In this episode of The College Admissions Process Podcast, host Dr. John Durante speaks with Chris Lydon, Vice President for Undergraduate Enrollment and Dean of Admission at Regis College. During Regis College’s centennial year, Chris discusses the college’s supportive campus community, nursing and health sciences programs, and how the admissions team evaluates applicants.
The conversation offers practical guidance on academic preparation, test-free admissions, extracurricular involvement, recommendation letters, and writing an authentic college application.
In This Episode
• Regis College at 100: Explore its residential community, academic programs, and strengths in nursing and clinical health sciences.
• A Supportive Campus: Learn about Regis’s commitment to knowing students individually and helping them succeed.
• Transcript Evaluation: Understand how Regis recalculates GPAs on an unweighted 4.0 scale and considers course rigor in the context of each high school and intended major.
• Test-Free Admissions: Discover why Regis does not use standardized test scores for admission or merit scholarship consideration.
• Extracurricular Activities: Learn why commitment, responsibility, and depth of involvement matter more than simply having a long activity list.
• Recommendations and Essays: Explore how specific anecdotes, authentic storytelling, and thoughtful proofreading strengthen an application.
• Additional Information: Understand when providing context about academic challenges or disruptions can help admissions officers better understand an applicant.
• Building Your College List: Consider an essential question before applying: Would you be happy attending the college if it were your only affordable option?
Memorable Insights
“The transcript is two-dimensional and black and white. Essays, recommendations, and activities are the color of the humans we're considering.” — Chris Lydon
“What's the most important year of high school? The answer is the year you're currently in. That is the only year that matters.” — Chris Lydon
Key takeaway: A strong college application goes beyond grades. Academic choices, personal experiences, meaningful involvement, and authentic storytelling help admissions professionals understand the student behind the transcript.
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Straight From The Admissions Office: Insider Strategies For College Applications
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