Admission reps hates me!: Make time for college visits or extracurricular activities?

Applying to College
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<p>A lot of colleges have been visiting my area this fall, both at my school and at nearby locations, as I'm sure is true for many of you.</p>

<p>Unfortunately during many of these visits, I generally have important officer meetings or am signed up to work or volunteer. As a result, I've already blown off a lot of these visits. </p>

<p>And when I do go, I end up leaving early or coming late, and just plain making myself look bad.</p>

<p>Like I'm agonizing about making a fool of myself last week in front of the Northwestern rep. Basically I barge in, and I'm like "Hey I can't stay, I'm leaving in 5 minutes, but can you tell me if it's possible to do HPME with Medill?"</p>

<p>And he was just like "uhh..." and then he gave me one of those cards to fill out with all my info and explained that I couldn't (in answer to my question), but I could be pre-med with a major in journalism. At which point, I vaguely thanked him, handed him my card, and ran out without pausing to introduce myself, or shake his hand or anything (i think he was blankly staring at me expecting that i would do something to introduce myself, but i didn't cause i'm socially retarded, jk sry) because I was late for something else. Basically his last impression of me is total awkwardness. and it might have seemed a little like i didn't care about what he had to say, but honestly I really, sincerely did! I just really couldn't stay at that time.</p>

<p>haha yeah so are my chances of getting into Northwestern completely ruined? Maybe I'm being paranoid...but it kinda feels that way:(</p>

<p>But enough of dwelling in the past, the bottom line is I don't want something like that to happen again. But my EC's are important too!</p>

<p>So what do I pick? Over the next few weeks do I resort to continue strengthening my app by pursuing my EC's till the very end or do I drop them now and go off to meet the people who will be reading my college applications?</p>

<p>and like if I've already met with say a Yale rep over the summer when they came, should I go try and meet them again now when they come in the fall? What about when they visit your school AND a local museum or hotel in the same week? Should I try to attend both locations (especially if it's a school like Tufts or WUSTL that really tracks interest) or will one meeting be enough?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for responses. Sorry for a super long post. Guess I had a lot of questions=)</p>

<p>(sorry for the typo in the title)</p>

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<p>I think you are being paranoid. Why would your chances of getting into Northwestern be completely ruined because of an awkward situation? One piece of advice is that you’ve got to pick one or the other. I don’t recommend running in late, getting a card, filling it out, and leaving. If a college visit from a school that’s important to you is going to happen only once, consider whether you can skip one practice or whatever to attend. There’s usually little need to see them more than once. You shouldn’t have to really go out of your way just to talk to the representatives of the college.</p>

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<p>Nothing wrong with a quick hello UNLESS you are interrupting which is then RUDE.</p>

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<p>NU says:
“Individual, informational/evaluative interviews are not available through the Office of Undergraduate Admission, nor are they a required part of the application process. Optional, individual appointments to discuss life as a student at Northwestern may be scheduled with members of the Alumni Admission Council (AAC) in selected cities.”</p>

<p>Like many selective colleges, they do not conduct on campus interviews, but rather alumni interviews in your town. Have you made an appointment for one?</p>

<p>As far as Yale, IF you have more questions for them it would be OK to meet them again this fall. And you should be doing an alumni interview with them as well. For Tufts and WUSTL, once during the week is fine, twice would be too much.</p>

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<p>Well I would have to think you stopped him dead in his tracks by giving him YOUR card. We have reached the day and age where high school students have cards! Watermarked? I just keep yearning for the days my kids were in the sand box.</p>

<p>Truth be told, at top colleges interaction with an adcom matters little. Sure, an unusually positive interaction may make one remember you, but in general you will be looked at on paper only by these schools.</p>