Five Minutes with Wofford College

Last spring, as March Madness approached, I sat down to work on my picks for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and came across an underdog team who caught my attention. As I consulted my expert bracketology advisor, (aka my brother - while he gets a little frustrated with me when I make my decision based on which team has a player with a heartwarming story or a good mascot, if I bribe him with a free dinner he will help me with the important discernment process of choosing the teams certain to win!) I became more and more intrigued by this small liberal arts school in Spartanburg, South Carolina. After watching Wofford College lose a heartbreaking, but very close game against a Big Ten powerhouse, I started looking more closely at this school, wondering if it would be a good match for Visitation students. After meeting today with one of Wofford’s Admissions Representatives, Jenni Lister, I think that Wofford’s school spirit, close knit community, and strong academic programs offer a great fit!

Wofford has about 1500 students enrolled - and is growing. They pull in a large percentage of their population from South Carolina but 40% of its students enroll from out of state. They offer a unique January Interim program that allows students to earn credit while participating in experiential, real-world learning via internships, study abroad, guided research projects and service learning opporunities. One thing that Jenni Lister wished that everyone knew about Wofford is that they send at least 3 students each year to The Aspen Institute – a prestigious leadership opportunity. When describing the co-curricular programs, Jenni mentioned a short video created last year that is set to Montell Jordan’s “This is How We Do It” that captures some of the fun-loving nature of the school.

Here are some other excerpts from our “five minute interview":

This or That about your school…

Dining Hall or Eat off Campus: Eat off campus

Dress Up for Class or Wear Sweatpants: (without any hesitation) - Wear Sweatpants

Starbucks or Local Coffeehouse: There is a Starbucks right off campus – but the on campus coffee – Java City – is 10 times better!

Students Can Name the Quarterback or “We have a football team?": Students can name the Quarterback – and since we are a small community - are probably good friends with him!

Speakers/Groups who have drawn the biggest crowd on campus:
• Paul Farmer, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine
• Marian Wright Edelman, President and Founder of Children’s Defense Fund
• Jerry Richardson, Owner of the NFL Team - Carolina Panthers
• The Wofford Men’s Basketball Team! – especially for the 2009-2010 Selection Show. One of Wofford’s Alum even sponsored 10 charter buses to help students get to the Round 1 game in Jacksonville to support their team.

So, you just never know where you are going to find a hidden gem of a school – just another excuse to enjoy March Madness! If you’d like to learn more about Wofford College, you can get Jenni Lister’s contact information from your college counselor.


Published by KMH

Interview With Lizzy Wells '09

Why did you choose the University of St Andrews?
Growing up, I spent significant amounts of time visiting family in the UK so it became my home away from home. I always knew that I wanted to go to go to school in the UK and when I visited St Andrews, I loved it immediately. St Andrews is located right on the coast--I love cold weather and the beach so it’s the perfect combination!

What do you like about St Andrews?
Although a lot of people assume that Scotland is always rainy and cold, I have found that not to be entirely true. St Andrews can be very cold and windy, but the weather can still be really sunny. I love having friends from countries all over the world, including Russia, Ireland, Scotland, England, Germany, Zimbabwe, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, and of course the United States. I also love the quaintness of St Andrews. Although the town is small, it has everything you would ever look for in a university town.

What is it like to study abroad?
I absolutely love studying abroad because I have had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and learn a little about their own cultures. In addition, my professors are also from a variety of countries throughout the world. Studying abroad in the UK also allows me to do a lot of traveling in Europe during various breaks and holidays.

What classes are you taking next semester?
At St Andrews, when you apply, you apply for a specific major. In your first and second years, you take 3 classes: one being your major and then any other two courses of your choice. For example, this semester I will be taking International Relations, which is my major, Modern History, and Philosophy. Most classes will consist of a few lectures a week and a tutorial group.

What is your favorite place on campus?
I think it’s hard to pinpoint a favorite place in St Andrews, but one of the places I really enjoy is the edge of the pier. The pier juts out into the North Sea and is next to one of the three beaches in St Andrews called East Sands. Even when it is cold, there are always people on the beach!

