Thom November 18th, 2008
It was a moment a couple Sundays ago. On the couch, my 2.5 year old playing quietly on the floor in front of me, the Titans game on in front of him. Nothing too remarkable about the exact moment really when I realized this would be last weekend without file reading. The clicking of Matchbox cars, the low drone of the play-by-play, maybe the heat starting to kick on as Nashville weather had just started to chill, mostly blissful silence.
Now, it’s the low and persistent whisper from the dining room, a tugging reminder each time past the room with stacks of my “manila friends” as a former VU Dean of Admissions used to put it - “psst . . . hey, hey . . . want to hear about my mission trip? How about an essay debating the moderating effect of Ultimate Frisbee playing on global interdependence?” Don’t misread me, I truly enjoy the new cycle of files - we’re knee deep into ED I right now - it’s this very cycle that has made this job my home professionally. As soon as you get tired on being on the road visiting high schools and recruiting, you get to be home, reading the applications of the students you recruited.
However, sitting on my couch two weekends ago, my mind flashing forward to Sundays filled with reading applications (like it was yesterday) rendered the choice to kill the tube, pick up a sweater and a football and head outside to try (in vain) to teach my boy to catch, an effortless one. This work is important to me, it encompasses so much of what I believe in - education as a key to self-improvement, access and equity as a right in a democratic society, lifelong learning and discovery- however this work is not all-encompassing. There is yet time for some front yard football.
I hope that as Thanksgiving nears, the important work you are doing in wrapping up your applications still allows you time for family, some late afternoon sun, and perhaps a football too.
Thom October 31st, 2008
There’s a great line from an Arrested Development episode, spoken as a teaser by a TV news anchor, “Packs of wolves loose on the streets of Orange County - we’ll tell you what it means for your weekend when we come back.” Just thought of it when I was writing the title for this post. I digress.
1) If you are applying Early Decision 1, and have yet to submit your application, the due date is November 1st. We get asked sometimes if everything must be received by November 1 (or January 3 for ED2 and RD): the answer is no. Focus on getting the application submitted/postmarked (if you are snail-mailing it), and then you can work with your school, recommendation letter writers, and testing organizations to complete your application. Once the application is received we (of course) allow students to complete the application.
2) Vote early, if you can.
3) Dress up for Halloween. For example, today I am dressed as an early middle-aged admissions officer. I went all out too, V-neck sweater, Dockers khakis, the whole bit. Awesome.
Brad October 26th, 2008
It has been a few weeks since I’ve posted. This year my travels have brought me far and wide. Still, I can’t resist the opportunity to express how exciting it is to see Vandy grad (and Tennessee native) David Price pitching on the biggest stage in baseball.
If you haven’t heard the ultra feel-good story about David Price, he pitched four years at Vandy and while here broke plenty of records. He was the #1 overall draft pick in 2007, cruised through the minors, and due to an injury in the pitching staff, was brought up to the playoff bound Tampa Bay Rays a month ago.
Vandy Baseball season isn’t for a few months, but seeing Coach Corbin on ESPN has gotten me excited already for the Commodore “Boys of Spring.”
Go Rays!
Picture downloaded from http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8175/photos;_ylt=AuQ32uTwZydYRuu2_.gnD.CFCLcF?slug=c8ca7f085b0ddcd0a825475468d5841a-getty-83306991cc186_world_series_
taken by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Thom October 17th, 2008
Great article out yesterday in Time Magazine about VU’s Freshman Commons.
A Frosh New Start
Taking my son to a quidditch match this weekend. Should be bloody brilliant.
Loading ...