Hopkins Insider

Live Blogging on RD Notification Day (2008)

Good morning all. I've been up for about 15 minutes and I am refreshed. I didn't think I would be able to write that after the mayhem of the last two weeks, but I actually got 8 hours of sleep last night. I don't think my bed has ever felt more comfortable.

This is the start of my live blogging of the Regular Decision notification release day. There is a lot of tasks on my "to do" list today, but I will try to update frequently throughout the day to let you know how everything is going. I need to go SHAVE (!!!), shower, and then head in to the office. For the mean time, I recommend you go back and read (or re-read) my post from yesterday detailing the entire process for the release of decisions (I've added photos):

Breaking News: Decisions to be Released March 28

Be back later!

Posted at 6:30am, March 28, 2008

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Quick update time. I got in to the office at around 7:30am and I must say I was suprised by one thing -- the sun was out! If you have read previous decision release "live blogging" entries, it seems each morning has always been a bit gloomy and a bit foggy. Today, though it is partially cloudy (or partially sunny) and a bit chilly, there was still spring sunshine and buds on the trees.

I dropped my stuff at my desk and then headed up to the third floor in Mason Hall where the other "early birds" were finishing stuffing folders. For the next three hours we have been busy stuffing the final financial aid packets, pulling international decisions so that we can affix special mailing information, and STAMPING. Yes it takes close to three hours with about 10 people to stamp everything.

With that being said, I need to get back to work. I thought I would leave you all with something that always makes me smile. Enjoy:

Posted at 10:35am, March 28, 2008

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Hey all ... I am not neglecting the updates. I have just been busy the last few hours ... O.K., honestly I have been procrastinating and chatting with two amazing freshmen students, JHU_Jessica and JHU_Lauren. I will be updating in a while, I promise. Enjoy the pictures for now.

Posted at 5:35pm, March 28, 2008

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So I know that the live blogging wasn't as frequent as in the past, but I needed to take some time off this afternoon after we mailed all the decisions. It has been a crazy couple of weeks, and my brain and body needed to relax for a while. I have returned home and have gotten confirmation that the emails are being sent. Before I provide a re-cap of the days events, I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU ALL TO RE-READ MY POST FROM YESTERDAY REGARDING THE RELEASE OF REGULAR DECISION NOTIFICATIONS:

Breaking News: Decisions to be Released March 28

Answers to the majority of your questions are posted there, including details about what happens if you do not receive a decision email.

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So beginning after my last significant update (10:35 am this morning), here is what transpired -- and yes I will reference the photos above.

10:35 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - After updating I decided to step outside for a fresh breathe of air and I had the camera so I took a nice shot of Mason Hall (pic1). It has been a much easier process this year in the new building ... much more space leads to a better flow to the process. After some air it was back to stamping (pic2). It costs more than $4 per priority mail envelope.

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. - The sealing commences. Everything is stuffed, everything is stamped, and Dean of Admissions Dr. John Latting (background of pic5) confirms that all decisions are final. The sealing of the envelopes (pics 4 & 5) will take about an hour. As the sealing moves along all the packets are stuffed into mail bins (pic 6). Time to load the cars!!!

1:00 - 1:15 p.m. - I head to my office to get my car keys and look out my window to see 7 tours of prospective students (pic 3). The circle of Admissions ... high school juniors beginning the process as high school seniors are finishing up.

It takes four SUVs (including my brand new Chevy Trailblazer (pic7)) to hold all 16,001 decisions. It is a tight squeeze (pics 8 & 9 & 11). Uh oh, don't forget one (pic 10).

1:15 - 1:25 p.m. - The drive down I-83 to the main Baltimore postal center. Nice artistic side mirror photos thanks to Shannon (pics 12 & 13).

1:25 - 1:35 p.m. - The unloading of tons of bins of mail at the Baltimore postal center. It is a work-out but we get it done quickly, and turn everything over to the U.S. Postal Service. At 1:35 p.m. ... WE ARE DONE. The decisions are out of our hands.

1:37 p.m. - Uh oh!!! The caravan of three SUVs are pulled over by the U.S. Postal Service police (pic 14). We are a bit nervous, but it turns out that we were just using the wrong exit. Whew ... that was a close one.