What sort of things are there to do off campus?
St Andrews doesn’t really have a campus, but rather the entire town is the campus. All the university buildings are spread out throughout the town. For example, the Student Union is right across the street from The Raisin, a pub that many students go to. The Vic, another pub, is down the street from The Raisin where people can order food and drinks and go dancing. There are also loads of other restaurants, pubs, and places to go out in the evening.

What do you wear to class?
St Andrews students get pretty dressed up for class. On a typical day, I usually wear jeans, a nice sweater, and flats or boots. I have rarely ever seen anyone wear a sweatshirt to class…and most definitely never seen anyone wear sweatpants.


Anything else you want Visi girls to know about St Andrews?
The University of St Andrews was founded in 1413 so it’s rich with tradition. Some of the more recent traditions include the Academic Family, which is a little like the Big Sister Little Sister program at Visitation, the Foam Fight on Raisin Sunday, Pier Walks in the traditional red gown, and the May Dip, in which students swim in the North Sea at dawn.

Published by TSM

Five Minutes With....

Washington University's Cory Zimmerman spent all of second period with two very interested seniors, patiently answered all of my admissions questions, and was nice enough to volunteer to be profiled on the blog!

If Washington University had its own ipod playlist, what would be on it? Taylor Swift, K-pop, T.I., Lady Gaga, MGMT, Scott Joplin, The Beatles.

How are DC area students/applicants different from their counterparts in other regions of the country? DC kids are savvy and can clearly articulate what they love about their school and their city. They definitely take advantage of their amazing location.

How many applications will you read this fall? Probably around 1,000.

How long will you spend reading each one? It really depends on the application - anywhere from a few minutes to almost and hour.

Popular guest speakers/entertainers on your campus in the last year or so? The Biden/Palin debate, Thomas Friedman, Seth Myers

This or That about your school...

Dining Hall or Eat Off Campus? It's a tie. The food is fantastic on campus (for example, there is Mongolian Barbeque and a Vietnamese Deli in the student center) but there are great options off campus as well. Most people probably eat in the cafeteria during the week and venture out on the weekends.

Dress Up For Class or Wear Sweatpants? The students are very casual - definitely closer to sweatpants than anything fancy!

Nearest Starbucks? Kaldi's coffee (a Starbucks rival in St. Louis apparently) is served on campus and there is a Starbucks six blocks north on The Loop.

Students can name the quarterback or "we have a football team?" We do have a football team but I'm not sure most of the campus can name the players. Basketball and volleyball are probably our more popular sports.

This is the second year Cory has visited our school and his third year in admissions. If you have questions for him, ask your counselor for his contact information. We are looking forward to visiting Washington University when we are in St. Louis for a National Admissions Conference in a few weeks. Thank you for spending so much time at Visi this year and volunteering to be on the blog Cory!

Published by TSM

Interview with Faith Cerny (2008) about UVA's School of Architecture

Thanks to Faith for her thoughtful answers and advice! If you'd like to contact her for more information, just ask your college counselor.



Why I chose UVA:
I was actually reluctant to apply here because everyone from Visitation seems to go to/apply to UVA. But if it seems to have everything you want, you can't overlook that. After 12 years of Catholic schooling I wanted public; after four years of all-girls I needed co-ed; I wanted a school that had frats and a football team--basically I was looking for "the college experience." A little cliche, but it's the truth. Also, the fact that I knew I wanted to study architecture made my decision much easier, as it narrowed down the list of potential schools. Proximity to home was never really a factor, but I'm glad UVA is so close; being able to drive to school makes things so much easier, yet it still feels like a different world than DC.

