What Fine Fellas: Summer Reflections

As preseason draws near, I want to take some time to reflect on my summer in the Admissions Office as an Admissions Fellow. It was truly an interesting job and workplace. I’ve grown up in customer service/interpersonal jobs my whole life. From being a server to working for nonprofits, I’m accustomed to engaging with people and fielding all of their questions on a daily basis. 

Admissions, however, is an entirely different ball game…

Firstly, you’re helping people make the decision about where their home will be for the next 4 years. This is a choice of where to grow both academically and as an individual to launch into a successful career. As the football coach says, “it’s not a 4-year commitment, but a 40-year commitment.” Admirable branding aside, the mounting pressures of the college admissions process require 3 demands of Admissions Officers: patience, empathy, and coordination. 

Patience

Patience is, of course, a virtue, but patience in this job setting means more than waiting excitedly for visitors to arrive for tours or answering “How’s the food?” Patience in Admissions means meeting students where they are, both literally and metaphorically. I’ve loved virtual programming because I’ve had the chance to connect with so many students across the world. Some could not make it to campus due to geographical and/or financial constraints, while others did not have a lot of guidance through a rather complicated process. When I was applying to colleges, I had the immense privilege of having an experienced college counselor and a robust college counseling program. Oftentimes, students who hear of Carleton do not have that privilege and need both a listening ear for their questions/concerns and a sounding board for all of their ideas.

Empathy

To be empathetic can sometimes be exhausting, but it’s ultimately rewarding. One of the best parts of this job is connecting with prospective students and their families, not only helping with the college search process but also helping them feel heard. It might be discussing how to afford college, as higher education has gotten staggeringly expensive. Other instances involve pointing out the safety and support resources on campus.

Whenever I’m asked “What would you change about Carleton?” my first response is always a cry for air conditioning in every building. However, my real answer is that the issues I’ve had at Carleton both structurally and interpersonally I can fix myself or connect with the right groups on campus to make a change.

For example, when I saw a need for institutional support for Black athletes, I was able to create a chartered student organization called The Black Student-Athletes of Carleton. When Black women on campus wanted more comfortable gathering spaces, we were able to make a group chat and host the best brunch the Mini Bald Spot has ever seen. The ability to transform the spaces around you with the support of your peers is one of the ways Carleton is special and is something I love to share with prospective students; particularly prospective students of color. 

Coordination

The fellows and I often joke that from creating killer outfits to walking backward with ease, physical coordination is a must for this job. Then again, coordination took various forms. Collecting hundreds of data points for one of our internal research projects, reading over hundreds of applications to create the class profile for the class of 2025, scheduling tours, interviews, and events during the week, and filling in when one of our co-workers needed a break were all daily duties.

This group of fellows had an incredible dynamic. From the witty and jestful banter between Darius and me, Ben’s singing, McKenna’s quips about lighting design and horseback riding, Joe’s incredible makeup and constant shouting of Adore Delano’s catchphrase “party,” Zoë and Kelly’s calm nature (which was a necessary balance for a rather loud group), and our supervisors Brian and Kim willingly tolerating our cohort’s absolutely atrocious British accents, we were quite the charismatic group. The opportunity to work with a group like this does not come often, and why I personally think we may be the all-time favorite. I may be biased and the rest of the office may not admit it, but I feel fairly confident with that opinion. 

As I transition back into my role as the Special Projects Coordinator for the school year, I’m filled with fond memories from my time as a fellow and can’t wait to continue my work in admissions. 

Thanks for a great summer you fine fellas,

Jancyn

Jancyn is a rising junior from Kansas City, MO. She is a Political Science/IR major and has minors in Public Policy and Spanish. Outside of class, Jancyn serves as a senator on CSA (student senate), plays women’s varsity volleyball, coaches men’s club volleyball, serves as president/founder of the Black Student-Athletes of Carleton, participates in a number of Black student orgs, and works for the Admissions Office! Meet the other Bloggers!