomorrow my colleagues and I move to the next stage in the application review process : Committee Time. As of this weekend the Admissions team has completed the “first reads” on about 98% of our applications. Now we break down into small (and large) committees and begin the arduous task of “shaping / defining the class.” This year’s applicant pool is overwhelmingly impressive so this task of fine-tuning is going to be more difficult than any year I and most of my colleagues have ever experienced. The next few weeks in Mason Hall can be characterized by any and all of the following phrases: late nights; failing eye-sight while perusing endless rosters; overdosing on caffeine; long and arduous debates; and lots and lots of difficult decisions.

Speaking of applications, one of the most frequently asked questions I get this time of year is how many total applications did Hopkins receive this admissions cycle? Well, at last check the number was: 16,001. No joke … that’s the number. We’ve checked it a number of times. I actually wanted it to be 15,999 so we didn’t break the 16K plateau this year … but lo and behold we did break it by 2. For those who like the numbers, this is a 7.77% increase (lucky 777s) from the 14,848 applications received last year.

The other frequently asked questions this time of year are when will I find out about my decision and / or how will decisions be released? Unfortunately at this time I do not have a definitive answer to such questions. All I can reveal is that regular decision admissions notifications will be released prior to April 1st. No official date has yet been selected for the release of decisions. As we have done in the past (read this blog entry from last year), decisions will be released via postal mail as well as emailed to those applicants who listed an active email address on their application for admissions. Hopkins does not have an online system for tracking application status nor to check one’s admissions decision when notifications have been released. I promise to update the Insiders blog once more details about the release of RD notifications is available.

To end this post, because it has been nearly a month and a half since I have created new content for the blog, I thought I would share some miscellaneous items that could have been blog fodder during that time. Hope you enjoy:

• Video Blog: Have you all been enjoying the videos being produced by the Hopkins Interactive team? We are all having a great time working on them. Check out the H.I. Video Blog here, and remember to leave us comments.
• LOST: What can you say??? This season has been un-freaking-believable. “The Constant” episode focusing on Desmond was one-hour of sheer television gold, and the whole mystery of the Oceanic 6 has me on the edge of my seat. These few episodes have definitely cured me of any ill will towards the world of TV stemming from the 100-day writer’s strike … but they have also led me to declare loudly that LOST is my favorite television show OF ALL TIME.
• Lacrosse Season Begins: The JHU Men’s Lacrosse team began the defense of their 2007 National title a few weeks ago. First it was a revenge victory over Albany on a very cold and overcast day in late February. Then it was a dismantling of Princeton in front of thousands of fans at M&T Bank (Ravens) Stadium. Third was a close victory over local challenger UMBC. That ran the winning streak to 11 games, but unfortunately this weekend the team suffered its first loss in a close OT game to Hofstra. So the record is 3-1 and we face Syracuse this coming weekend at Homewood – a match of the two winningest programs in NCAA Division I Men’s Lacrosse history (we are better though.) Follow the team here.
• Baseball is Almost Here: Do you want to know what the one silver lining of losing an hour during daylight saving times and all the work that I do in Admissions during the months of March and April? It all means that Baseball Fever is returning. I have renewed my MLB.com subscription, I have set up a Baseball wish list on both my TiVos, and I have located my NY Mets hat from where I buried it after the debacle of last season. I am not sure I have been more excited for the start of baseball season since I was a kid … and that has a lot to do with a man by the name of Johan Santana.
• Favorites: Were you reading the student blogs and message boards last week? I hope so because all last week they were featuring a Common Blog project where each student completed a Favorites questionnaire. I hope you all enjoyed learning some random facts about some amazing Hopkins students.
• My Favorites: The final part of the the Favorite surveys that the students worked on last week is actual something I suggested. I am a huge fan of James Lipton’s “Inside the Actor’s Studio.” During every broadcast, at the end Lipton asks questions invented by the great Bernard Pivot. So since I love these questions, I thought I would end this first blog back with my answers:

What is your favorite word?

