The Room Where it Happens
For those who have seen or listened to the musical Hamilton, you may know the song “The Room Where it Happens”. Whether or not you rock out to Hamilton in the car, you’ll probably agree that there are sometimes conversations that you’re not privy to but that you’re curious about. It’s natural to think “who got to make this decision and why?” and it can be frustrating when the circumstances around a choice or change feel hidden. Tired of my vague and abstract Hamilton reference? So am I. Let’s cut to the chase and jump into a conversation I had with Blair Dixon, an admissions officer at Brandeis University.
I talked to Blair on Zoom this evening, and I am honestly too excited by her insight and experience to wait a day to write this. I know we at TriTutoring work with students who wish they could better understand the process that occurs “in the room” after their college application is submitted. What’s in a great essay? How do schools decide if there is a mutual fit? I asked Blair if she would be willing to give us a peek into her world.
It turns out that when I’ve told students that their personal statement is an opportunity to tell the admissions committee about their passions and personality, I was right. Phew! Blair explained that the personal statement is the best way to tell the admission officers who you are as a person. “There’s no correct way to do a college essay. I like to tell people to lean on what they think is the mundane.” What do I always say during college essay seminars? If you didn’t go to Antarctica and save the penguins, that’s okay!
If there’s no right way, though, what does Blair look for when reading 100 (yes, a hundred) files a week? “I want to hear your voice. What’s important to you? What do you love?” Blair went on to say, “I love the essays where folks are tapping into their very niche interests. They allow their passion to shine on the page.”
Blair and I also talked a bit about the word “fit”. How does a university find a class of students that are right for the school, while not limiting the incoming class to being carbon copies (throwback right there) of existing and past students? How does an admissions committee ensure a diverse student body that consists of people who can succeed and grow during their time there? Blair explained: “We want students who love to learn, who are always trying to learn more, who are engaged in their communities, and who are perseverant.” These are things the team considers indicators of success, but students should still have their own interests, characteristics, and background. With this understanding, and a series of checks and balances to make sure they get a variety of passions and personalities entering Brandeis, Blair feels they are able to get a bold and quirky group of students who can succeed academically and contribute to the community.
With that said, Blair ended with something that applies to all of us.
“The advice I always give is that life is extremely windy and your life starting now will be extremely windy. There is no correct path; there are multiple great paths that you can take… You will end up in a place that is right for you. There are many places that can be right for you.”