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KNIGHTtime News
GUIDING YOUR COLLEGE PROCESS
By Quinton McArthur
On January 23, at 6:00 pm, in Martin Hall, Jim Nondorf, Vice President for Enrollment and
Student Advancement and Dean of College Admissions and Financial Aid at University of Chicago; F ona Rees, Senior Associate
EVENT REVIEW
FIRST READ:
A Conversation with Admissions Experts
Director of International
Admissions at University
of California, Los Angeles;
and Peaches Valdes, Dean
of Admission at Hamilton
College, took a break from reading thousands of applications to join the Menlo community and share their wisdom about applying to college. The program was moderated by Matt Mettille, Menlo’s Director of College Counseling.
Formerly referred to as “Junior Kick O ,” the program was restructured and launched this year as First Read: A Conversation with Admissions Experts. Well attended by parents and students alike, the event featured discussion of questions
that were submitted in advance, which Mettille curated to cover the broadest scope of topics in the 60-minute time frame.
parents. There is no easy way to say to your child, you really love X school, but I really love Y for you.”
In response to an
audience question about what colleges are really looking for in applicants, Jim Nondorf took the
opportunity to employ some of the wit and humor that the University of Chicago has come to be known for. “We want nice students. No matter how terrible of a person you are, nd two teachers and be nice to them. You’ll need letters of recommendation in a few months.”
How do you get to know applicants with so many applications?
“The college search process is fundamentally about students. As admissions o cers, we believe that every student should know how to
have been raising are beginning to express ideas and viewpoints about their future that they may not agree with,” said Peaches Valdes. “The process of coming to grips with this reality is oftentimes challenging for
“THE COLLEGE SEARCH PROCESS IS FUNDAMENTALLY ABOUT STUDENTS.... OUR JOB IS TO GET TO KNOW YOU AS A PERSON AND WE WILL TAKE TIME TO DO THAT.”
advocate for themselves. You are more than just a set of numbers. Colleges are intentionally ine cient in our processes. Every application is read at least two times. Our job is to get to know you as a person and we will take time to do that,” said F ona Rees.
“Part of what parents have to reckon with during the college search process is that the children who they
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