200 Days in the Life of the College
Wednesday, December 15
She cheers, hits ‘send’ and inaugurates the Class of ’15
By Alexandra Orlov ’13
“Congratulations! It is with great pleasure that I write to inform you of your admission to the Class of 2015 at Hamilton College.”
At 8 p.m. on this chilly night in Clinton, the Hamilton Admission Office emails letters with those fateful words to Early Decision applicants who will make up the Class of 2015. After reading the message on screen, the four-member Puccio family of Needham, Mass., erupts, screaming in joy and hugging. Three minutes later, 18-year-old Katie Puccio submits an electronic deposit — making her the first official member of the Class of 2015.
“It was a done deal,” Puccio says, recalling that memorable night. One of 119 seniors at Noble and Greenough, a small private school in Dedham, Mass., she began her college search looking for a large urban campus because she wanted a much different kind of educational experience. But as her search continued, Puccio realized that she placed an even greater value on the strong sense of community that a small institution instills.
After being contacted by Tracy Coffman, Hamilton’s softball coach, Puccio visited the Hill in July 2010. A Nobles softball player, she says she liked the feel of Hamilton’s campus and the general “vibe.” In November, after spending an overnight with Lisa Faraci ’13, a member of the Buff and Blue softball team, she was convinced to take the plunge and apply Early Decision.
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Still reveling in the excitement of her acceptance two months after it was received, she is enjoying the onset of “senioritis,” that relaxed state associated with being a second-semester high school senior who has college plans already set in stone.
A few words of advice, Katie: Enjoy it while it lasts!