1:50 p.m. - Back in the office. The majority of the staff heads home to rest and enjoy the rest of the day off. I bunker down with Jessica and Lauren working on updating the Hopkins Forums and our Facebook groups. We procrastinate a bit (the three of us need it). Thanks to both of them for keeping me going today.

5:35 p.m. - I update the blog quickly ... end the procrastinating ... confirm that the Admitted Student Web site is launched ... and confirm that the email process will begin sometime in the 6 to 7 o'clock hour. I pack up and head home for the evening.

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Breaking News: Decisions to Be Released March 28

As promised here is the most up-to-date news regarding the release of Regular Decision notifications ...

Johns Hopkins University will release regular decision notifications
on Friday, March 28.

Please check back later tonight for full details on the process of releasing decisions. I need to go assist with the confirming of decisions and the stuffing and sealing process. But I will return with a list of FAQs and answers, plus some pictures.

Posted at 6:08pm, Thursday, March 27

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Our hard work these last couple of weeks and especially these past 24 hours has paid off, and as the introduction to this blog states, we will be releasing regular decision notifications tomorrow. There is still a lot to be done tonight (LATE tonight) and throughout tomorrow, but the class is set, decisions are sealed, and the end process has begun in earnest. As has become tradition, the majority of the Admissions staff is staying late and we have recruited a cadre of amazing students to help with all the final steps before the packets and decision letters are ready to be dropped off at the post office. I am taking a break from the mayhem, since I know so many of you have been refreshing the Hopkins Insider blog for the most up-to-date information.

This process typically leads to a ton of questions, so I have compiled the following Frequently Asked Questions (with answers obviously) to cut down on any confusion. PLEASE READ THIS BLOG CAREFULLY.

Decisions are complete, so can I call now and get my decision?
NO!!! Please do not call us tomorrow (Friday) regarding your decision or anything related to the release of decision notifications. The entire Admissions staff will be extremely busy preparing the mailing, that we will not be able to field any questions regarding the release of decisions, and we will absolutely not release any decisions over the phone tomorrow.

How will decisions be released?
By mail: We will release decisions the same way we have done for the past three years. First thing tomorrow morning the staff will finish stuffing packets, sealing the last decision letters, and then stuff everything in mail bins. All decision letters (admits, wait lists, and denies) will be taken to the main Baltimore postal center. All decisions will enter the postal system by the close of business on Friday.

By email: As we have done in the past, in the evening we will also be releasing decision notifications via email. NO OFFICIAL TIME HAS BEEN SET YET. In the past we have sent decisions at 6:00 p.m. EDT and we hope to be able to do the same this Friday. The emails are released later in the day because we feel that receiving your college admissions decision should be a personal experience that you share with yourself and your family. We prefer students not receive decisions during the middle of the school day, so we wait until the majority of our applicants are out of school.

Can I check my decision online?
Johns Hopkins University does not have an online system for the release of admissions decisions.

Can I call the Admissions Office to receive my decision over the phone?
Decisions will not be released over the phone until Tuesday, April 1st. At that time, if you have not received your admissions notification you can call the Admissions Office. Please be aware, when we do begin to release decisions over the phone, we will only release the decision to the applicant, a parent or guardian of the applicant, or the applicant's high school guidance counselor. Decisions will be released only if the identify of the caller can be reasonably assured.

Regarding the emailed decisions, what will be the subject line?
We do not release the "subject lines" of our email decisions in advance. The content of these emails will change year-to-year.

What happens if I do not receive an email decision on Friday?
If an applicant does not receive an email there a couple of things he or she can do:

1. Check your SPAM folders.
2. Check ANY and all email accounts you have ever used during the college search process. We send the email to the account you listed on your application. However, our database system does track all email accounts that have ever been matched to your record, so on occasion the notification email may be sent to old email address. (So check emails that you may have used when registering for the SAT/ACT for example.)
3. Have your parents check their email accounts too. Not sure how that happens, but it has happened in the past.

If none of those methods work, then unfortunately the student will need to wait to receive the decision in the mail, or can call after April 1st. Every year some email notifications just don't work. The reasons for an applicant not receiving an email notification include that there was no email provided on the student's application, the email provided on the application is no longer active, there was a SPAM filter blocking the message, or some error occurred that caused a bounce-back. WE ARE UNABLE TO RE-SEND EMAILS. Once again, in such situations the applicant must wait and we do appreciate your patience.

