Daniel Barkowitz | June 13, 2008
"Hello, I must be going...."
Hey everyone.
Welcome to the so-called "dog days" of summer. You know, that time where the lazy days of summer pass you by as you liesurely sit back, sip your iced frappucino and read that book you've long wanted to enjoy, but somehow just couldn't find the time for...
[insert sound of record scratching here]
Well, not in my world.
Summer is one of our busiest times here in the financial aid office, and this summer is shaping up to be busy again. Between responding to your self-help forms, finishing reading late spplicants, and helping you get ready for the Fall, we will be busy beavers all summer long.
A few updates:
Today we will produce and begin to mail out over 1250 award letters to returning students for 2008-09 (rising Sophmores, Juniors and Seniors). This represents almost everyone who had their application for aid complete by our recommended deadline of April 15th. This leaves us with slightly more than 650 files still needing review, which we will plan to complete in the next month of so (and send updates out weekly).
Today, we also say goodbye to the first of two staff members who are leaving MIT financial aid for other opportunities. Jason Shumaker has served as our Assistant Director in charge of Freshmen Processing for the last 4 years (although he has been at MIT for 6 years). In this role, Jason has provided a steady hand and a incredible work ethic to make sure that things run smoothly for those of you who are in the admissions process. We wish Jason much continued success as he continues his career in financial aid.
Next Friday, we will say goodbye to another of our financial aid counselors, Maria Zervos, who is leaving us to spend time at home with her family. Maria has been a steady and empathic student advocate and has worked tirelessly in assisting in matching students and donors for our endowed scholarship process.
Jason and Maria, you both will be sorely missed!
We are in the process of searches for both positions, and will update you as we have news. In the meantime, bear with us... Summer is shaping up to be another crazy time of year...
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Responses To This Entry:
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Should we be getting our final, set-in-stone aid packages soon?
Posted by: Anonymous on June 13, 2008 10:24 AM
Oh no! Maria Zervos was my financial aid go-to person :( I'll miss her.
Posted by: Shamarah on June 13, 2008 12:28 PM
Hey Daniel,
When will the aid statements for 2008-09 be available online?
Posted by: lulu on June 13, 2008 12:41 PM
Jason, you have always been the long suffering (due mostly to my endless questions), patient and smiling face of MIT finance to us. It is an understatement to say that we will miss you and your never ending supply of calm, sage advice. Thank You! Much luck in your future adventures.
Posted by: Craig & Lisa Snively on June 13, 2008 12:48 PM
Little tidbit about where "dog days of summer" came from: "In the summer, however, Sirius, the “dog star,” rises and sets with the sun. During late July Sirius is in conjunction with the sun, and the ancients believed that its heat added to the heat of the sun, creating a stretch of hot and sultry weather. They named this period of time, from 20 days before the conjunction to 20 days after, “dog days” after the dog star."
Just throwing that out there =P
Posted by: Piper on June 13, 2008 01:32 PM
Same question as Lulu: when would we be able to see the offer on Websis? Thank you!
Posted by: Mdg on June 13, 2008 02:08 PM
Maria's leaving? Oh no! I love her!
Posted by: Keri on June 13, 2008 02:18 PM
Thank you Jason for all your help these past three years. Good luck with your new adventure.
The Perna Family
Posted by: intleyes on June 13, 2008 02:58 PM
best wishes Jason, You have been great! Probably the very first MIT staff who had such a great impact on me.
Thank you very much. Wherever you go success will follow you because good things happen to good people.
Ram
Posted by: Ram on June 13, 2008 05:13 PM
Good luck, Jason! I was completely shocked at your seemingly endless patience with my parents through our whole process of appeals, then reappeals, then CPW appeals, then more e-mails... I hope that you'll get some rest at your new position :) Thank you so much for everything that you've done for me and my family!
Posted by: Karen '12 on June 13, 2008 06:07 PM
quick question: in an appeal, do mit sent out another confirmation saying the appeal is oked, denied, or what the new award will be?
Posted by: '12 on June 14, 2008 11:43 PM
All the best, Jason and Maria :)
Posted by: Aditi on June 15, 2008 02:58 PM
This has probably been answered before many times, but I can't seem to find out the answer.
When e-mailing the admissions office, what kind of time frame can one expect to get a response back? I'm in no way complaining or anything as I realize that it's more than likely incredibly busy this time of year. I'd just like to know if e-mails are responded to quickly (within a week) or if it takes a while.
I'm kind of worried that my e-mail may have gotten lost or something.
Posted by: Mike on June 23, 2008 04:26 PM
It is an understatement to say that we will miss you and your never ending supply of calm, sage advice. Thank You! Much luck in your future adventures.
Posted by: Kim on June 25, 2008 09:34 AM
Good luck with your new adventure.
Dont forget us
Posted by: Megan on June 25, 2008 09:39 AM
1) Is Ms. Zarvos leaving permanently, or is she just on a summer sabbatical?
2) How do I find out my summer earnings expectation?
-Andrew M. Farrell
class of 2012
Posted by: Andrew M. Farrell on July 1, 2008 07:42 PM
I wish you well! I wanted to let you know I use your information for my Student Education Information Site.
Thanks for everything
Posted by: Student Education and Finance on July 10, 2008 01:55 PM
