Admission Essays: The Good, The Bad, and The Embarrassing

I love this topic, because personal statements are my favorite part of reviewing a student's application. Sure, it's fun to look at a transcript and piece together a "high school story" from the grades and activities listed (I always feel like Sherlock Holmes when I do that...the one from BBC, not the bromantic Holmes from the awful sequel with Jude Law), but I do prefer reading the personal statement for two reasons: 

The really good essays, and the really bad essays.

Read on for examples of each.

12/12/12 - Let Marymount Come to You

You know what would be awesome? Teleportation. I keep waiting for them to invent it, and I remain disappointed. I mean come on. Google made a car that drives itself. They need to get on the instant travel app STAT.

In the meantime we're stuck with flight, driving, hot air ballooning, horseback riding, and other inefficient methods of travel--particularly in Los Angeles. Last time I took my horse on the 405 freeway, it was an absolute disaster.

RIP, Lightning...

Anyway, until teleportation becomes as mainstream as the iPhone (but hopefully with better navigation), college visits will remain a hassle. Of course they're the best way to feel out a college, but sometimes they just aren't in the cards.

That's why we're utilizing the technology that does exist and offering the opportunity for you to Live Chat with our amazing admission staff (including yours truly) on Wednesday, 12/12/12. We really recommend you attend if at all possible. It's a great chance to get to know Marymount better and get the answers to all of your burning questions. Just click the appropriate link below to join the conversation. Talk to you soon, and definitely email us if you have any question.

International Students: 

18:00H (GMT) (8:00H PST)

Domestic Students: 6:30 p.m. PST

Walk-In Application Day 11/30/12 - It Should Really Be Called Walk-In Decision Day

Do you like to wait for stuff? Me either. You should see me when it takes Facebook longer than 1/10 of a nanosecond to load. Don't even get me started on traffic, lines at Disneyland, or the last 30 minutes of the workday. 

That is the reason that we created our WIAD (Walk-In Application Day) events: Waiting sucks--especially when you're waiting on your admission decision. 

The reason we named the event WIAD, however, remains a mystery (perhaps because "Why-Add" sounds cooler than "WIDD..."). 

You see, this is how the event works:

1. You submit your application online, from home (or a library, internet cafe, via wireless stolen from your neighbors--basically anywhere that isn't on our campus), sometime before you "walk-in" to our office.
   
   [See? The name is kind of a poor description of the day. But this is where the good stuff starts.]
   
2. You RSVP for WIAD this Friday (or just "walk-in")
3. When you arrive, you hand us your transcript(s) and anything you want us to consider when making an admission decision. 
4. You go on a student-led tour of our campus. 
5. You return, and help yourself to our tasty array of snacks. 
6. We call you into our office, and you'll meet with one of our Assistant Directors of Admission. 
7. They will tell you if you've been admitted. 
   [If you haven't, they'll give you tips about how to improve your chances and give you another shot at it.]
   
8. They'll award you an academic scholarship (if you qualify). 
9. You'll walk out, happy that you know at least one college's decision. 

Easy, peasy, right? Now, if only we could get the name right...

Anyway, if you don't like waiting for stuff, I invite you to attend this Friday, 11/30, from 9am-5pm. RSVP here. 

The Ten Commandments of Nailing Your Final Exams

Once upon a time, I went to college. In that age of yore, Facebook was still restricted to ".edu" email addresses, the iPad didn’t exist, and people actually drove to Blockbuster if they wanted to rent a movie. Still, even in that backward era of limited technology and entertainment options, there were one or two things I would rather be doing than dutifully studying for my final exams. In fact, I could probably list several hundred. But—as the bleary-eyed graduate students working as TAs in my classes kept reminding me—exams were important. Vital, even, if I intended to ever earn a diploma and a handshake from the President of the College (which my parents insisted would be vital to my job prospects. They were correct.)