I applied to the biomedical engineering program, will I receive that decision via email as well?
Decisions about acceptance into the biomedical engineering (BME) major are departmental decisions and therefore we do not release such information through email or over the phone. All applicants who applied to the BME program will learn of their decision when they receive their acceptance packages.

I applied Early Decision, was admitted, but my decision about the biomedical engineering program was deferred. How will I receive my final BME decision?
Those decision letters will be mailed tomorrow. We can not release those decisions through email or over the phone.

How do I learn about my financial aid package?
Financial aid awards for those who completed their financial aid application will be included in the acceptance packet. You will also be able to check your award by logging into your ISIS account. If you have any questions or need access to ISIS, please contact the Office of Student Financial Services.

What about scholarship notifications and notifications about the   Woodrow Wilson research fellowship?
These decisions are included in acceptance packets only. We do not release that information through email or over the phone.

I hope this update and FAQ list helps clear up any confusion. I will upload pictures later this evening when I have a chance to locate my camera cord. While you wait for tomorrow, if you want to procrastinate a bit more read the past decision release blog entries:

December 14, 2007: Class of 2012 Decision Release (ED)

March 28, 2007: Class of 2011 Decision Release (RD)

December 15, 2006: Class of 2011 Decision Release (ED)

March 30, 2006: Class of 2010 Decision Release (RD)

December 15, 2005: Class of 2010 Decision Release (ED)

Live blogging tomorrow ... now I am off to finish helping my colleagues, head home, prepare the shaving kit, and get a good night sleep.

Photo Captions (top --> down):

1. The Start of the day: the bins wait all the stuffing to come.
2. Middle of the day: lots of hands doing lots of work. The process of dropping the correct letters and financial aid packages.
3. Another Stage of Confirming: this is the third and final check that the right letters will go to the right people.
4. Late in the Evening: everyone is still going strong.
5. Students are Amazing: With out the help of our great students we probably wouldn't mail until the middle of April.
6. Done for the Night: the bins are stuffed and now wait for the morning to be stuffed and sealed.

Update: Where We At Now?

It's just past 10:00pm on Wednesday evening (March 26) and I am still in the office. I am actually here catching up on a number of non-admissions decision related projects. As well, there are a number of the great students from Hopkins Interactive throughout Mason Hall working with me to complete a few special "surprise" projects for the coming month. I thought before I head home for the night (and what has become the traditional 3-4 hour nap before a shower and return to the office) I'd provide a quick update on the status of regular decision notifications.

Status Update: We are close to being finished, but we are not yet done. More importantly, I unfortunately have no new update on the decision mail date. I hope to be able to post tomorrow with that information, but we just are not there yet. I appreciate all of your patience, and as I have said over and over again ... when the decision release date becomes official I will update you all.

Since my last post, so much has been going on that I thought I would share some new pictures from the past 24 hours, and once again provide descriptive captions.

 

Photo #1: SO MUCH MAIL. The letters have continued to pile up ... there is a lot that goes into 16,001 decisions.

Photo #2: DRAWER CHECKS. This is the most crucial step. Here teams of 3 work to confirm each and every decision. We need to check the letters with each file.

Photo #3: MORE DRAWER CHECKS. It takes an entire day with everyone on board to go through all the files. While this is going on the Director is meeting with certain members of the Admissions Committee finalizing those last decisions. Even though the drawer checks are going on, the class is still not complete.

Photo #4: THE MAIL ROOM SLEEPS. All action has ceased for the evening as the staff went home to rest. (Maybe I should do that too). An eerie site to behold.

Photo #5: THE ACTION WILL RESUME SOON. The file room awaits the mayhem to commence again on Thursday morning. So much to do, so little time.

I am off to finish up my work, head home, see who got kicked off of American Idol and Big Brother, listen to the "Once" soundtrack and try to get a good night sleep - until the alarm clock goes off at 4:45am.

Check back tomorrow for the best update I will be able to provide ...

Update: Where We At?