- Juxtaposition. I have loved this word and its meaning since first learning it while preparing for the SATs. In many ways, the word has summarized a lot of my life.

What is your least favorite word?

- Any words related to feminine hygiene. I have always been squeamish about such things. No idea what I am going to do when my niece reaches that age.

What turns you on (creatively, spiritually, or emotionally)?

- I love the smell of oranges. Seriously though, I am turned on by original thoughts.

What turns you off?

- Cheating, cutting corners, and deception. Just watch Big Brother and you will see what turns me off.

What sound or noise do you love?

- Any word or semblance of a word that comes out of my niece Lilly’s mouth. When I first heard her say “I love you” I collapsed.

What sound or noise do you hate?

- The sound of a straw on cardboard. And oh yeah, the women on The View.

What profession would you like to attempt?

- Play-by-play announcer for the New York Mets.

What profession would you absolutely not like to attempt?

- So many … but I will narrow the list down to lawyer, anything to do with blood, or anything related to Wall Street.

Finally, if Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

- “Ready to give it another try.”

Updates, Updates, and Even More Updates

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There has been a lot going on these first few weeks of the new year, so I thought I would spend this entry updating all my readers.

APPLICATION PROCESSING AND READING: All is proceeding quite well throughout Mason Hall. The third floor is overflowing with application materials and an amazing cadre of Operations staff and student workers who are steadily organizing, alphabetizing, filing, sorting, and distributing all the application files. A number of the student bloggers have mentioned working in the Admissions Office during Intersession (Jessica, Stefanie, Kate, and Julia), and I must say they have been a great help. Enjoy these pictures taken over the past few weeks …

THE VIDEO BLOG HAS LAUNCHED:

Hooray! Last week we finally launched our much anticipated Video Blog. Take a look:

Hopkins Interactive Video Blog

The Hopkins Interactive team and I have spent a good amount of time on this project and we hope you all enjoy. Speaking of the Hopkins Interactive students, they are the subject of our first Video entry; the Starting Line-up.

Next Monday we will post the next entry, a tour of Mason Hall. Check back each week as we post new and more exciting video blogs, including a look at the Holidays at Hopkins, a tour of Gilman Hall, the Life of an Application, and the next series of Hopkins CRIBS.

EVEN MORE BLOGS TO EXPLORE:

The Video Blog is not the only new entry in the Hopkins Interactive blog line-up. Earlier this year through our Blue Jay Buffet blog, we posted our second Alumni Blog and our first Current Parent Blog. Check them both out:

• Current Parent Blog: These are Days – Mother of freshman Josh G. (read his blog here) flashes back over a year ago to the college search process and provides advice and assistance for parents currently going through the motions.
• Alumni Blog: Blue Jay on the Hill – A class of 2006 Writing Seminars graduate discusses life after Hopkins as a reporter covering the health care industry living in Washington, D.C. (If you are new to the Alumni Blogs you should also check out our first entry too. More to follow.)

MEET THE ADMISSIONS COUNSELING TEAM:

A couple of years ago, the Hopkins Insider blog featured a collection of profiles of the Admissions Counseling Team. (See the middle of this old post for links to those old profiles.) There has been some changes to the staff and many new readers to this blog, so I thought it was time to doing a new series of profiles.

Starting next Monday (January 28), the Hopkins Insider blog will feature a series of entries profiling each member of the Admissions Counseling Team (a.k.a. The Admissions Committee — the people who evaluate the applications). Every Monday and Thursday over the next five plus weeks you will be able to read a profile / questionnaire completed by each member of the Admissions team. I am confident you all will enjoy these entries.

BUT WHAT ABOUT ADMISSIONS_DANIEL???:

While the next month and a half this blog will be featuring staff profile entries, some of you may be missing the weekly updates typically posted to the Insider blog. I understand you will miss your “news” but one of the underlying reasons behind the Meet the Admissions Staff posts is so that I can focus on evaluating applications. Yes, for the time being you will miss my thoughts on LOST, the Oscars, updates about application processing, my occasional rants … but rest assured, I will return and be better than ever. As well, if any big news occurs, I will interrupt the Meet the Staff series and post an update entry. But most importantly, AS ALWAYS, the easiest way to reach me is through the Ask Admission section of the Hopkins Forums.

