Please leave a message after the beep…

With Early Action Notification Deadlines quickly approaching all of our admissions officers are reviewing applications and making decisions. This is not a task that is taken lightly by any means. We are reading over each application thoroughly and making thought out decisions. Since this is a process that takes time, we are unable to answer all of the phones calls at the time they are received. This leaves many callers with the option to either leave a voicemail or to hang up and try calling again. At a busy time like this the latter of the two options is definitely not preferred. But please know that all of your questions are important to us and we are dedicated to returning all of the voicemails that we receive in a timely manner. Our website is a very useful tool.  A lot of your questions can be answered by visiting our website:  admissions.ncsu.edu

The other side of the fence…                       

I still remember 2003 like it was yesterday when I applied as an incoming freshman for NC State. Waiting on my application status to update seemed like an eternity.  But now as an Admissions Counselor, I have a better understanding of how the admissions process works. I’m glad to see that all of the admissions officers are dedicated to reviewing each application thoroughly. I never thought that making an application decision would take so long. But when you’re working for the BEST university in North Carolina, you’re going to have a lot of applications to review J . I know that you may be very eager to have your admissions decision, but believe me when I say that this is one of the most challenging things that I have ever done in my life. However, at the same time it is a very rewarding experience. I am glad that I am able to be a part of expanding the NC State family.

Oh but wait there’s more…

Don’t worry if you still have not applied yet. Our Final Application Deadline is February 1^st. You still have time to submit your application. We will review your application with the same dedication, love and care that we are using with the Early Action applicants. We understand that the college you select will play a large role in molding your future; we do not take this lightly. So we will continue to have all hands on deck reviewing the applications that are received from all around the world.

Here are some more pics of some of the admissions officers busy working to complete applications. Enjoy!

On Saturday October 17, 2009 I attended my 1^st NCSU Open House as an Admissions Counselor, instead of being on the other side of the table. We had over 8,500 people attend Open House this year! They had the opportunity to take campus tours, speak to faculty and staff from various departments, attend information sessions, and enjoy several performances by different student organizations. From the time I arrived on campus at 9:00am until it ended at 2:00pm, I was busy non-stop. I got to meet numerous people and assist them with their admissions questions. The best part was talking to students who remembered me from when I visited their schools previously. Overall, I would say that this year’s Open House was a success!

Home sweet home…

I’m in the office today but so far I’ve spent more time out on the road than I have in the office. But I always enjoy the opportunities I have to be on campus. One of the best parts of my day is the walk from my car into the office.  One of my favorite places on campus is the Court of Carolina. I’ve been to several campuses and there’s just a different feeling at NC State. There’s always something to do here and honestly everyday I discover something new. Today I walked to the Atrium and ate lunch, then for the first time, I went to the Howling Cow ice cream shop in the DH Hill Library where they sell NC State made ice cream. Yummm J Then I went to the 1911 building, which I haven’t been inside of since before it was renovated. It looks amazing! Check out some of the pics I took on campus.

View of the 1911 building from the Court of Carolina

Inside the 1911 Building

The Brickyard

The Atrium outside of DH Hill Library

Howling Cow Creamery

Inside of DH Hill

Peele Hall

Hello!!! Well I guess because this is my first posting as a staff blogger I should begin with an introduction of myself. Well here it goes…

I am Ashley Mackenzie and I am a proud 2007 graduate of North Carolina State University with a B.A. in Public and Interpersonal Communication. I graduated from Southeast Raleigh High School in 2003. So I guess you can say that I didn’t travel far from home when it came time to attend college. Although “home” was just up the street, NC State felt like a whole new world to me. I was very active in high school with cheerleading, track, community service, etc., so I was ecstatic when I got to NC State and there was always something for me to do on campus. I kept myself busy with schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and meeting A LOT of new people. I can honestly say that I enjoyed my time at NC State and I do not regret staying in Raleigh.

How did you end up back at NC State? That’s a great question and I’m glad you asked! After I graduated from NC State I began working in Corporate America, and I am convinced that my time at NC State prepared me for the fast pace world of Corporate America. However, overtime I realized that my passion is in the higher education field. So what better place to begin a career in higher education, than North Carolina State University!

I am now an Admissions Counselor for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and I’m loving every minute of it! Within the first few weeks I have already travelled in North Carolina from the Mountains to the Sandhills and several places in between. I get a chance to speak with high school students and parents who are interested in NC State, and not only can I assist them from the admissions prospective but I can also tell them about my personal experiences during undergrad. It’s a great feeling to be able to help students who are in the same position that I was in just a few years ago.

I think that I joined the Admissions staff at an awesome time because there is a lot going on with Fall College Fairs and High School visits, Application Deadlines approaching, and our 2009 Open House on October 17th. The best part is that I get to be apart of all of it! I’m excited about attending my first NCSU Open House as a staff member as opposed to being a prospective student. I know that it’s going to be great! Don’t worry I’ll give you the update on my first big event as an Admissions Counselor.