Hmmmm....

Claire: Hello, thesis supervisor fellow and generally nice chap
TS: Hello Claire. Listen, how badly do you want to get into Penn State or NYU?
Claire: Um, quite a lot. Like a bad bad donkey. Why?
TS: Cos my mentor is Very Important at Penn State and I also Know Some People in The Right Places at NYU. I'll make some calls.
Claire: Um... cool. Cheers. *wanders off, not quite sure what just happened*