That being said, I was a firm believer then—as I remain now—that during college you learn as much outside of the classroom as you do sitting in a lecture hall. In an effort to limit the time developing a peptic ulcer as I attempted to memorize the order of succession in the Ming dynasty (less vital to my job prospects), while maximizing my, ahem, “in-person social networking” (actually quite vital), I decided to devise a way to study smarter, so I could play “effectively maintain a balanced array of co-curricular experiences” longer. 

So, harken and I shall bestow upon thee the Ten Commandments of Nailing Your Final Exams:

Fall Preview Day Pt. III - The Return of the Ancient Mariner

The right side of Robert Pattinson's face does not endorse FPD.
He, uh, won't be there. 

You know the number one thing that sets our generation apart from our parents?

We enjoy the previews at movies. 

[Ok, maybe it isn't the number one thing, but opening a blog post with, "You know one of a myriad things that sets us apart from our parents," just doesn't have the same hook.]

Think about it. We—the generation that was raised with a DVR, the generation who supposedly hates and innately mistrusts marketing—will intentionally sit through fifteen minutes of commercials before every movie we go to (I even play a preview game: each person in the group picks a number from one to five. The corresponding preview is a commentary on that person's life. Try it; it's hilarious). 

I remember my parents would always arrive late to movies in my youth, with the same excuse every time: "It's ok. At least we missed the previews." Not me. I want to see them. I get disappointed if I miss them. 

But why? 

October Advice - College Applications: My Personal Horror Story

Ladies and gentlemen, it is near the end of October. That means it is time to begin completing your applications.

...My condolences. 

When I applied to college, there was simply nothing I loathed quite as intensely as the act of actually applying. I HATED it. All caps.

Part of it was the repetitiveness. There is only so many times a sentient being can be forced to type their zip code before the brain rebels. 

Part of it was my naturally scatter-brained personality. I found it exceedingly difficult to sit at the computer and hack out an application when there were other pressing things I needed to take care of...like, football. Or homecoming. Or the new video game that just came out. Or watching my fingernails grow.

The majority of the reason I was so reluctant, however, was my mother (no offense, mom). As time progressed and my list of target colleges didn't, she became more and more "insistent" that I buckle down and apply. As a mature and wise 17-year-old, this drove me crazy. 

"I know, mom! I have plenty of time," I maintained.

Until, suddenly, I didn't.

Woah, Son. Marymount College Has Master's Degrees on the Way...

Oh, they grow up so fast...

Just a few weeks after our President took a fully-clothed jump into our swimming pool to celebrate enrolling over 1000 students at Marymount (the highest number ever), yet another awesome milestone has been reached by the college.

In addition to our Bachelor's and Associate Degrees, we now have two Master's degree programs pending WASC approval. 

Woot, woot, and, I say again, woot. 

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, in just a few short years we've gone from a two-year school of just over 400 students to a 1000-student school offering advanced degrees.* 

*Pending WASC approval. (That's all I am required to write, but as a creative writing major I never get to write legal jargon, so: asterisk, italicized qualification, long parenthetical, habeus corpus, "we hold these truths to be self evident," Reese Witherspoon, "Hah-vad yahd", "You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!", yadda yadda.)

How did we do it, you might ask? 

By being awesome (duh), and by constant attention to what makes Marymount College special: our students. We strive to live our mission of serving our students in every way possible, so when they expressed interest in completing a master's degree at Marymount, we bent over backwards to make sure that happened... 

...And, boom! We delivered (asterisk, etc.) two awesome programs specifically tailored to our students' interests. Check them out below: 

• Leadership and Community Development
• Community Psychology

A particularly attractive option is completing your bachelor's and your master's degree within just 5 years of study! That means that while many non-Marymount students are still finishing up their undergraduate work, you've already beat them into the workforce with an advanced degree. ...Where was this when I was a student?

We're starting enrollment for 2013 (asterisk, etc.) on March 1, ladies and gents. If you're interested, contact Kevin Grant, Director of Graduate Admission, at kgrant [at] marymountpv [dot] edu. 

What do you think about the changes? Let us know below!