CONCLUSION: And to finish the updates, here are some personal notes about Admissions Daniel for those who care: … my niece Lilly turned 2 this past week … my dog Soze turns 7 at the end of the month … I am happy to say that the car purchase went extremely well and I am now the owner of a brand new Chevy Trailblazer … the writer’s strike is really getting on my nerves right now … I have seen Juno and I absolutely loved it (I can’t stop listening to the soundtrack too) … I saw Cloverfield and I enjoyed it and would give it a B+ (B- if you don’t follow the various clues on the Internet) … I am keeping my fingers crossed that the Oscars will be televised … I have only had two paper cuts and one folder cut (those are nasty) through the first few hundreds of applications … I am, like many, eagerly anticipating the return of LOST next week … I re-discovered my love of the word juxtaposition recently.

Thanks to Zuckerberg, Jessica, and Roxi

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Amidst the reading of Early Decision files (more to follow about that in my next blog entry), I have also been busy with the Hopkins Interactive Students in updating the Hopkins Interactive Web site. Unlike in previous years (read about the launch of H.I. and also our version 2.0 launch), this 3rd edition of the student-created site will roll out in sections. I’ve already discussed some of the updates in previous entries the past couple of months:

• Nov. 8 – Clearing Away the Post-It Notes; discussed the re-launch of the Guest Blog, the launch of our Blue Jay Buffet blog, and also a teaser of our coming soon Video Blog. I also mentioned the updating of the Hopkins Forums.
• Oct. 14 – Newest Blog, …; announced the launch of the 2011: Freshman Blog featuring four new Hopkins students.
• Oct. 6 – New Bloggers, New Office; debuted our newest student bloggers Mandy (Simply Serendipitous) and Lauren (Wish You Were Here).

In the coming weeks there will be new student profiles, revamped blogs and chat with us pages, and some special surprises. One of these new advancements actually quietly launched this past week. If we had decided to write-up a press release, the title would probably have been:

“HOPKINS INTERACTIVE EMBRACES FACEBOOK”

Yes, this past week we launched our “Johns Hopkins University — Prospective Students” Facebook group. This is our second foray into using Facebook as a communication tool with prospective Hopkins students. Last spring/summer we launched a Class of 2011 group for enrolling students and it was a resounding success. So as we moved towards the recruiting and reviewing of potential Class of 2012 and beyond students we all agreed that a Facebook group for Prospective Students was a grand idea.

For those of you not familiar with Facebook, where have you been the last few years? Seriously though, for the official summary of this revolutionary social networking site created by Mark Zuckerberg (hence the title) in 2004 which claims 43 million plus members worldwide, read the Facebook Wikipedia entry. Also to hear what our students say about Facebook, read this Facebook discussion thread on the JHU Forums. Basically Facebook has become omnipresent on almost all college campuses around the U.S., and for us it is just another great way to communicate about Hopkins and continue to dispel all those myths.

So if you are an Early Decision or Regular Decision applicant for the Fall 2008 term, or a prospective student for a future term, or a friend of Hopkins, or just curious to connect with a great group of current  students … JOIN OUR FACEBOOK GROUP. If you currently have a Facebook account, then just search for the group title “Johns Hopkins University – Prospective Students” and add yourself. If you don’t have a Facebook account, then sign-up here. And if you love the group, then send all your kudos to JHU_Jessica, the architect and inspiration behind the group (yes that’s her in the picture).

One other person to thank before signing-off … and that is JHU_Roxi. Roxi played around a little bit with Windows Video Maker and created a nicely little tribute video to this past October Open Houses. Enjoy:

I’ll be back next week with an update on what’s going on in the office currently … I know you ED applicants can’t wait. Cheers!

