What has your involvement in SAP been like for the past four years, and what is your role this year?
I’ve been involved with SAP in a multitude of ways over the past four years. I started out in the Outreach, Day Visits and High School Visits programs and was selected as a tour guide during spring semester of my freshmen year. Sophomore year I joined the Panels program, which gives information sessions to the prospective students and their families. During the summer between sophomore and junior year, I worked with Summer SAP giving tours and panels to families every day for ten weeks. I was then selected to join the SAP Council as the Office Management Coordinator during my junior year and now serve as the Head Coordinator of the program.
Why did you choose to take on this role in SAP?
Being the Head Coordinator of SAP was a role I always hoped that I would have the opportunity to take on. SAP became my home in a lot of ways during my first two years at BC and serving on council and then as Head Coordinator was a great way to give back to the program. I’ve loved working with my Council; they’re great and I owe the world to them. And I have especially loved getting to know all of our volunteers; there’s over 750 of them and I am so thankful for what they donate to our program.
What is the environment of the Admission Office, all the people that work there and all the students that volunteer like?
Most days, there is a very fast pace in the office. We average about 50,000+ visitors a year so there is always a tour to give or a family to talk to. I love working with the professional staff; I had the opportunity to get to know them really well while working in admissions over the summer. They are all so unique and have such great personal stories. I’ve learned so much from them and really credit them for my love of the admissions process.
Was there a college tour that was memorable that made you want to get involved? If so can you tell us a little about it?
I had a really crazed and unorganized college application process which is probably why I like to make everyone’s BC experience special. I didn’t have the opportunity to visit many schools during my search but I loved the ones I toured at. I think I just fell in love with the idea of college. BC was the first school I visited and I guess I never looked back.
What is your average day like in SAP?
When programming is in session, we run three sessions a day at 10 am, 12 pm and 2 pm, and four tours a day a day at 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm and 3 pm. In the spring, the sessions are not usually held in Devlin which requires the council and staff to guide them to our offsite locations, like the Irish Hall and the Murray Room. Besides my official tour and panel slot, I try to stop into the office everyday to check in and also to get to know the volunteers. Besides my actual office presence, I have a lot of communication responsibilities. I run one of the many admission inboxes so I am constantly responding to families about admission concerns. I also serve as a resource to my council, so I try to be as present and supportive as possible in their programs.
What is the craziest experience you have had?
I was once sitting on a panel during Summer SAP and was talking about how important the Jesuit nature of BC was to me. I related it to my experiences in PULSE and mentioned how my perspective on social justice had really been challenged. A man then asked a follow-up question of, “You said that BC values social justice. Does that mean that the university is anti-capitalistic?” I was really taken aback by the question – largely because it had NOTHING to do with the admission process. I answered it and he asked another follow-up and then another. Finally he asked, “So are you meaning to tell me that you think injustices actually exist? Give me an example.” I did and he finally stopped asking questions. A lot of parents came up to me after and commended me on how I answered it, but I was still really shaken.
What has been the most rewarding experience that you have had?
I have really loved learning about the admission process from behind the scenes. It’s really amazing to see how over 25,000 applications are processed, read and decided upon in 6 months time. I’ve loved working with the people in the program and I really value the professional experience I have gained.
What advice would you give to those applying to college based on your experience at SAP?
I would encourage students to really think before filling out the application. The people who are reading your application are experts and they can see through fluff quite easily. Think about what programs you’re applying to, what you’re going to write your essay on, and how you are going to be perceived. These things matter, so take your time and put in the effort.