What I like about UVA:
The stereotype of UVa is that it's a "work-hard, play-hard" school; for me that is completely true. After developing such a rigorous work ethic at Visitation (whether you like it or not (or believe it or not), you did develop one), I know I couldn't be at a school that didn't keep me engaged academically. However; on the note of "play hard," definitely bring those old halloween costumes and tye-dye tanks to UVa, because if you want it to, the party scene will surely meet your expectations. I am never bored here, because 1. it's too big for me to be bored, and 2. most everyone wants to make every hour in the day worth it-- most people are go-getters here. There are tons of ways to get involved (seriously, it's awesome to be part of a school that's big enough to give you options). I love the size-- small enough to walk to class and see someone you know, yet big enough to remain anonymous. If you get involved in clubs or greek life, you can definitely make UVA a smaller school and more manageable. Student self-governance here is awesome; students seem to be in charge of everything. It's super easy to start your own club, intramural sports team, etc. I definitely feel in control of my life and education here. I don't find UVa to be cutthroat, or too competitive of an environment, though it's easy to surround yourself with self-motivated workers who are inspiring rather than intimidating. Also, Charlottesville is an awesome area-- tons of outdoorsy things to do, eclectic shopping/eating at the downtown mall.

College is better than high school because:
More options, more opportunity, more independence. In high school I felt like there was a set track for students-- the curriculum was pretty set with limited opportunity for electives. I wanted to do art but was pushed into AP psychology because I was told an AP science would look better when applying to colleges than an art class would. After school you played your sport or did theater and that was it. Life was pretty stable, unvarying, familiar. In college your life can change dramatically from year to year, or even between semesters, depending on the direction you take for your major, the clubs you get involved in, the amount of volunteering you do, your level of participation in the Greek scene, etc. You are your own boss--there is no set track you have to move along. You are no longer doing things to put on your resume, you are doing things because you want to do them.

But I miss ___________ about Visi.
Being able to walk around the campus and wave at every single person. Wearing a faded, torn polo shirt that looked horrible but was so comfortable. Being close with your teachers. Feeling like I could control the discussion in a classroom. Being on sports teams/sports in general. Hanging out with the same people all the time and consequently, developing really close friendships. Sometimes this closeness can be stifling, however, which is what I like about college, and the distance it allows. I also miss going to school in Georgetown, but hey, that's a pretty unique experience that would be hard to replicate in college.

Classes I am taking next semester:
Since I'm in the architecture school, third year there is a set curriculum (which is ok because I had plenty of opportunity to take electives the past two years). This semester I am taking Intro to Architectural Design I (a.k.a. studio), which constitutes the bulk of my work, Architectural Theory and Ethics, a CAAD (computer-aided architectural design) class (3-D modeling and visualization), and Systems, Sites & Buildings.

Favorite place on campus:
I mean, the lawn is iconic of UVA and a lot of things happen there (acapella concerts, picnics, tailgating, streaking, etc.), but my favorite places would have to be the Corner, Rugby Road (where the frat houses are), O'hill dining hall on Saturday morning (the brunch is awesome), west range cafe/anywhere that serves coffee. Too many places to name.

Stuff to do off campus:
Shopping at the downtown mall (mostly boutique-type stores, there's an Urban Outfitters too), eating out at the downtown mall (my fav spots are the mudhouse coffee shop and sweet frog, which is an awesome frozen yogurt place), ice skating at the downtown mall (everything at the downtown mall is a free trolley ride away), seeing movies, lots of concerts at JPJ arena (Lady Gaga just performed there) and at the Pavilion, among other places, drive down route 29 for Red Lobster, Target, things of that nature, go to Barracks shopping center for your groceries, barnes and noble, chipotle, etc., sports games (UVA is awesome at just about every sport except the ones people watch on tv haha), eating/shopping along the Corner is a daily activity (the dumpling store is a must, arches, bodos bagels, little johns, the white spot, boylan (best burgers), the Virginian, etc etc. shop at duo and finch. Outdoorsy activities are popular too, such as apple picking at Carter's mountain, hiking (humpback is a popular lookout point), blue hole is awesome (hike 30 minutes to a water hole where you swing off a rope off the rocks into the water), the quarry, which i think is a 50ish foot jump off a cliff into the water, tubing along the James River is awesome, whitewater rafting, camping (might go next weekend). Wintergreen is 45 minutes away I think, so tubing/skiing there is popular in the winter.

