Elizabeth Cavallari, Director of College Counseling
Putting a face to a name: admissions representatives provide an insider perspective on how readers review students’ college applications at HRA’s Mock Admissions Workshop on November 12, 2025
College admissions representatives spend most of their fall on the road, traveling from school to school across their territories. In theory, it sounds glamorous, but when the rubber meets the road (both literally and figuratively), it’s a grind.
When I think back on my time working in undergraduate admissions, I remember it as an adventure. I was paid to travel across the country, representing my alma mater. But I also remember the exhaustion that came after visiting five high schools in a day or standing for hours behind a table at a college fair. Still, it was worth it. I had incredible conversations with students, and I built lasting connections with other admissions representatives and high school counselors. Those relationships became instrumental in my own growth and mentoring when I transitioned into my role as a college counselor here at HRA.
So when I encounter college admissions representatives now, I’m filled with gratitude. Students and families should be grateful for them, too. As a school, we are deeply thankful for the work they do. These representatives are our lifelines to their institutions. They put a face to a name. They contextualize a school. They sit patiently with students, answering every question, again and again and week after week. And they do it because they believe in their institutions and in the power of relationships.
College-bound Navigators participate in the College Counseling Office’s Mock Admissions Workshop
Those relationships were on full display during our Mock Admissions Workshop on November 12. Seven colleges—Christopher Newport University, Franklin & Marshall College, Hampden-Sydney College, Randolph-Macon College, the University of Mary Washington, the University of Richmond, and William & Mary—joined us for an evening program. Even after their busy travel season, these representatives took time to connect with our families, share their expertise, and build genuine relationships with our students.
It was engaging and fun. There was even a lot of laughter. Families gained an insider perspective on reading applications, but they also saw admissions professionals as real people—people who care deeply about students, about access, and about helping high schoolers find their best-fit college. We’re so grateful they continue to show up for our students, year after year.
