For some Elon University students, the very office that brought them here is also the one keeping them. Once those days of SATs, teacher recommendations and personal statements are a thing of the past, most students want nothing more to do with the college application process. But, there are quite a few Elon students who see it differently.

Bethany Ely is an Elon alumna who began her job as an admissions counselor for Elon three weeks after graduating.

“I think it says something when you visit a school and almost all the admissions counselors went there,” Ely said.

Through her job as a tour guide on campus, Ely worked closely with employees in the admissions office. After seeing what they do for the university, she decided she wanted a similar role.

“Who better to counsel students on Elon than people who went here?” said Ely.

Ely has plenty of other Elon students in the Admissions office to keep her company.

Kellye Coleman, Class of 2012, has not yet graduated and is already interning for Admissions. Like Ely, Coleman began as a tour guide, but did not expect to make the transition to a professional staff member.

“Before this internship, I never thought about a career in admissions,” Coleman said. “I love tour guiding, but never made that connection.”

[quote] From day one, they told me I was part of this staff. I absolutely have a voice. I have not once felt like I’m the lowly intern in the corner.-Kellye Coleman, intern with the Office of Admissions [/quote]

Coleman’s role is to support the admissions office as a whole. She was instrumental in the planning of spring orientations, from finding speakers to figuring out what to serve for breakfast.

Although Coleman is the only intern in the office, she has always felt like a part of the team.

“From day one, they told me I was part of this staff,” Coleman said. “I absolutely have a voice. I have not once felt like I’m the lowly intern in the corner.”

Coleman may be the only intern on staff, but she has found herself surrounded by peers. She estimates that about 70 percent of the admissions office is made up of Elon alumni.

“I think it says a lot about Elon that people want to give back to the university,” Coleman said.