What do you wear to class?
Usually jeans and a top that's nicer than a t-shirt, nice boots/flats/flip-flops/sandals, maybe a cute jacket. Or if you're feeling a little lazy you could go for the athletic look--sneakers, running shorts, t-shirt (but still look decent). No one wears pajamas/sweats to class really. People usually dress pretty well. The funniest thing is when the weather hits about 60 degrees after the winter months, and every girl seems to whip out that summer dress. I am always surprised that people in the architecture school look as nice as they do, considering most of them get about 4 hours of sleep a night.

Best and worst thing about having boys around:
Best is that they're around. It just feels right, natural. No more recycling guys among your group of friends like you did in high school! However, you'll notice as you get older that your social circles get smaller and you'll start to see the same faces around. Worst thing would be the fact that your appearance does matter, I guess? Though I tend to feel better about myself when I shower and make a little bit of an effort to look decent haha. Honestly I can't think of any "worst thing."

Anything else you think the girls should know or we should have asked:
Just general notes about applying to colleges:
1. take the application process seriously. It's worth putting in the time and effort if you're rewarded with admittance to an awesome college that is right for you in the end.
2. try to figure out what you might want to be when you grow up. Lots of people don't know, even in college, what they're really interested in studying. I've had friends here who didn't really know what to do because they had realized what they want to study, only to find that UVA didn't have the program.
3. take a breath, hang out with your best friend, enjoy Visitation and Georgetown and senior year. You'll make the most of wherever you end up and have a awesome time there.

Your Name And Your Hook

We hope that everyone was inspired by today's Essay Workshop with Ryan Hargraves from UVA! It is an understatement to say that I personally enjoyed seeing the Class of 2011 participate so enthusiastically and I was especially wowed by those brave souls who stood in line to share their "hooks" with the class. GREAT job ladies!!! Since it is essay writing season, I thought I would share excerpts of an essay from one of last year's seniors, Erin Gallagher. If you knew Erin, I am sure you will agree that you can 100% hear her voice in this essay. Enjoy!!!!

Excerpts from Visi Girls by Erin Gallagher

“Visi Girls” wear spandex under their skirts, t-shirts under their polos, and brand new boat shoes. Almost all of my pants are long and denim, two shirts are too much for me, and my deck shoes have seen an entire summer of dirt, water, wood, and sand.
“Visi Girls” wear ribbons in their hair. My hair isn’t long enough for ribbons, even if I could ever get those stupid strips of cloth to do what I want them to.
“Visi Girls” run. They run after soccer balls, tennis balls, basketballs, or to the finish line. I sail. I tack. I jibe. I tighten. I luff. I lean over the high side of a keeling Flying Scott, ignoring the water’s spray as I cut through whitecaps, laughing as hard as I can.
“Visi Girls” walk into the classroom, panicking because they were up all night studying for the math test and Oh my God! I can’t remember anything! What is the tangent of a 45-degree angle in radians? I look up from reading The Historian and say, “There’s a test today? Eh, I’m dead.”
“Visi Girls” came to Georgetown Visitation because of its challenging academic curriculum, its impeccable reputation, and its amazing athletic program. I came to Georgetown Visitation because of its ability to turn me into “a woman of faith, vision, and purpose.” I came because I wanted to spend my high school years at a school where I could develop confidence, self-esteem, and life-long friendships. I wanted to become someone who will be able to face the world without crumbling and to acquire qualities that will carry me through life. It hasn’t been perfect, but not one of us will walk away disappointed.
“Visi Girls” are friendly and welcoming.
“Visi Girls” are White Team Bears and Gold Team Tigers.
“Visi Girls” know within five minutes when there are boys or food on campus—not necessarily in that order.
“Visi Girls” say things like “Sen10rs,” “Relig,” and “This (insert class assignment here) is killing me!”
I am passionate, somewhat disorganized, supremely verbose, hyperactive, creative to a fault, and a compulsive writer. Clearly, I’m not the typical “Visi Girl.” I am nothing like my classmates, but that is okay. Saint Francis, the Patron Saint of Visitation, tells us to “be who you are and be that well.”
I am Me and “Me” is a “Visi Girl.”