N.B. Just to let you all know I posted a blog entry over the weekend, but due to a dumb mistake on my part it never posted (I "saved as draft" instead of "posted"). That is fixed right now, and I encourage you all to scroll down to read the March 22 entry, or just click here: REBOOT: H.I. Version 3.0 Arrives.
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O.K., let's get this out of the way right away ... many (yes, many many many) of you are asking in every forum available when will regular decision notifications be mailed??? Here is the up-to-the-minute update ... WHEN WE ARE DONE.

As of the early morning of Tuesday, March 25th we are still thoroughly working. Therefore our answer to the above question is that the release of decisions will occur prior to April 1st. We have been working endless hours these past few weeks to finish the class. Some of you have insinuated that we are dragging our feet ... in no way is that true. This process needs to be PERFECT, and the finishing touches to the class are always thought over and discussed in the most meticulous fashion.

I miss my bed ... Soze is on vacation with my family right now so the ASPCA does not come and take him away from me for neglect ... I celebrated my birthday this past weekend for a grand total of 4 hours ... I haven't watched a new movie in three weeks (Ahhh!) ... My eyes hurt ... My brain hurts ... I am close to running on empty, just as all my colleagues are. But it is all worth it. This year is a record year for us and one of the most impressive applicant pools any of us have ever seen. Just another reason for us to be as deliberate as we are being right now.

As soon as I have an update on the release of RD notifications I will update this blog, so check back over the next few days. If you are interested, check the blog entries from this time last year for a pseudo-preview of what is to come: March 2007 Hopkins Insider Blog entries. (For a more recent decision release entry, check out the entry from December 14, 2007 regarding ED Notification Day.)

Below I have added some pictures of the state of affairs in Mason Hall as of Tuesday morning, but before checking them out please read this caveat ... DECISIONS ARE NOT DONE YET!!! Yes, we are generating letters galore as you can see, but that does not mean the class is sealed and all decisions are finalized. Due to the volume of letters we need to mail on decision release day, our Operations team must begin the process as early as possible. So these pictures are of our staging areas. Not sure I can say this any clearer ... do not read anything in to these pictures. We are not mailing today ... we are not mailing tomorrow ... etc. etc. etc.

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PICTURE CAPTIONS (from left to right, top row to bottom row):

(1) The main file room has become a massive staging area for our admit packets. (2) Another angle of the massive collection of collapsible bins with application packets ready to get stuffed. (3) Letters galore. (4) More letters. (5) Even more letters and mail bins. (6) Yes, there is a lot of paper involved in this process. (7) The state of my desk ... a slight improvement from last week, but still a mess. (8) A box of discarded rosters ... a lot of work took place to get that box filled. (9) My dream button ... I wish I could just push it and we'd be done ... but there are no easy roads.

This entry is the best update I can provide at this time. So please just be patient, and stop asking when decisions will be released. We will let you know, as soon as we set the date. Thank you for your patience.

REBOOT: H.I. Version 3.0 Arrives

Way back on December 12, 2005 a little endeavor created by a team of 12 creative Johns Hopkins students, a risk-taking admissions counselor, and a few talented web and marketing professionals was launched. This project was the initial incarnation of Hopkins Interactive, a new way of connecting with prospective students and providing them with authentic information about Hopkins and a transparent view of the Admissions process. The launch of this site was revolutionary for its time, and was all about providing access: access to current students providing honest answers; access to an actual Admissions counselor; access to unfiltered and direct information; and access to some fun. (Read about the initial launch of Hopkins Interactive in the first ever Hopkins Insider blog entry.)

Eleven months later on November 15, 2006, Hopkins Interactive was re- launched. This was a truly ambitious re-visioning of the H.I. site as previously we had just two pages of material that included 10 blogs, a message board, and some fun facts.  Version 2.0 was much different, as the content expanded in a grand way, the design radically changed and improved, and the ability to interact with current students exponentially increased. All involved with the re-design and re-launch were overwhelmingly satisfied with the finished project. (Read about the re-launch of Hopkins Interactive, version 2.0 in this Hopkins Insider blog entry.)

The sign of a creative and talented crew is that they do not rest on their laurels after achieving a sense of success ... and that is just what the team behind Hopkins Interactive did. Following the 2.0 re-launch, all involved began to think of better and more effective ways to present the Hopkins Interactive content and increase the level of interaction. Though it has taken us more than a year for version 3.0 to make its debut ... the wait has been worth it.

