Today we welcome special guest blogger Maureen McCord from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Maureen is a soon-to-be freshman at Wellesley, 2012 Joyce Ivy Summer Scholar, and attended the Joyce Ivy College Admissions Symposium in 2012.
What could be more amazing than attending a summer Pre-College program, thanks to the Joyce Ivy Foundation? In the spring of 2012, I couldn't think of anything. Then JIF decided to throw a College Admissions Symposium for Joyce Ivy Scholars and other interested young women--icing on the cake for a college admissions nerd like myself. My experience at JCAS 2012 gave me and my parents a unique perspective into the opaque college admissions process, and helped me approach the daunting path to senior year acceptances with confidence.
My favorite activity was, by far, the mock college admissions interviews. It seems like there's a way to prepare for just about every other part of an application; the essay requires truthful introspection and careful revision, the extracurriculars participation and dedication, and so on. But the interview-- what are interviewers looking for? How can I practice being vivacious and interesting in an anxiety producing, constructed environment? There's really only one way to answer these questions-- talk to people who've done interviews before, and have a chance to practice with others who don't know you very well. JCAS provided exactly this. We learned what some JIF alumnae had experienced in their college interviews, and spoke with an admissions professional who gave the group some mock questions and tips. Then, we paired off and practiced asking each other the questions. Both girls I practiced with provided excellent constructive criticism, and I thought they were interesting, friendly, and poised.
Which brings me to the other great thing about JCAS: I was learning about the college admissions process with a group of amazing, talented young women who shared my ambitions and interest in learning more about the process. It was empowering to be surrounded by people who I felt I could relate to-- and helpful to size up the competition! Later, while I was on college tours or sitting in information sessions, I felt shy about asking questions in the often impersonal or intimidating environment (particularly at Ivy League schools), or simply too awestruck by the beauty of the campus I was touring to think critically. At JCAS, I felt supported and was as interested in what every other girl wanted to ask or comment on as what I myself was curious about. This has contributed to my decision to attend a women's college. "Sisterhood" is a popular theme of the Wellesley experience, and JCAS was an early embodiment of its presence in my life.
Both the experience of being surrounded by inspiring young women and the opportunity to practice interviewing at jCAS left lasting impressions on me. In terms of the interview practice, my interviews have proven to be both my favorite and, I think, my best part of the college admissions process. When I finally got together with my Yale interviewer, we hung out in an Ann Arbor coffee shop and talked about everything and anything for an hour and a half. I never would have felt comfortable enough to make that happen without the practice I had at JCAS.
I have the satisfaction of knowing that my hard work and dedication are what got me to Wellesley. But I also realize that, without my experiences at JCAS, and the Joyce Ivy Foundation overall, I may never have even considered a women's college-- and the path to enrolling anywhere would've been longer, harder, and far more frustrating.
About the author: Maureen McCord is a 17-year old senior/completer at the Early College Alliance at Eastern Michigan University (ECA). Prior to attending ECA, she completed her freshman year at Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan, her hometown. Maureen attended the Smith College Summer Science and Engineering Program in July of 2012 with a Joyce Ivy Foundation Summer Scholarship. She will be attending Wellesley College come September, and plans to pursue a double major in International Relations and South Asia Studies. When not obsessively following the Ukraine crisis, Maureen can be found knitting, listening to folk music, and, as she says, "otherwise impersonating a middle-aged woman."
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