Senior Thesis

I know my blog has been retired to the "Retired Bloggers" portion of the site, but I'd like to have one last word.

The Commencement festivities were pretty stellar. Everything was glitzy, glamorous, and well-organized. In fact, each event felt like a surreal dream.

The best part was that I continually ran across every person from my class that meant the most to me. All those dorm guys from freshman year? We're all still great friends and somehow we all found ourselves in a circle chatting it up at The Party. The Party, by the way, is this spectacular first event where all of the graduating seniors and their parents meet for a concert and drinks at Peabody. It was wonderful to be with family and my best friends.

And as one last anecdote from someone who is truly a product of Vanderbilt, I had an amazing thing happen to me...

I was at Branscomb to grab my graduation robe and to take my senior portrait. I happen to walk by the Admissions table, where I signed up to be an alumni interviewer among other things. As I was chatting it up with the two folks from Admissions at the table, one of them asked me: "Are you Justin Roberts?"

How did she know my name?

"Yes," I replied.

"I was the counselor that read your application."

I was stunned.

Yes, it was Tiffany Huggins. I can't tell you how many e-mails I sent her, hoping that I sounded intelligent. I remember trying to ask her questions that I couldn't find the answers to on the website, somehow hoping she remembered me and my interest in the school.

Well, she did.

That goes to show you exactly who the people are who are reading your applications. They're an amazing bunch, and trust me on that - I know plenty of them.

And yes, if you get in, odds are that they will remember you. They gave you and your application all that personal attention, right?

Godspeed and farewell future applicants. You'll be happy wherever you go. Vanderbilt, though, is something a step above gold.