15 annual minutes of blog fame
When March comes around, I’m the Justin Bieber of admissions bloggers. All of a sudden, people are writing to me with questions, checking the blog compulsively, and providing input. Such a change from the rest of the year when I write and write, trying to cover subjects of interest to readers, but always wondering if I sound like blah, blah, blog.
And that’s why now is such a good time to thank you for reading the blog throughout the year, and of course, to thank you generally for your interest in The Fletcher School.
The relationship between admissions folks and applicants is a strange one. Sometimes we have met — at an info session, an interview, a college visit, or some other time when we or you are out and about. Other times, we haven’t met directly, but you’ve introduced yourself through your application. In the latter case, we often don’t remember your name, but remember, instead, your story. So one of us will say to the other, “You know the guy who went to such-and-such a college and then worked for ABC company in XYZ country?” And the other will respond, “Oh, yeah! That guy is awesome!” But we’ve still never met face-to-face.
People who work, or want to work, in an international setting are cool. You’re worldly and motivated, enthusiastic and thoughtful. It’s very satisfying for us to help such impressive people as they build their careers. I know that some of you are already hearing from your schools. By the end of next week, you’ll have heard from Fletcher, too. Wherever you end up for grad school, thank you for enriching our work with your stories. And thanks, again, for reading the admissions blog, in March and throughout the year.
Thank you, Leila. I know that we are occasionally overwhelmed by email messages, so I’m glad that (on average) we appear to respond in a timely way!
I’ve been a regular reader since September, and have been so grateful not only for the very helpful posts, but also for your quick replies to my questions. Thank you so much!
I had never thought of us as neurosis busters, but I’ll share that thought with my admissions pals. Thanks, Mitch.
I have to agree with the bedside manner of Fletcher’s neuroses management. As a student who is looking into graduate study for the first time, this has been a really great tool and the enthusiastic recommendation I received from a mentor to look into Fletcher is well-earned.
Thank you, Subhash. I’ve enjoyed learning about your projects in Nepal throughout this year! Keep doing great work!
Thank you Jessica for all the wonderful blog entries. I honestly do not think any other graduate schools are this intimate and caring. I enjoyed stories in this blog. I probably read most, if not all, of the entries before finalizing my application.
Whether I get in or not, Fletcher was and will always be my dream graduate school. I cannot stop but talk about the school with the MEPs and the interns here at the European Parliament!
Fletcher so much reminds me of St. Olaf. Both pride on being super friendly and close-knit community!
Thank you Jessica!
Thanks, LV, for the kudos and the cheers! Fletcher does, in fact, pride itself on being a pretty user-friendly place.
I’d like to throw in my kudos as well. If Fletcher’s Admissions Office takes such time and energy to engage us during the application process, it makes you wonder how much support the School would give us as students and alumni. Cheers!
Fantastic, Halley — Fletcher’s Admissions Office is all about Neurosis Management! 🙂
This has really been useful as a way to keep our neuroses down, make fun of ourselves on occasion for those neuroses, and learn about Fletcher in the mean time! So thank you.
Thanks, Ana and Shuvam! I’m glad you have enjoyed the blog!
Gracias!! Its a pleasure to read you day after day 🙂
Jessica, I have been reading this blog religiously for the last 3 months and I think, sitting here in Singapore, there is no way I could have had as comprehensive a perspective on Fletcher as I do now.
Thank you so much
Thanks, Dan. And you’re right that some crazy rumors do seem to make their way around, so I’m glad the blog can help to counter them.
Jessica
A very sincere thanks for this blog. I wish more admissions departments at other schools had one! It goes beyond the obsessive-compulsive checking for new information; a blog like this serves to inject some fact and reason into an anxious wait filled with rumors and misinformation.
Glad you enjoyed it, Megan! And also happy to know the blog is helpful to you.
Jessica
This post made me smile. Thank YOU for all the hard work you put into this blog throughout the year!