So now March 22, 2008 will hold a place in history, not just as  Admissions_Daniel's 33rd birthday, but more importantly as the launch of HOPKINS INTERACTIVE, VERSION 3.0. This Hopkins Insider entry is dedicated to the new features of this fantastic site.

At first glance, it seems that little has changed. The design and structure of the site is based on the re-visioning that took place for version 2.0. However, a closer examination of the front page reveals two brand new sections 04: @ HOPKINS & 05: VIDEOS. We will get to those sections soon. The other changes to the main page include brand new Polaroids of our 8 new freshmen, some new Polaroids of returning H.I. students, and a collection of new "did you know" fast facts. Remember keep refreshing to see all 22 Polaroids and over 40 fast facts.

Now let's take a section-by-section look at the content and new features:

01 - STUDENT PROFILES

My favorite part of Hopkins Interactive, and in many ways the best place to navigate the site when trying to connect with our current students. Here you will find 22 student profiles that represent the best cross-section of the Hopkins undergraduate student body. We have re-organized the profiles main page by sorting by class year, but still you can go down the list and select profiles of students from your region of the country (or the world - yeah Tabitha), or from your academic area of interest. Each profile page has also been updated with new survey questions, new pictures, links to the students' blogs, and an updated feature where you can ASK ANY STUDENT A QUESTION (just click on their pictures). So let's say you are from Texas and may be interested in Public Health Studies - then click on Roxi's profile, check out her profile, read her blog, and then ask her a question (or just provide her some feedback). The students love to chat with you all ... so don't forget to post on their personal discussion threads.

02 - BLOGS

The most popular section of Hopkins Interactive continues to be the Blogs, and there is no problem with that. Name another University site where you can find 11 student blogs, a shared Freshman blog co-written by 4 students, an Admissions blog, a special Guest Blog, a conglomeration blog, and oh yeah a new Video blog. I am constantly amazed at how enjoyable reading our student blogs can be (yes, I know I sound like a proud Papa). If you really want to know about the daily life of Hopkins students following the stories of these amazing students is one of the best paths. Every once and a while we will update the "Recent Entries" column on the left so you infrequent visitors will be able to find some of the more popular or unique blog entries. And don't forget, all of the content and design of the blogs is created by our volunteer students - they are not paid and they are not told what to write about -- just like Lauren's blog "Wish You Were Here."

03 - MESSAGE BOARDS

Hopkins Interactive is interactive primarily through the message boards. The Hopkins Forums are your chance to ask any question you might have about life and learning at Hopkins. Admissions_Daniel (me) and the 22 students are available 24/7 (ok, that is a bit on an exaggeration) to answer your questions. Ask Admissions, ask the current students, get information on student life, and answers to everything academic. The great part of the message boards is that the answers and conversations stay forever, so even if you don't have an original question, you can get more information than you could imagine by spending some time scrolling through the forums.

What's New with the Message Boards ... how about:

• Parents' Corner: tell your parents that we have created a forum for them to ask their own questions, and we have recruited current Hopkins parents to respond.
• Off-Topic Discussion: get to know the Hopkins students even more through random "favorites" threads, some fun games, and even a few quizzes. Not everything has to be so serious.
• Featured Forum Topics: check back regularly as we highlight the topic discussions of the past few weeks.

04 - @ HOPKINS

One of our two new section, @ HOPKINS is an expansion of our old Hopkins 360 section. Once again you will find our Virtually Here section with virtual tours and webcams, our News Links section that links you to a variety of Hopkins news sources, our fun Top 10 lists, and the Hopkins Speak guide to JHU lingo. As well, the HOPKINS CRIBS page still exists, and is about to go through a complete update in the next couple of week - with a lot more videos.

The name change is not the only update to this section, as we launch two brand new pages too. First is the "How To" Hopkins page. As we state on the site, the How To Hopkins section is your "cheat sheet to all aspects of Johns Hopkins life, both social and academic." Here the students have compiled interesting entries that provide suggestions, advice, and to-do lists on Hopkins-related topics like how to explore Baltimore, how to avoid the freshman 15, how to select a major, and how to find a research position. In the coming weeks and months we will be adding new entries, and if you check out the section you can email us with your suggestions. (Make sure to check out the "How To" ... Experience Baltimore entry for some interesting videos.)

