So there’s a rumor amongst some students that the Admission Office is a “fishbowl” (the floor-to-ceiling windows that look out onto the “O” may have something to do with that!)… and upon my return from lunch yesterday, I walked into a scene right out of The Little Mermaid…
Yes, it’s true. I admit it. And if my involvement at our recent National Association for College Admission Counseling (a.k.a. NACAC) Conference in Austin was any indication, I’m a hopeless case! So consider me “Julie, your Cruise Director” for College Search/Admission Resources…
…(if you don’t get the reference, brush up on your 80’s TV shows)…
First of all, I don’t think I ever explained in my blog post last year what NACAC actually does. Silly me! Our mission:
The National Association for College Admission Counseling will support and advance the work of counseling and enrollment professionals as they help all students realize their full educational potential, with particular emphasis on the transition to postsecondary education. NACAC is committed to promoting high professional standards that foster ethical and social responsibility.
Last year, I joked that our national conference is where all of your counselors and college admission folk sit around and talk about YOU, but of course that’s not entirely true…heheh… Actually, one of the things I enjoy most about being at such a small place like Olin is that when I run into one of your counselors and I’m asked about one of our current students, the chances are very good that I not only know who s/he is talking about but that I probably have recently had a conversation (or lunch or played soccer) with that student! I *love* that! But I digress…
Secondly, what made this year’s conference different for me was that I am now a member of a NACAC committee (there are also state and regional associations/committees) and we meet several times a year, one of which is at the national conference. I’ve still got a lot to learn, but just listening to my committee colleagues and taking the opportunity to observe the Assembly - our governing body that initiates, advises and provides consent on association and professional issues - in session was quite educational!
I am beginning to think that Erico Guizzo has a bit of a crush on Olin College! 
I kid, I kid… but the IEEE Spectrum Associate Editor has written yet another glowing blog about Olin - this time, in response to the recent New York Times Magazine article.
So take a look. And yes, feel free to mock my shameless marketing of other people’s impressions of Olin.
P.S. Thanks to Ash ‘09 for giving me the heads up on Mr. Guizzo’s newest Tech Talk post!
Feelin’ the love,
Allison
allison.bahme@olin.edu
781-292-2203
IM: OlinAdmission
http://www.olin.edu/
My original post from 9/21/2007:
So thanks to my Google Alert, I stumbled upon this blog post from IEEE Spectrum Online. Yes, of course, Olin is mentioned! But - more importantly - it touches on how some schools have taken note of the high dropout rates in engineering programs across the nation and are making an effort to shift away from the “boot-camp model of engineering education” and toward “experimental courses” that incorporate “new education models.”
Check it out! And have a good weekend.
Allison
Powered by WordPress