The OLINformer

Most of our students departed last Thursday or Friday for a well-deserved week off. As a result, it has been very quiet here at Olin this week. We’re still giving our daily info sessions to juniors doing their spring college tours, while also getting our decision letters ready to mail. This is a funny time of year in admission offices around the country- we’re finishing up this year’s admission cycle while also beginning next year’s. Both groups are incredibly important, but it can be hard to switch back and forth each day.

There are still some students on campus- those who didn’t want to make the long trek home, or those who have projects here on campus that they want to work on. I just saw the Human Powered Vehicle team out on the Oval, even though it’s currently 33 degrees and sleeting. Several of the students who give tours have been kind enough to come in each day at 3 to show our visitors around, and I am very grateful for their help. Sophomore Andy P. just dropped in to take our prospective junior and his mom on a tour- hopefully they’ll be able to stay relatively warm and dry.
-Caitlin

781-292-2212

caitlin.snow@olin.edu

The admission office has been a very busy place this week, lots of last-minute meetings, furious copying, and hammering out details for those of you traveling alone. We’re incredibly excited to meet all of you coming this weekend, and we know that the frantic organizing will pay off as soon as we see your smiling faces tomorrow. It’s quite chilly here, so if you’re traveling from a warmer climate, make sure to bring a hat, scarf, mittens, warm socks and a nice warm coat. Seriously. It’s supposed to snow Friday night and into Saturday, so warm water-proof boots would probably be a good idea as well. As the person in charge of “orphans,” I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the snow holds off until everyone is safely landed at Logan. Stay warm everyone, and safe travels to all who are making their way to Needham today and tomorrow!

-Caitlin

781-292-2212

caitlin.snow@olin.edu

On Monday, we were treated to a true rarity in the adult working world: a snow day. The snow started late Sunday night and continued on through Monday morning, so Olin was declared closed. Students don’t get back until next week, so class schedules weren’t disrupted at all. Since I had finished reading the application files I had brought home with me on Sunday, I spent the day shoveling, snoozing on the couch and watching back-to-back episodes of “Firefly.” (Fun trivia fact: Joss Whedon went to my alma mater, Wesleyan University.) The snow itself is gorgeous- here’s a picture from Boston.com, submitted by Kelly Best in Somerville.

(http://www.boston.com/news/local/gallery/011408snow_readers?pg=15)

Now that we’re back in the office, we’re busy tying up loose ends, meeting with our teams, and finishing reading all of our files. I hope you all are relaxing a bit, now that the January 15th deadline has passed and most of you are finished applying to schools. Take care!

-Caitlin

I couldn’t possibly let this week go by having only posted to notify you of the change in the deadline. (See previous blog for info.) I guess that I hadn’t realized how many Oliners read this blog, even (especially?!?) those who don’t specifically need information about Admissions! It’s interesting to hear feedback from the community, and I think that it points out what it’s “really like” here at Olin. There are so many different types of people, with different backgrounds, different opinions, and different interests, yet we have all found ourselves here for one reason or another, a pieced together community of people who enjoy not only the idea of Olin College, but the day to day accomplishments.

And the accomplishments are many!! Looking over all of the mail and credentials that have come in over the past few weeks, I am humbled by the intelligence and acumen of our prospective students. You all have remarkable lives ahead of you, and I wish you all the best!!

Now, to answer some questions that have come in of late:

1. I got an email that said that the deadline had been extended to December 3rd. Are you serious?

Yes! The deadline has been extended to December 3rd. No, this is not an installment of Punk’d. It’s for real. We wouldn’t do that to you guys!!!

2. Do I have to wait for Mrs. X, my super busy Physics teacher, to give me my recommendation in order to send everything together?

No! You can send in your credentials as you get them. You don’t have to wait for your science teacher to get back to you to send in the other stuff. Send it in as many installments as you need.

3. Should I hire an envoy to carry my application materials to campus to make sure that they are in your hands precisely at midnight on December 3rd?

No! Postmarked by December 3rd is fine. We won’t be here at midnight anyway (at least I hope not)!!!

4. I won an Oscar/wrote a Pulitzer Prize winning novel/restored a rare Van Gogh painting! Can I send it to you as a supplement?

Sure, you can send it, but we can’t give it back, and we don’t promise to be able to review it, though we will try.

5. I had College Board/ACT send you my scores a long time ago, but they aren’t showing up on my account! What do I do?

If it was a long time ago (as in several months) you should call and check with us. If it was a shorter time ago (as in several weeks) you can assume that they were sent but we haven’t got to them yet. If we never get them, we will let you know. We always follow up about missing or incomplete information.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email or call one of us. Our email addresses are listed on the website, and we are more than happy to help you out in any way we can. Now relax, finish those essays, and think of all the fun you are going to have over Winter Break when your applications are done!

Yours Truly,

Emily