First Blogiversary: A Year of Outtakes

It's been more than a year since this blog made its debut.  In that time, Admission Edition has been referenced on College Confidential, incensed applicants with its depiction of babies reading admission files (the dog reading admission files somehow managed to escape censure), been perused by a diverse audience including the college president and my mom, and otherwise offered superior investigative reporting into the life of the HMC admission office with no bias whatsoever in favor of chocolate, fluffy mutts, and ad nauseum photographs of the Kingston Hall conference table.

Although Hannah Hoersting and I were the only official contributors, the entire admission staff has embraced the blog wholeheartedly, and more than a few Kingston conversations have been punctuated with an excited, "you should blog this!"  It's been a joint endeavor, and I couldn't blog without the assistance of colleagues willing to let me post embarrassing photos for the entire internet to witness.  Thanks guys!

And if you're reading this, thank you for visiting Admission Edition.  Any topics you'd like to see for the 2011-2012 academic year?  Do share!

As we prepare to start recruiting the Class of 2016 (well, everyone except me is prepared, I'm still in denial), let's take a moment to reminisce with some outtakes from the 2010-2011 academic year.

What the file room really looks like mid-reading-season.  That's Aileen's desk buried under file tubs.

The admission staff beverage of choice, featured in the foreground where it belongs.

Raissa, I think I promised you this photo would never appear on the internet.  I'm sorry.



Nothing like sitting in a small cinder block room eight hours a day to keep you alert.

My failed attempt to show you what time my day began in Marin County.  4:45 am, people -- I was out the door at 6.  Good times.

Sometimes there are lizards on the wall outside my office!  Squirrel fights too, but those are harder to photograph.

Hannah and I had a joint birthday celebration!  Thyra made us an applesauce cake with cream cheese frosting.  Mmm-mm.

The festivities continued at The Back Abbey in Claremont . . .

. . . with burgers, fries, and a happy Hannah.  Raissa's arm is not this large in real life.

The financial aid staff doesn't make it into the blog nearly often enough.  Pictured are Les, Monica, and Gilma.  (Not shown are Jean & Richard.)  Les is the best singer on staff, so he's indispensable for any birthday gathering.

June staff retreat!  We explored the amenities at nearby Pomona College.  It was a very comfortable room, but we had to bring our own Cheez-Its.