Thanks to Erin for letting us share her very personal essay with the world. Erin is in enjoying her freshman year at Christopher Newport, where she was awarded membership into the President's Leadership program. If you would like to be in touch with Erin, ask your college counselor!

Published by TSM

Five Minutes With...

Hopefully you all know by now that we will host over 100 college visitors this fall. Did you also know that we meet with the representatives after you have spent time with them? This is one reason why our calendars are so busy right now! When we meet with the college reps, we make sure to note all of their policies, deadlines, admissions statistics, and get updates on their campuses. We also take this time to talk to them about what's new at Visitation and the girls who may be applying this year.

We thought that this year we would go beyond our usual questions about average SAT scores and also ask about some fun topics that might interest our dedicated Life After Visi readers. We have been working with Jesse Bowen from the University of Maryland for several years. In addition to visiting our school and reading our applications, he has been gracious enough to be part of our Junior College Night panel presentation twice. He works with both prospective and enrolled students at Maryland and so we thought he would be perfect for our first "five minute interview!"

If University of Maryland had its own ipod playlist, what would be on it?

The Maryland fight song, Vampire Weekend, Lady Gaga, international music, Talking Heads, and a little Michael Jackson for good measure.

How many applications will you read this fall?

Around 1,000.

How long do you spend reading each one?

About 5-10 minutes.

Popular guest speakers/entertainers on campus in the last year or so?

Barack Obama, Tim Gunn, Bob Saget, Ludacris

This or That about your school....

Dining Hall or Eat Off Campus? Definitely the dining hall - the food is really good!

Dress Up For Class or Wear Sweatpants? Sweatpants

Closest Starbucks? On campus and another one a stone's throw from campus in case you need a refill.

Students Can Name Your Quarterback or "We Have a Football Team?"

Everyone can name the quarterback! Actually we have two - but that's a longer story.

Thanks for being such a good sport Jesse! If you have questions for him (about admissions, not what to wear to class), ask your college counselor for his contact information.

Published by TSM

In an Empire State of Mind: Stephanie Mpamaugo, Class of 2009

Why I chose Columbia: I always knew I wanted to go to an Ivy League university, but I had no idea which one was right for me. So I did a lot of research. I looked at the Alumni that attended Columbia University and the location of the school and I feel in love with it. I really loved that it was located in the heart of New York City, Manhattan. I also loved the school when I visited. The people were all cool and laid back.The atmosphere was lively and everyone was so different. Being an African American student I wanted to go to a school that was extremely diverse and Columbia is number one in diversity amongst the Ivy League schools, with a great population of international students. But one of the most important reasons for why I chose Columbia is because they had my major, Neuroscience and a strong pre-med program.

What I like about Columbia: I love the people. I have met some outstanding people and some long time friends. It is so culturally diverse which I love. It's in the city so there is always something to do and never a dull moment. I love that the people here are willing to help you out when you need it and you can go to your professors as well as your TA's for help whenever you need it.

College is better than high school because: You have the freedom to do as you please and while this can be your downfall it can also help teach you many life lessons. I have been able to make mistakes and learn from them on my own. Also there is no one defining who you are so you're free to be whoever you chose to be. I had the opportunity to try new things from joining more clubs to taking part in more activities then I could have during high school. There is something for everyone in college. As far as the classes go I feel that college is better because you're not competing against everyone else, you're competing against yourself. I try so hard to not worry about what other people are getting and to just focus on doing MY best because that is the only way I will be happy with the grades I have.

But I miss ___________ about Visi: Honestly I miss the support system that I had at Visi. From Mrs. Clay to Ms. Hosmer and my teachers, I have not had anything even come close to any of them. College can be a difficult place to navigate and much of this will come from not having people like them to fall back on. For example I can't go to Mrs. Clay's office and just sit there and tell her my problems from school to my personal life. This helps you grow also because I had to learn to stand on my own without always relying on other people, but it is hard. I really miss the family that Visi is and the nuns that would be so compassionate and loving. The Visi family was not duplicated for me in college and that is something that I truly miss.