Clearing Away the Post-It Notes

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Despite being quite busy over the last couple of months, I have found the time to jot down notes about potential blog topics on various post-it notes. Knowing that the next month I will need to focus most of my time on reading and evaluating Early Decision applications, I thought I would do one of my multi-topic entries. I consider these type of entries a Brain Dump … with the ultimate goal of clearing away a lot of mini-topics that are not full blog worthy. This time the goal is to get rid of these pesky Post-It Notes.

Fluorescent Pink Post-It Note: A Good “New York Times” Article

About a month ago I posted a critique of a New York Times article about the role of Thank-you notes in the admissions process (you can read it here). Well as I caught up on some professional readings over my mini-vacation last week I located a New York Times article that I really enjoyed. Read it here:

Don’t Worry, Be Students by Jacques Steinberg (9.30.2007)

I am so often critical of how the media portrays the entire collegiate experience from the application and admissions process, to the four year undergraduate experience, and to the ultimate graduate outcomes. But every once in a while a great article if written and I will encourage everyone I know to read it. This is one of those times. In fact, I was not surprised that I enjoyed the article so much because its author, Jacques Steinberg, is one of the few national educational journalists who GETS IT.  His writings are less about sensational headlines or claims (Thank-You Notes abuse College Admissions!!!) but are rather thought-provoking analyses and  summaries of the real collegiate world. Mr. Steinberg wrote for me the best book on College Admissions a few years ago, The Gatekeepers. Check it out.

As far as the article, I enjoyed it so much because it truly summed up the experiences I have heard from most students I have come into contact with over the past ten years. After all the anxiety over “getting in,” it really is nice to know that most feel that “college is great.” Take a minute to the read the article. I also encourage you to take a read of Julia’s blog about the same article back on October 8th … she does a much better job than me of summarizing why the article is a must read. ENJOY!!!

Traditional Yellow Post-It: New Blogs to Announce

If you are frequent visitor to Hopkins Interactive (is there such a person???) then you may have noticed we have launched a few new blogs in the last week. Check them out:

• The Guest Blog has returned for another semester; click here.
• Blue Jay Buffet will be our smörgåsbord blog … a collection of stories representing all aspects of the Hopkins experience; click here.
• COMING SOON – the Hopkins Interactive VIDEO blog; click here.

Aqua Blue Post-It: The Return of the Hopkins Forums

Have you noticed? The Hopkins Interactive Message Boards are back and better than ever.   HOPKINS FORUMS LINK

Yes we’ve been doing a lot of upgrades to our message board system and encourage you all to visit, post, and ask questions. We have a cool new “Off-Topic” forum with polls, trivia, and random discussion threads. Also, you still have the opportunity to ask direct questions of any of the H.I. students or the Admissions team. Look forward to connecting with you on the Boards!!!

Green Post-It Note: 24 Returns!!!

The final post-it to clear away is a simple one … time to get excited. 24 returns 1.13.08 !!! Season 7 needs to be much better than Season 6. TONY!!!

Newest Blog, Thank You Notes, and a 3rd thing

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Three things to talk about this week … so let’s dive right in.

#1

Last week, I introduced you all to our two newest bloggers, Lauren and Mandy. I hope you enjoyed these new freshmen blogs, and took my advice to bookmark (RSS?) their blogs so you can follow them through their first year at Hopkins. Well it’s another week, and I have an even newer blog to introduce you all to:

2011: Hopkins Freshman Blog (link)

This is Hopkins Interactive’s first foray into a joint-authored blog. We have selected four amazing members of the Class of 2011 to share tales with you all about their freshmen experiences. I encourage you to bookmark this blog too, and follow the stories of these four unique first year students. As well, if as time goes by your prefer one of the authors over another, you can use the categories section to highlight the blogger(s) entries you most want to read. Here we are giving you the option to follow the collective experiences of four distinct freshmen, or just follow them individually.