The other new page is all about our Blue Jay Buffet blog. This is definitely the section to check out on a weekly basis so you can stay up-to-date with our Parent Blogs, Alumni Blogs, Mascot Blogs, Engineering News Briefs, and the This Month at Hopkins entries.

05 - VIDEOS

This is the section of the new Hopkins Interactive that I have the most interest in, as I am impressed with the content we have at this time, but am even more excited when I think about what this site will be like in a year. The new Videos page provides you with links to an array of videos that exist throughout the many pages of the full Johns Hopkins University web network. Enjoy watching these videos, but consider them just the teaser for the main part of this new section ... the Hopkins Interactive Video Blog. The students have been hard at work on a variety of online (viral?) videos that show you the world of Hopkins. We hope you have enjoyed these early parlays into the world of online video, and we promise to keep improving. If you haven't been watching the Video Blog entries, then I share with you my favorite video to date, to encourage you to check out our current, past, and future projects:

06 - CHAT WITH US

Here we have made the fewest changes, because in many ways this area is still under construction and contemplation. Over the years we have had a mixed experience with online chats, so the team and I are re-thinking the ideas of chats in the future. Stay tuned.

In the mean time, we have added a great way to connect with the Hopkins Interactive team ... FACEBOOK. Read all about the JHU Facebook group here, and check out this former Hopkins Insider blog entry about the launch of the Facebook group.

Happy exploring Hopkins Interactive version 3.0, and as always leave your feedback. Maybe your suggestions will be incorporated in H.I., v. 4.0.

Swamped ... Overwhelmed ... Engrossed

Take a look at these pictures:

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That is the state of the Admissions Office right now. Actually it is our Committee Room as of Saturday morning (March 15). It may not look like much, but this is just one of many scenes of the hard work going on right now. We are swamped ... we are overwhelmed ... we are engrossed ... we are any other descriptive word that symbolizes a state of busyness at the highest level. Oh yeah, and we are inundated with files, rosters, and extremely difficult decisions.

Committee time is upon us, and as I mentioned last week this process is more daunting and difficult than it ever has been. From now until the end of the month, my colleagues and I are spending 7 days a week in the office, working way past the normal 8 hours a day, and are feeling all the weight of this incredibly difficult process. Thankfully, there is the slightest light at the end of the tunnel ... or is that just the glare of my alarm clock red light telling me it is time to wake up and get back to the office.

Here are some more pictures that I think display the mayhem:

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Anyone who knows me, or has read this blog for a while, knows that I am a very, very, very organized person and keep a very tidy office. Well that was the state of my office on Friday. Files, papers, rosters ... EVERYWHERE. I actually walked in after a staff meeting and almost fainted. Having an office this messy is not conducive to my mental health ... so after taking the pictures I attempted to organize as best as possible and then move on to my next project.

Speaking of my mental health, I am really not sure how I am still standing after the weak I have had. As I right this blog at 1:00am on Saturday evening / Sunday morning, I just looked back at my daily to do lists for the past week.

Monday: In the office at 6:45am ... Responding to emails, work on planning some Engineering events, meet with some students about communicating with admitted students in April, Counseling Team meeting, Meet with Dean of Admissions John Latting to discuss Engineering numbers and BME selection, Web site work ... home by 7:00pm ... in bed at 12:15am.

Tuesday: In the office at 5:30am ... Responding to emails, some more Engineering work, some video work, Committee work for 5 hours, Senior Staff meeting, 7 phone calls with New England college counselors, meeting with students interested in helping with Engineering projects, more Committee work for a couple of hours ... home by 8:00pm ... in bed at 11:45pm.

Wednesday: In the office at 6:00am ... Committee work throughout the whole morning / early afternoon, Westgate scholarship selection until 5pm, weekly meeting with Student Advisory Board ... home by 8:00pm ... in bed at 1:15am.

Thursday: In the office at 7:00am ... More Westgate scholarship selection and even more Committee work, lots of emails to respond to, 14 more phone calls with New England college counselors, some spring travel planning, more Web site design work, endless roster work ... home by 7:00pm ... LOST at 9:00pm ... in bed at 10:30pm. (Easy day???)

