I am writing to express my interest in the Admissions Officer position with the Undergraduate Admissions Office. During my time at Duke, I have had the pleasure of working with the Admissions Office in many different aspects, including as a university tour guide and as a student receptionist. Outside of the Admissions office, I have been able to develop a deeper understanding of the particular duties of working with high school transitioning to college, as I acted as a mentor for high school junior and seniors, as well as college freshman. In the latter portion of this letter, I want to highlight the skills that I gained as a tour guide and as a receptionist within the Admissions Office, as well as mention the skills gained working as a resident …show more content…
Even though I had only been present on campus for just a few months, I knew that I wanted to ignite the spark and passion I had for Duke for prospective students. I became deeply involved in the program, even working on the executive board, where I focused on recruiting new guides and updating the Duke Tour Guide database during my 2nd and 3rd years as a student, and then as the group tour liaison during my final year. Above all else, the greatest reward of being a tour guide came in the form of students approaching me after they decided to attend the university to tell me: “I was their tour guide.” My general response includes the quip “...that means I was either really good, or really bad,” but I am aware that for a student to approach me, meant that I had a positive impact on their decision to come to Duke. I believe it is an amazing gift to represent Duke, but an even better gift when students make the decision to attend Duke, after they hear my own …show more content…
During my sophomore year at Duke, I decided to apply as a student receptionist, and was hired. Working in this position allowed a greater look at the visitor’s perspective, and the measures it takes for the office to prepare for such a large quantity of visitors. I was still able to have those great interactions, similar to the ones in the tour guide program; however, as a receptionist, I found myself engaging in a manner that required both empathy and support, because I was the first face, or first voice, a student or parent may hear when contacting the University. The admissions process can be scary, and even to just to schedule a tour, or to calm a nervous parent via the phone, I was able to support and encourage a much greater population than I had previous contact with. In addition to the prospective students, working as a receptionist has also led me to see in greater detail the amount of time, energy and professionalism it takes to run the Admissions Office. Whether it is the Admissions Officer leading an information session, or the application processing team sorting through the 30,000+ applications, every “cog in the machine” has an important and invaluable part. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Admissions Office, and would love the opportunity to continue to be a “cog in the