Classes I am taking next semester: I am pre-med and a neuroscience and behavior major so most of my classes consist of pre-med classes and classes for my major, but Columbia also has a strong core curriculum so there are classes that I am required to take. So with that being said my classes for next semester are Physics, Physics Lab, Biology, Psychology class, Contemporary Civilization, and Major Debates. The first three classes are for pre-med and my major the follow two are for the core curriculum. This is a pretty heavy load for me especially since I work and I'm involved in a few extracurriculars as well. Time management is not a joke in college.

Favorite place on campus: I love low steps on a nice day, when there are tons of people out there on the lawns and the steps just relaxing and having fun. It's great!!

Stuff to do off campus: Phelio Yogurt formally known as yogurtland I loved that place, Times Square (the chaos is great), Brooklyn Bridge (saw the fireworks there on 4th of July it so beautiful and very romantic, best ice cream and pizza places are located near the bridge), Harlem Magic Johnson Theater (I get discount student tickets and it very close to campus so convenient walk), Soho (for your shopping craving), 72nd street and Lincoln Center (great area with lots of shops), Union Square (is awesome with some of the most interesting people and amazing painters and artist), and lastly New York City (the entire place is a playground).

What do you wear to class? I love trying new styles and experimenting with new looks everyday so I never wore sweats to class, but that's just me. If I'm really tired though I'd put on a cardigan. t-shirt, and jeans.

Best and worst thing about having boys around: Best thing is you can hangout with them and they become some of your best friends. They also give a different perspective on many things from topics in class to just life in general. The worst thing is keeping up appearances. It's normal to take a second look at yourself in the mirror before you step out just to make sure you look okay.

Anything else you think the girls should know or we should have asked: It's important that you girls realize what you're there for at the end of the day and that is to get an education. There are so many thing that can get in the way when you're in college, boys, extracurriculars, having an active social life, but at the end of the day your grades matter and that is something that even I am continue to learn. Another thing is knowing that you should be yourself in college. The pressure that you may have had in high school is amplified by triple the amount so stay true to yourself because everyone is different and you don't have to be someone you're not because you'll always find friends that have something in common with you. But on the topic of friends, chose them wisely - very wisely! Don't feel like you need to cling to someone that you don't get along with - branch out - there are so many people you can meet in college so go out there and meet them. Build connections with professors that you like because most likely you'll need them to speak on your behalf at some point in the future i.e. recommendations.



Published by KMH

Happy First Day!

There's nothing quite like the first day of school - especially for seniors! As if you are not completely disheartened by the massive amount of work laid out on your syllabus for each class, you have to tackle the college process. We will be visiting the first Block period in your English class to add to your Back To School Angst walk you through the paperwork and deadlines related to the college process.

If you are already stymied by the nuances of the Common Application and are feeling like you should have started your college essay yesterday...you will be thrilled to see us.

If you are wishing this would all go away....rest assured that there is plenty of time to get it all done.

If you have only one college on your list.... that's okay too! Over 100 colleges will visit between now and the end of October and we will fill you in on where to find the list and how to get out of class to meet with the representatives.

Our calendars are up so please come and sign up as soon as you can remember how to get to Fennessey. I don't know about you, but I think one of the hardest things about coming back to school is adjusting to the early wake up time so try to get some extra rest this week and weekend. Doesn't it feel like we never left?


My three year old also started school today. I hope she won't have too much homework!

Published by TSM

Help Us Help You!

I was thrilled when Father McHugh gave a shout out to Jerry Maguire, one of my all time favorite movies, this morning at Mass. Besides being an all around fantastic movie, I believe there are many life lessons in watching Jerry "grow a conscience," struggle to become a better person and find meaning in a stereotypically soulless profession. There is one scene in particular that really resonates with me. If you have seen the movie, you no doubt recall the infamous "Help me help you" locker room scene in which an exasperated Jerry begs Rod to tone down his attitude and play his heart out so that Jerry will have a chance of negotiating a better contract for him. Jerry describes being a sports agent as a "pride swallowing siege that I will never fully tell you about." At times, being a college counselor feels a little like being Jerry Maguire! Did you know that we routinely call colleges to advocate on your behalf and remind them how wonderful you are and how difficult Visitation is? We love the opportunity to call attention to a fantastic set of first semester grades or the 300 hours of service you did last summer. So....help us help you! Some ways you can do this:

• Stay in touch - make sure we have your most up to date resume and that you have filled out the blue Brag sheet to the best of your ability. The more you can brag about yourself (as unnatural as that seems), the more we can brag about you to colleges!



