Admissions professionals serve as the first point of contact for prospective students who are navigating one of the most significant decisions of their lives.
Graduate Admissions is far more than processing applications and sending acceptance letters. These staff members are detectives, working to understand who an applicant truly is beyond their transcripts and test scores, and helping them understand their educational options while balancing career pivots, family responsibilities, and financial considerations. They also serve as storytellers, shaping how the world perceives their programs and building pipelines that bring talented, diverse scholars to campus.
Alyssa Orlando is the Director of Admissions Recruitment at the Bentley University McCallum Graduate School of Business. Check out what she has to say about working in Graduate Admissions.
What drew you to higher education specifically, rather than a similar role in another sector?
I was drawn to higher education because it sits at the intersection of opportunity, transformation, and long-term impact. Unlike many other sectors, the work we do directly influences individuals at a pivotal moment in their lives—when they are shaping their identities, aspirations, and career trajectories. In graduate admissions specifically, I’m motivated by the ability to help talented individuals access education that can accelerate their professional and personal growth, while also contributing to the broader mission of the institution.
What would break, slow down, or fall through the cracks if your position didn't exist?
Without a role dedicated to graduate admissions recruitment and operations, there would likely be disconnects between prospective students and the institution—particularly in navigating complex timelines, requirements, and decision points. Processes would slow, communication would become less personalized, and critical handoffs (from inquiry to enrollment) could break down. Ultimately, both student experience and enrollment outcomes would be at risk.
What's something people outside your office frequently misunderstand about what you do?
There’s often an assumption that admissions work is primarily administrative. In reality, it’s a blend of strategy, data analysis, relationship management, and operational execution. Every decision, from how we structure application rounds to how we communicate value, has a direct impact on enrollment outcomes and student composition.
How have you grown or reinvented yourself professionally? What drove that change?
Early in my career, I focused heavily on execution and proving that I could handle increasingly complex work. Over time, I realized I was most energized not just by completing tasks, but by building systems, leading strategy, and helping teams operate more effectively.
That realization pushed me to grow beyond traditional admissions work into broader enrollment leadership, operations, data strategy, and organizational management. Pursuing my Ph.D. while working full-time also changed how I approach leadership. My research focused on bias within holistic graduate admission processes, which deepened my interest in equity, decision-making, and how institutions can create more thoughtful and student-centered systems.
Alyssa Orlando is the Director of Admissions Recruitment at the Bentley University McCallum Graduate School of Business. She holds a BA in Journalism from Ithaca College, an MA in Higher Education from Boston College, and PhD from University of Massachusetts Lowell.
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