This job, even more than a judge on American Idol, gives you the power to make or break young people's lives. You're a gatekeeper of sorts, standing between high school students and the universities that will jump-start their careers.

Kind of like Cerebrus, the gatekeeper to the underworld in Greek mythology. Just with fewer heads. (Source)

You get to read a student's essay and decide that maybe his grades don't tell the whole story of his potential. You get to be this student's champion. You get to duke it out with the review committee and the dean, and plead your case for whether or not your school should make a spot for an unconventional kid who might be the next Einstein or Bill Gates.

Ultimately though, unless you're the dean, these decisions are made by committee. You'll also run into issues with enrollment limits, and budgetary constraints will over-rule your passion more times than you'll care to admit. Oh well, every now and then you'll be able to make the call.

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