Introduction time:

Jessica K. – Category Posts

Jessica comes to Hopkins from Tenafly, NJ and will be pursuing a degree in Public Health Studies from the Social Science perspective. Jessica is already an expert on all that is Hopkins, and it is clear after just her first month at Hopkins that she will be getting involved in many aspects of campus life. Check out Jessica’s first post as she discusses all the opportunities the lie in front of her.

Josh G. – Category Posts

Josh is another native of New Jersey (Park Ridge to be exact) and he arrives at Hopkins as a humanist looking to study Film and Media Studies and possibly Writing Seminars as well. Josh is going to be our resident music expert as he is working with friends to write songs and start a band, plus he already has experienced the club and concert scene in Baltimore. Let Josh’s first post speak for itself.

Rob A. – Category Posts

Rob is a New Englander hailing from the small town of Hampstead, NH. His story could easily be small-town boy makes it big in the big city of Baltimore, only problem is that Baltimore ain’t that big of a city. Rob will though be detailing his experiences with city life, making great friends, and taking great classes, as his first post already did. Plus, he is probably going to become active with Outdoor Pursuits so he can remain connected to his New Hampshire life.

Stephanie D. - Category Posts

Stephanie is our resident left coaster, coming from Northern California, Kentfield to be exact. Like Laura and Lauren, Stephanie will be a Writing Seminars student, proof once again that true humanities students can find a home at Hopkins. Stephanie has already adjusted to her “new home” already, accepting the challenge of her courses and embracing all the new social opportunities. Read Stephanie’s first post to get insight into her first month of amazing experiences.

A note on the pictures: Jessica and Josh are seen in the first photo on the left, smiling with Siobhan who is on the left. Stephanie and Rob are featured in the second photo on the right, hanging with Mandy who is on the right.

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#2

Next up today is I want to bring your attention to an interesting article that was in the New York Times last week:

Thank-You Note Enters College Admission Game

A few of my thoughts as I read through this article:

• First on the title: I really wish the media would stop using phrases like “Admission Game.” It really is annoying and just helps to foster the admissions craze that has dominated the landscape over the last few years. THERE IS NO GAME … there is a definitive process. But, I guess as true with most of the media, they have to hype such abrasive phrasing so they can sell more. The media is just big business now, it is not about telling the truth and the public good. Boy, I really can’t stand today’s media … maybe I should find that 100+ page honors thesis I wrote more than 10 years ago about how the media has gone awry. Never mind!
• Thank-you notes have become the new frontier: No they haven’t. This is not a new trend. I have been a college admissions professional for nine full years and I have been getting thank-you notes since my first week on the job. And they have been of all varieties since that first time — simple notes, specialized stationary, little presents, in-depth emails, and even one time cash. The NY Times I guess was desperate for a splashy Education story to sell more papers, so let’s make a controversy over something that has been going on forever.
• What is so wrong with thank-you notes: I really don’t get the tone of this article. I love thank-you notes. I send them when I find it appropriate. The college search is quite similar to a job search … would the NY Times be writing an article about the “new” trend of job applicants sending thank-you notes after interviews. Oh no!!! They are trying to manipulate the job search by saying thank-you. Oh come on … be serious. A thank-you note is a simple form of etiquette.
• Strategy vs. heartfelt: I agree that some thank-you notes are strategic, but what is wrong with that. See my job search comparison above. But in all the thank-you notes I have received over the years, I’d say 90% are just heartfelt, appreciative statements. It is nice to hear that the student had a good experience during a visit, an interview, a meeting with me, etc. It also means we are doing something right.
• Quoting Independent counselors: Now here is an issue that should be deconstructed. The professionals, and I use that term loosely, who milk families out of tons of money to package their students so they can “win the game” of college admissions. I could say a lot, but my Mom always said if you have nothing nice to say, keep your mouth shut.
• More on strategy: Let me let you all in on a secret … NO STUDENT HAS EVER BEEN ADMITTED OR DENIED BECAUSE OF A THANK-YOU NOTE. Sorry, it is not that simple people. If you want to send a thank-you note because you want to say thank-you, then do it. If you don’t, guess what … don’t.

