Written by Phil Bradley, Assistant Director of Scholarships, Office of Admissions
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP! My alarm clock sounds and I slowly wake in the dark. I sit up and briefly wonder: Where am I and how in the heck did I get here? Did I even sleep at all? It feels like I have simply taken an extended nap. I roll over and the clock says 5:15 am. This must be a bad dream right?
No, it’s not a bad dream or a silly joke. It’s travel season for me and many of my colleagues at the University of Rochester. Today I find myself in Beachwood, Ohio (a suburb of Cleveland), and I am awake early this morning because I have a very full day ahead of me. Today I will be hosting a counselor breakfast for several high school guidance counselors in the greater Cleveland area, which will give me an opportunity to discuss with these gatekeepers of our potential students all the great things that make the University of Rochester unique.
So, there I am at 5:45 am, standing in front of the mirror, brushing my teeth, thinking about what I will say to these counselors this morning. Will I focus on the story of one of my favorite students who turned down Stanford University and traveled all the way from sunny California to Rochester because of the unique ability our students have to take on undergraduate research? Will I tell them about Henry Druschel, an amazing young man who is taking full advantage of our flexible curriculum and is currently working on a quadruple major? Maybe I should tell them out the Research and Innovation Grants, where students can apply for a grant that gives them thousands of dollars to take on research projects. I could talk about the small class sizes or the amazing faculty that challenge our students' way of thinking and everything they believed to be true up until now. Perhaps I’ll tell them about the Quidditch team or the YellowJackets, or the 23 men’s and women’s sports we have. So much to say and so little time. Again I ask myself: What will I focus on today?
BEEP, BEEP, BEEP . . . Almost every day during travel season I wake up somewhere new. I start a new adventure in a new place, visiting high schools and interviewing young people from all over the country and the world. These students are so diverse in thought and cultural background, and they will enrich our campus. Without even knowing it, many have enhanced even my life exponentially. Every day I have an opportunity to tell potential students what makes the U of R such an amazing place to come and spend four or more years. To walk the halls of our campus, to sit and share a meal with these amazing young people truly is a remarkable experience. Hopefully, if you are reading this blog you will come to the University and see what I am talking about, and someday soon I will get to meet you too.