Photo by Carola Organschi,
UNH Admissions Dept.

One of the biggest decisions a high school senior makes is where they decide to attend college. Many factors go into making that decision: money (or lack thereof), proximity to family, courses/majors available, diversity of student body, geographical setting, etc. The responsibility of accentuating a University's "positives" and at the same time working with the potential student(s) to improve or eliminate any possible "negatives", as well as working to help alleviate any of their anxieties, are key functions in Tony Berry's everyday work-life.

"We look for reasons to accept students, not deny them," Berry says. "The admissions process is an exciting time in their lives. We try to help them enjoy it. We tell them, 'You've done the work. The hard part is over. Keep up the good work!' We often get to see them laugh, cry, and feel all types of life experiences in this process. The most rewarding part of my job is working with those students to get accepted at UNH and start on achieving their goals. That utilizes my greatest strengths. It can be a really stressful time in a student's life, and I like to try to defray some of that anxiety."

Tony graduated from UNH in 2001 with a B.A. in Communications. He was very involved during his time as a student at UNH and held various jobs in the MUB and participated in organizations like SCOPE and Freshman Camp. His most rewarding experiences came from volunteering for Admissions to lead tours of campus. Something "clicked" in that position and he ended up staying in Admissions and has been an Assistant Director for most of the past 3 years. "I was a Freshman Camp Counselor during the second semester of my freshman year," Berry recalls. "That made my entire experience here at UNH. It quickly made me lose that 'high school mentality' of worrying about what other people thought about me, trying to fit in, etc. It allowed me to be myself and let that 'goofy kid' come out. It gave me enthusiasm for UNH and also the means to share my experience with incoming freshman. We were in charge of and responsible for 200 students, and we had a really well connected group of people from many various backgrounds. I made lasting friendships, gained valuable skills, and took advantage of more UNH opportunities because of it!"

Each year, approximately 11-12,000 students apply to UNH. Last year alone, Berry read approximately 1,300 of those applications. His "territory" includes Southwestern NH (Keene, Milford, and Wilton areas), the Midwest (Ohio and Minnesota) and also applications from Central and South America, the Carribean, and Africa. "Unfortunately, I don't get to visit any of those areas!" he laughs. Some of what UNH and the Durham community have to offer to perspective students can work both for and against the institution. Berry says "Our location and our small town environment can often appeal to potential students who come from out of state. They may come from big cities and like the idea of being part of a more laid back community for their college years. Then again, it can deter some students who like the idea of being in a large city. Either way, UNH has so much to offer: we have a beautiful campus, friendly people, folks wearing UNH sweatshirts and gear making it obvious that they enjoy being here. There's something here for everybody. The challenge is to go out and take advantage of it!"

Citing communication, customer service, positive attitude, creativity, a sense of adventure, honesty, attention to detail, people skills, and flexibility as essential skills in his position, when asked about his responsibilities on a day-to-day basis he exclaims "Oh boy! Daily tasks like speaking with prospective students and their families, answering phone and email questions, and then there are more specific duties relating to my territory like high school visits, college fairs, speaking engagements, travel, file review, working with Alumni to get college fair coverage, working with the student tour guides, and speaking to many parents and students regarding the admissions decision and options - attending on campus events and whatever else comes up. I love this place! I had a great experience as a student and want to share that with others."

A Lee, NH area resident, Tony lists Frisbee Golf ("a good excuse to walk around in the woods"), snowboarding at Killington and Sunday River ("I don't do anything fancy. I just love the feeling of flying down the mountain. It's relaxing and almost meditative for me"), listening to live music, and traveling (he's been to England, France, Holland, Spain, Switzerland and Australia) as some of his favorite hobbies. "Get me going on one of these topics and forgetaboutit!!" he laughs.