As the University’s long-time Director of Admissions, Kim Bartlett, BA’78, MA’84, shaped McGill’s incoming classes for 24 years.
Recently retired, her final admission cycle consisted of 56,000 separate program choices from 34,000 applicants – which had to be processed while staff worked remotely during a global pandemic.
“The pandemic made my final admission cycle very different from all the others,” says Bartlett. “It was quite the finale to my McGill career.”
Bartlett first arrived on McGill’s campus to study European history, then earned a master’s degree in Educational Administration. Her graduate thesis, which focused on the impact of differential fees on international enrolment, won a national award and led to several years of contract work.
She returned to the University in late 1989, when she was invited to manage the Graduate Fellowships Office. “It was a lovely place to work. Distributing money and tuition waivers to bright engaged students was a pure pleasure.”
When she was recruited to be the Associate Director for undergraduate admissions and recruitment in 1996, “I knew nothing,” she admits. “I naively assigned myself the Toronto private school circuit as my first out-of-town recruitment trip. The prepared presentation went fairly well, but my attempts to improvise during the Q&A segment proved that I was not yet ready for primetime.”
One day I picked up my telephone and the caller simply asked, ‘How much?’”
Older and wiser, she was promoted to Director in 2003, overseeing admissions for 10 of McGill’s Faculties and Schools. During the next decade applicant numbers would rise by over 50% – to 28,000 with over 43,000 separate program choices – but the University’s goal remained the same: to recruit the best.
“As proof of our impartiality, McGill Admissions Officers have refused at least one member of European monarchy, and admitted at least one correctional facility inmate. Everyone is evaluated by the same standards.”
Did anyone every try to pressure her, or bribe her for admission? “One day, I picked up my telephone and the caller simply asked, ‘How much?’ It took me a few seconds before I understood what they meant, but my response was, ‘As the T.V. commercial says, ‘Priceless’.’”
Throughout her tenure, she earned a reputation as someone who cannot be bought. “The process of selection is sacred, and very valuable to McGill’s reputation,” says Bartlett. “It’s a job I was very proud to do, and I had the University’s full support.”
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2009, she continued working up to late 2020. Upon retirement she’d overseen the review of approximately 500,000 applications and admitted over 84,000 students. In 2019 the McGill Alumni Association honoured her with the D. Lorne Gales Special Recognition Award – a tribute to her long-standing service and dedication to McGill.
Bartlett is enjoying retirement but maintains ties to the University: she’s left McGill a bequest – a gift in her will – to fund a merit-based undergraduate student entrance scholarship. “It’s a modest promise, but I was told ‘every little bit counts,’ and I know that’s true. I will be helping somebody, and it feels good.”
Her gift will count towards McGill’s 200 for 200 Legacy Challenge, which aims to secure 200 bequests on the occasion of McGill’s 200th anniversary.
“McGill has enriched my life. It educated me, led me to my husband, and opened doors professionally. It gave me friendships around the world and expanded my perspective on all things. It is an institution worthy of support, and thanks to McGill I’ve never had a single boring day.”
What will your legacy be?
McGill is celebrating its 200th anniversary with the goal of securing 200 legacy gifts. For more information, please contact us.
