January 13, 2022
A Message from the Office of Admission
To those who have applied or been admitted to the Class of 2026:
Working on a college admission team means spending a lot of time looking at numbers and trends to get a sense of what is going through the minds of today’s prospective students. I could share a whole host of information about the applicant pool this year. For instance, psychology as a major is up, the number of commuter applicants is lower, and the volume of test-optional applicants is largely holding steady from last year’s record high. But what stands out the most is a bit more anecdotal, and something that can’t be displayed in a report. It’s that this process — or perhaps I should say those who are participating in it —have displayed genuine kindness during a time of significant uncertainty.
Since releasing early applicant admission decisions in December, our staff has been so pleasantly surprised by the responses we’ve received from students. The quantity of thank you notes we’ve received from appreciative students has increased. Inquiries about scholarships, even when the answers might not yield the response a family had hoped for, seem kinder. Though there are exceptions, even students who are unhappy about not being admitted are looking for constructive feedback rather than seeking an outlet to lodge grievances.
Even before it came time to release decisions, our review process had to change and flex with the times. We found ourselves grappling with how to assess a student whose school went pass/fail for an entire year. Our usual emphasis on the trend that a student’s GPA has taken through the years was diminished and instead we spent that time focusing on all our applicants have been through. We read stories of students repurposing their 3D printers to make masks or rolling up their sleeves and sewing hundreds of them by hand. Students became full-time caretakers of their siblings, ten days at a time, as parents in quarantine had to be separated from the rest of the household. Students shared difficult stories, making us aware of those loved ones they have lost and the ways their lives have been changed due to COVID-19. We’re honored to be trusted with this information and are doing everything we can to honor the impact circumstances have had on our applicants.
Perhaps the grace that has found its way into the college admission process this year is not something that could have been taught, but instead simply had to be learned.
Perhaps the grace that has found its way into the college admission process this year is not something that could have been taught, but instead simply had to be learned. I have come to realize over the last two years that we, as a collective people, are capable of so much more than we might have thought. While we each bring a unique perspective to the table, it is a collaborative approach — coupled with some grit and tenacity — that has helped us push through an incredibly trying time.
Amidst the Omicron surge and near constant reminders that the pandemic is still with us, I’ve come to terms that things will not be “back to normal” for quite a while. However, we’re slowly finding ourselves able to return to the things we love. We may have to cheer a little louder at the Dunkin Donuts Center when we have a mask on our face, but that’s OK. The Friars are ranked #21 in the country, and we wouldn’t miss these games for anything. Most of us had to spend a few hours refreshing CVS’s website to find our booster shot, but it’s a small price to pay for in-person classes, and it sure beats isolation. And the registration line may move slowly at events like our upcoming Admitted Student Days as everyone shares proof of vaccination, but admitted students will be able to explore PC in a way that Zoom can’t recreate.
We are optimistic that the pandemic will be only a memory in the not-too-distant future. What I hope stays with us, however, are all the great things we’ve discovered about ourselves. The ability to care, to be patient, and more. These things have always been a hallmark of students at PC, but I have a feeling incoming students in the Class of 2026 will be even more adept at making an impact on our campus, our city, our state, and society overall. In the end, congratulations. Take a moment to reflect on everything you have been able to accomplish. Acknowledge and recognize that achievement, you deserve it. So often we push through life and do not take a moment to reflect. For some of you, I offer congratulations on your admission to the Class of 2026. To those who have applied and are awaiting a decision, we’re enjoying getting to know you through your applications. The nature of selective college admission is that we don’t have space to invite all to join us. (Bishop Harkins built a college that was just too small.) But on behalf of the admission staff of Providence College, I can assure you that every single one of you is worthy of celebration.
Owen Bligh ’10, ’14G
Senior associate dean of admission
Join this extraordinary class. Submit your deposit by May 1.