Friday: In the office at 3:30am (NO JOKE) ... emails, phone calls, rosters, committee work, Web site work, Engineering work, meetings with the Director, final scholarship selections, etc. etc. etc. Honestly, the day was one of the most difficult in my time in Admissions and I think I have blocked it out of my mind ... home by 8:15pm ... bed at 9:30pm (actually I feel asleep on the couch).

So in the end I hope this entry reveals that we are working hard, and we do not take our jobs lightly. In fact, this afternoon I was able to step away from the Committee Room for a couple of hours to watch the Hopkins Men's Lacrosse team play Syracuse:

Unfortunately, the team lost in OT, our second straight OT loss. The weather was beautiful though and it was nice to get some fresh air.

It is now 1:30am and I plan to be in the office around 7:00am on Sunday morning. So it is bed time for me ... and hopefully some pleasant dreams that have nothing to do with college admissions.

Back ... and Better Than Ever

So it's Sunday evening ... the clocks have sprung forward ... and I am back to writing the Hopkins Insider blog. I hope you all enjoyed the last five weeks of entries introducing my colleagues, the Admissions Committee. I work with these people on a daily basis, but I too enjoy getting to know a bit more about them and their thoughts about our profession.

Today is actually a significant day as well because it might actually be the last day I get a good night sleep for a while. Why? Well, starting tomorrow my colleagues and I move to the next stage in the application review process : Committee Time. As of this weekend the Admissions team has completed the "first reads" on about 98% of our applications. Now we break down into small (and large) committees and begin the arduous task of "shaping / defining the class." This year's applicant pool is overwhelmingly impressive so this task of fine-tuning is going to be more difficult than any year I and most of my colleagues have ever experienced. The next few weeks in Mason Hall can be characterized by any and all of the following phrases: late nights; failing eye-sight while perusing endless rosters; overdosing on caffeine; long and arduous debates; and lots and lots of difficult decisions.

Speaking of applications, one of the most frequently asked questions I get this time of year is how many total applications did Hopkins receive this admissions cycle? Well, at last check the number was: 16,001. No joke ... that's the number. We've checked it a number of times. I actually wanted it to be 15,999 so we didn't break the 16K plateau this year ... but lo and behold we did break it by 2. For those who like the numbers, this is a 7.77% increase (lucky 777s) from the 14,848 applications received last year.

The other frequently asked questions this time of year are when will I find out about my decision and / or how will decisions be released? Unfortunately at this time I do not have a definitive answer to such questions. All I can reveal is that regular decision admissions notifications will be released prior to April 1st. No official date has yet been selected for the release of decisions. As we have done in the past (read this blog entry from last year), decisions will be released via postal mail as well as emailed to those applicants who listed an active email address on their application for admissions. Hopkins does not have an online system for tracking application status nor to check one's admissions decision when notifications have been released. I promise to update the Insiders blog once more details about the release of RD notifications is available.

To end this post, because it has been nearly a month and a half since I have created new content for the blog, I thought I would share some miscellaneous items that could have been blog fodder during that time. Hope you enjoy:

• Video Blog: Have you all been enjoying the videos being produced by the Hopkins Interactive team? We are all having a great time working on them. Check out the H.I. Video Blog here, and remember to leave us comments.
• LOST: What can you say??? This season has been un-freaking-believable. "The Constant" episode focusing on Desmond was one-hour of sheer television gold, and the whole mystery of the Oceanic 6 has me on the edge of my seat. These few episodes have definitely cured me of any ill will towards the world of TV stemming from the 100-day writer's strike ... but they have also led me to declare loudly that LOST is my favorite television show OF ALL TIME.
• Lacrosse Season Begins: The JHU Men's Lacrosse team began the defense of their 2007 National title a few weeks ago. First it was a revenge victory over Albany on a very cold and overcast day in late February. Then it was a dismantling of Princeton in front of thousands of fans at M&T Bank (Ravens) Stadium. Third was a close victory over local challenger UMBC. That ran the winning streak to 11 games, but unfortunately this weekend the team suffered its first loss in a close OT game to Hofstra. So the record is 3-1 and we face Syracuse this coming weekend at Homewood - a match of the two winningest programs in NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse history (we are better though.) Follow the team here.
• Baseball is Almost Here: Do you want to know what the one silver lining of losing an hour during daylight saving times and all the work that I do in Admissions during the months of March and April? It all means that Baseball Fever is returning. I have renewed my MLB.com subscription, I have set up a Baseball wish list on both my TiVos, and I have located my NY Mets hat from where I buried it after the debacle of last season. I am not sure I have been more excited for the start of baseball season since I was a kid ... and that has a lot to do with a man by the name of Johan Santana.
• Favorites: Were you reading the student blogs and message boards last week? I hope so because all last week they were featuring a Common Blog project where each student completed a Favorites questionnaire. I hope you all enjoyed learning some random facts about some amazing Hopkins students.
• My Favorites: The final part of the the Favorite surveys that the students worked on last week is actual something I suggested. I am a huge fan of James Lipton's "Inside the Actor's Studio." During every broadcast, at the end Lipton asks questions invented by the great Bernard Pivot. So since I love these questions, I thought I would end this first blog back with my answers:

What is your favorite word?

- Juxtaposition. I have loved this word and its meaning since first learning it while preparing for the SATs. In many ways, the word has summarized a lot of my life.

What is your least favorite word?

- Any words related to feminine hygiene. I have always been squeamish about such things. No idea what I am going to do when my niece reaches that age.

What turns you on (creatively, spiritually, or emotionally)?

- I love the smell of oranges. Seriously though, I am turned on by original thoughts.

What turns you off?

- Cheating, cutting corners, and deception. Just watch Big Brother and you will see what turns me off.

What sound or noise do you love?

- Any word or semblance of a word that comes out of my niece Lilly's mouth. When I first heard her say "I love you" I collapsed.

What sound or noise do you hate?

- The sound of a straw on cardboard. And oh yeah, the women on The View.

What profession would you like to attempt?

- Play-by-play announcer for the New York Mets.

What profession would you absolutely not like to attempt?

- So many ... but I will narrow the list down to lawyer, anything to do with blood, or anything related to Wall Street.

Finally, if Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

- "Ready to give it another try."

Introducing the Admissions Committee XI: John Birney

Name: John Birney

Territory: Connecticut and New York

Education: Lynchburg College - B.A. in History & M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction

Johns Hopkins Start Date: August 2001

Years in Admissions: 13

Why did you choose to enter the profession of College Admissions?:  My original goal was to teach high school history. I found that the teaching profession wasn’t what I really enjoyed, but I enjoyed working with the students. Admissions combines the best of both worlds … I work with the population I enjoy, yet in the collegiate setting.

What is the most enjoyable part of reading college applications? And the least enjoyable part?:  The most enjoyable part of reading applications is finding those "hidden gem" students; those that just put you in awe of their accomplishments. Conversely, the least enjoyable part is making the distinction between so many qualified candidates. A close second, is reading applications where students make simple, and avoidable, mistakes.

What is your personal approach to reading an application?: I used to read at home in my basement – which was ideal. I’m changing locales this year as my kids – Jack, 4 and Carter, 1.5, are at home and the house is no longer quiet. I first divide my files by academic area. I find it easier when I’m searching for a similar set of values in each file I read. I read the file from front to back - application, essays, transcript, and recommendations. 

What is your favorite thing about Johns Hopkins University?: The athletic teams. As I work with all the coaches to recruit our teams, it’s wonderful to see that we field some of the best teams and have very competitive seasons. Fear the Blue Jay!

If working in College Admissions wasn't an option, what would you be doing as an occupation?: Captaining a charter fishing vessel, working in law enforcement, or laying on the beach.

In your personal opinion, what is the top issue facing the field of higher education currently?: “Admissions Creep.”  A decade ago, students could wait until their senior year to visit schools and decide where to apply. Each year the pressure to decide gets greater and earlier. This creep only leads to the increased number of applications, declining admission rates, and stiffer competition (and worried students).

What is your top Johns Hopkins University memory to date?: Winning our second lacrosse championship during my time at JHU (2007).

What book, what movie, and what album should all students have read, watched, and listened to before enrolling in college?: I'll choose not to use all Baltimore based references here...

• Book - Choosing Civility
• Movie - The Shawshank Redemption
• Album - "Boats, Beachers, Bars and Ballad" by Jimmy Buffett