OK, two final comments about this article which clearly got me into this whole state of frustration:

1st … at least the article ended with two very true quotes:

Is it necessary to write a thank-you note?” said Janet L. Rapelye, dean of admissions at Princeton. “No. But I’m still in favor of them. Expressing gratitude is a lovely quality.”

Ms. Rapelye added, “In and of itself, it’s not going to change a decision,” and she suggested that the people who should really be thanked were the teachers and college counselors.

2nd … one other quote that got to me:

Even when thank-yous are received, they are not necessarily kept. Admissions officials at some colleges, like New York University, Johns Hopkins and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, say they are tossed.

Where did they get this information? So Admissions officials at Johns Hopkins University toss thank-you notes. Hmmmmm….strange. I am an Admissions Official at Johns Hopkins, have been for four years. I also have a folder that I keep from year-to-year with all correspondence I have with students, including an abundance of thank-you notes. Is that tossing them? I don’t think so. In fact, every year at application time I have these notes and other forms of correspondence added to the applicants’ files so that when I evaluate their files I see the previous communication. Why? Just helps me remember if I have been in touch with the applicant. It does not changes one’s chances for admission … it just helps me with my memory.

Great article New York Times. Glad that you are the bastion of “all the news that’s fit to print.” OK, I will come down off my soap-box.

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#3

I meant to speak about a third topic, but I am wiped after being critical of the New York Times. So, I will delay that topic for later in the week.

I do have a third item though … YOU! My readers!!! I want to hear from you. I really want to hear from you.

***Yes, I am pandering for comments again. I just love knowing you all are out there.***

So drop me a comment. Let me know what you think of the NY Times article. Let me know what you think about our new bloggers. Let me know what you think of the Fall TV Season. All comments are welcome, except if it has anything to do with the New York Mets. I do not want to talk about them at all.

Until next time.

New Bloggers, New Office

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Admissions Daniel is back and better than ever. I hope you have enjoyed the previous Guest Author entries, especially the most recent one by my Mom. My Mom really enjoyed her first experience with blogging, and is now frequently asking whether she has any new comments. She really has been bitten by the blog bug … wishing for comments just to make sure that there are actually people out there reading our crazy thoughts.

(Oh yeah, can’t forget this…HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!)

As this entry’s title alludes to, we’ve got some new stuff to talk about. First, I am really, REALLY, REALLY excited to announce the launch of two new Hopkins Interactive current student blogs. This past week we welcomed to the blog roll, two new freshmen (Class of 2011) bloggers. Let’s do the introductions…

Mandy S. – Class of 2011 – Simply Serendipitous

Mandy joins us from Cary, N.C. and willing be pursuing a Neuroscience degree during her time at Hopkins. In just my brief conversations with Mandy so far this year, I am 100% confident that she will be presenting a truly enjoyable blog this year. So is prone to creating lists, which for anyone who has been a frequent reader of the Hopkins Insider blog, knows I have a penchant for lists as well. Mandy is also “accident-prone” as she discusses in her first post, so I expect some great hilarity in her entries.

Lauren C. – Class of 2011 – Wish You Were Here

Lauren hails from Westmont, NJ and is a true Humanist, with plans to study both English and Writing Seminars. An experienced blogger, Lauren has grand plans for her blog. It is clearly evident in her first post, that she plans to mix story-telling, with advice, and a good level of emotion too. I am already a fan, and I am really glad to have another Humanities student joining the blog team. Though as a die-hard NY Mets fan, I don’t love the fact that she is a Phillies fan (but after the end of this season, I just have to keep my mouth shut).

You can follow Mandy’s blog by clicking here and Lauren’s blog by clicking here. Don’t forget to also bookmark these blogs or add them to your RSS feed so you can keep in touch throughout the year. Plus, we all love comments, so feel free to leave a thought or two on their blogs!

