What is the definition of the best student for The Peddie School? What is the most important piece of advice for applicants to Peddie in writing their essays? And what is the life of an admission officer like?
To answer these questions and more, I sat down with Dr. Tyler Hart, director of enrollment management in Peddie’s Admission Office, for a wide-ranging conversation in his cozy office of blue and gold.
Dr. Hart has 15 years of experience in admissions leadership, having served as the director of admissions at Cushing Academy (Massachusetts) and Villanova Preparatory School (California) before joining Peddie at the beginning of this year.
“Very quickly, I had to get up to speed with understanding what makes us uniquely Peddie. By and large, boarding schools are 80% the same, so I had to focus on that 20% nuance. And one way we did that was by inviting department chairs to meet with the Admission Office,” said Dr. Hart, noting that he has quickly familiarized himself with the characteristics of Peddie. In particular, he has adjusted to the numerous routines, from hosting webinars from his office to being administrator on duty on Tuesday nights.
However, when asked about his typical day at Peddie, Dr. Hart noted that his workday depends largely on the time of year.
During the fall term, his typical day would be occupied with connection and outreach, such as discussions with athletics and arts program directors or interviews with prospective students and families. “During just these few fall months, we attended around 50 school fairs and visited a little over 70 schools … I myself spent two and a half weeks in Asia. So in the fall, there’s a good amount of time when I’m not on campus,” Dr. Hart reflected.
Yet he noted that his typical day will soon become quite different once Peddie’s application deadline passes on January 15. “February is file-reading season. So it’ll be more of coming into the office, checking in with teammates, and making sure that we’re completing the file reading process in a timely manner.”
What exactly is the process that the Admission Office takes when considering the submitted files of applicants? Dr. Hart explained:
“Every file is read by two officers, and then all of the files go to deliberation for discussion. Sometimes we talk a lot, and sometimes we talk very little. If the two officers are largely in agreement, then that could very well be the result.”
Dr. Hart also offered some words of advice to applicants on writing their essays. “In your essays — be yourself, and present yourself in a positive manner, while also demonstrating that you’ve thought about who you are as a match for Peddie.”
Specifically, Dr. Hart said, “We are looking for the characteristics of curiosity, excitement and character. That is the definition of the best student for Peddie.”
As the March 10 date approaches, the Admission Office will work to ensure that the necessary enrollment criteria are met and then prepare to connect with the families of accepted students. Finally, they will begin the process of welcoming new students to Peddie for the next year, which is the event that Dr. Hart personally looks forward to the most.
“In the Admission Office, we are the ones who get to know the students first. And so next year I’m really excited because then it will be the students that I got to know through the admissions process who’ll be the familiar faces that I’ll be seeing on campus.” He added, “seeing the experience that students have over their four years is something that I’ve really come to appreciate.”
