Tina Elfenbein

Hometown: Lexington, Massachusetts

Degrees: B.A. (Bates College); M.T.S. (Harvard University); J.D. (Boston College)

Undergraduate major: Religious studies

What I love about my territory: My territory spans some of the most amazing places in the country, and I love each part of it for different reasons. New England will always be home, NYC will forever be the city of my heart, Northern California is where one of the great loves of my life lives (an old friend from college!), and New Mexico is — to me — the most beautiful state in the country. Each place also offers me the chance to meet with some of the most interesting, genuine, curious young people in the world, and I'm deeply grateful that my work allows me these connections.

What I love about Grinnell: I've made some of the best friendships of my life here, and it has one of the best small-town libraries I've ever encountered.

Hobbies/activities: I'm a reader, a runner, and a compulsive consumer of carbohydrates (my favorite is pasta).

Advice about searching for schools: Don't rush your college search — whether that means starting early or allowing yourself time to decide where to go. For many students, this is the first huge decision you get to make about your future. Take a breath, take your time, and be thoughtful.

Advice about applying to schools: Ask for your letters of recommendation as early as possible — and ask respectfully and with gratitude! High school teachers have to write a lot of these letters — it helps if you give them enough time and offer them your thanks.