And oh yeah, REMEMBER … we have 10 other current student blogs you can choose from. Complete List Here.

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The other big news of early October … the move to Mason Hall is complete. Though there is finishing touches being done to the building over the next few weeks, the entire Admissions team has moved in. Later in the month I will dedicate a special blog entry to showing off the building. Until then, I’ll just share some pictures of my favorite part of the building … MY OWN OFFICE. Enjoy, and check out my view!!!

It’s New To Us (and You Too)

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A couple of weeks ago I wrote a “re-run” entry that looked back at all the great blog content over the last four months. Then earlier this week I wrote about the big move to Mason Hall later this month. I thought I would keep with the theme of “new stuff” and talk about some of the big changes to the Admissions Office and the campus for the 2007-08 cycle:

New Students:

The Class of 2011 arrived over Labor Day weekend and they have already made their mark on Hopkins. An enjoyable Orientation week included an active Freshman Day of Service and culminated with the Student Involvement Fair throughout the Mattin Center. (Click on the links to read some interesting stories from the past couple of weeks.) If selections for the new students to be featured on Hopkins Interactive later this fall is any indication, this incoming class is one of the strongest, most diverse, most unique, and most impressive Hopkins has ever had. Now enjoy some pictures of move-in and scroll to the bottom of this entry for TWO VIDEOS taken on day one of move-in 2007.

Academic Changes:

On the academic front, the 07-08 year ushers in a number of new things:

• New Provost: On September 1st, Kristina M. Johnson became the 12th provost in the history of Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Johnson left Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering, to assume the role as Hopkins’ second highest ranking official and first female Provost in history. This new era also ushers in a new academic direction from Hopkins under the tutelage and expertise of one amazing scholar. Read more about Hopkins’ new Provost here.
• New Faculty: The Writing Seminars faculty was one of the departments to expand this year with the addition of the highly successful couple of Mary Jo Salter and her husband Brad Leithauser. Read more in this Baltimore sun article.
• New Programs: Humanities programs continue to expand at Hopkins with the addition of a new minor in Museums and Societies. Check out the program description here.
• Construction: Speaking of the Humanities at Hopkins, the greatest change for the upcoming semester, academically speaking, will be the start of the renovation of Gilman Hall. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2010 and will truly create a center for the study of the Humanities at Hopkins. Read all about the “transformative renewal” here.

Admissions Updates:

More pertinent to my world, are the changes and updates to Admissions for the 2007-08 application cycle. The big change will be the new home of the Admissions Office in Mason Hall, but that’s not everything. Here are some of the other “new things”:

• New Staff Members: At the end of August the Admissions Counseling Team welcomed three new members … Dag, Chloe, and Celeste. During the reading cycle we will once again do the staff profiles, but for now you can see the complete re-aligned Admissions staff here.
• Essays: We’ve got new essays and a new essay policy for the 2007-08 Admissions cycle. Check out this Hopkins Forums discussion thread for all the details, and feel free to ask any questions about essays on the forum thread.
• New Deadline: For those considering applying to Hopkins under our Early Decision plan … well you have 14 days less this year. So that the Admissions staff can have more time reviewing our Early Decision applicant pool we have changed the ED deadline to November 1st (it was previously November 15th). Learn more about applying ED to Hopkins with this handy-dandy FAQ list.
• New Application Type: As always, you can apply to Hopkins with our own application, our own online application, or the Common Application (both paper and online). Well this year Hopkins will also be accepting the new Universal Application. Haven’t heard about the Universal Application, check out the details here. And see all the ways to apply to Hopkins via our Applications page.
• New Materials: See the pictures below. We’ve got a whole new array of publications and materials, including a snazzy new viewbook, a red covered application, and new tote bags for our visitors.

That should wrap-up the discussion of “new things” on the Hopkins Insider blog for a while … oh wait … one more new thing … but you will have to wait for the next two blog entries.

How about that teaser???

***Now enjoy our Move-in videos…woo hoo!***