• If something fantastic happens during the year - let us know that also! Sometimes you forget to tell us about the exciting things that happen over the course of the school year - or you just assume we already know. Keep us posted on new honors, awards, and interesting experiences. Don't be shy!



• At the same time, let us know if something...not fantastic...happens. If you are really struggling in one of your classes or something is going on that might impact your applications, it's better to make sure we are in the loop before things reach a level that feels unmanageable.

This is all fine and good, but you would really like to see the aforementioned clip, wouldn't you? Enjoy!




And while we're at it, feel free to enjoy the "You Complete Me" scene at the end of the movie. Swooning is optional.

Published by TSM

Aisle 9 with Molly Smith '06

During a recent trip to the grocery store, as I was headed down the pasta aisle, I ran into no other than recent Visi alumna, member of the Class of 2006, all around superstar, Molly Smith! While Molly was just trying to pick up a few staples, she ended being harrassed by her former Class Counselor about her recent graduation from Notre Dame and plans for grad school this fall. While at Visi, Molly was truly gifted at keeping things in perspective and finding balance between academic pursuits and having a life. Here are some of her words of wisdom...

What was your favorite class at Notre Dame?
I can't pick just one! My favorite class in my major was Introduction to Chemical Principles. It was my first semester, incredibly difficult, but it had the most amazing professor with a really innovative teaching style. I really felt engaged and challenged. My other favorite was Beginning Intensive German. I took it on a whim and ended up studying in Austria the very next summer! I loved being in a class of only nine students and forced to speak only German in class from day two on. The camaraderie one finds in beginning language classes is unimaginable.

What is your favorite Notre Dame memory?
Junior Parent Weekend. It bridges the gap between your home life and your school life. Afterwards your parents finally "get it" when you talk about why you love Notre Dame so much and why you can't wait for summer to be over so you can go back to school.

If you are not a Notre Dame football fan (implausible, I know!), is there anything else to do in on the weekend?
I've definitely had friends who were not fans and didn't buy tickets, but you kind of have to embrace football weekends if you choose to go to ND. It's a mad house; some even call it "Catholic Disney World'. So, if you don't get swept up in the football frenzy, or even just spend some time hanging out with friends in the student section, you have to actively try to avoid football and avoid the crowds that come with it.

What was your major at Notre Dame?
Chemistry!!!

When you were a senior at Visitation, did you know this would be your path or did you change your major during your four years?
I knew I wanted to be a chemistry major after my first high school chemistry class. My major never changed.

We have 8 students from the Class of 2010 attending Notre Dame next year, what do you think makes ND such a good match for Visitation students?
I think it is a strong academic and spiritual fit for Visi girls. The communities at Visitation and ND are so strong knit and you always feel supported and challenged. Besides the weather, there is very little "culture shock" when transitioning from Visitation to ND, in my opinion.

What are your plans for next year?
I am at Johns Hopkins University pursing a Ph.D. in Chemistry.

Were there any resources on campus that advised you about the possibilities after college?
The Career Center at ND is immensely helpful for jobs, internships and resume support. In the sciences, however, it helped to develop relationships with the chemistry professors to help decide on graduate work.

Do you have any tips for current seniors about keeping things in perspective? Any advice you would offer from your current self to your 17 year old self about to apply to college?
Not every grade matters. Try your best, but if you spend 100 percent of the time working you will burn out quickly. I would remind younger-me to find at least one non-academic activity, club, service or social group that you can spend time doing to de-stress and to find it sooner rather than later. It wasn't until sophomore year that I found out how to destress. By my senior year, I somehow ended up president of the improv comedy group on campus and met some of my best friends doing it. I just wish I had started from the beginning.

Published by KMH