<p>Thanks CountingDown--we are not as vigilent here (aka sleeping on the couch at the moment...), but appreciate the tips and yes, we did the RD one also.</p>
<p>I never said S didn't take a nap or two first before writing them! ;)</p>
<p>My question to you, the OP, is whether you would like to keep in touch with an admissions officer to get a "FAT LETTER" or if you are genuinely interested in keeping in touch. One of my interviewers (for a boarding school, not college) was truly someone I would like to touch base with and because of that I continue to speak with her today. On the other hand if all you give a sh** about is an admit to that school you should just wait and stop considering sucking up.</p>
<p>As Sally pointed out earlier maybe five or six years ago doing such "deeds" would put you on track to acceptance but in today's day and age the poor Stanford admissions officers are so up to their neck already they just do not have the time to read pointless crap that you have written for them so you can get a spot in their school.</p>
<p>Another thing you can do is instead of contacting the admissions officers contact a teacher you really liked. I know you may be unable to speak with a teacher but many teachers have profiles online (I would suggest checking linkedin). That way you can establish a relationship with a teacher who teaches a class that fosters your interest and you learn more. </p>
<p>I think anyone who knows his stuff would agree sending pointless **** to the admissions officers to get admission </p>
<p>A) is wrong
B) won't help you</p>
<p>I highly suggest speaking with the teacher or the head of an EC club, you actually gain something that way. Remember all this is moot if you actually hold a deep interest in what the admissions officer does, I did and that is why I kept in touch with him.</p>
<p>Good luck :P</p>
<p>I'm happy for this thread. I made the mistake of sending too many e-mails to an admissions officer, just asking general questions because I was worried about my application. Luckily for me it was one of my safety schools.</p>
<p>I've e-mailed my admissions counselor from questions regarding the completion of my application, added awards, if attending a summer program will be factored, and specific-to-school admissions policies. I sent about 4 e-mails in 9 weeks. I had fun with it, because that's how I am with e-mails to my teachers and whatnot anyway. My admissions counselor would respond back with smiley faces and match my witty subject titles and just overall silliness. But, I never talked about personal, non-application things. I feel that's pushing it.</p>
<p>Don't stalk though. that's not productive.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that admission officials are salespeople as much as they are educators (or even more). So it's their job to woo all prospective students and, especially, the strongest ones. Yes, of course, some of these folks do genuinely enjoy occasional exchanges with bright, interesting high school students. But just because an admission officer is sending prompt and seemingly cheery replies, it doesn't necessarily mean that he or she isn't thinking, "This kid is a nuisance." </p>
<p>As with most things in life, moderation is the best approach here. Make your interest known, ask a few genuine questions (if you really can't find answers elsewhere), and send a written update once or, in certain situations, twice. (And a follow-up phone call to make sure that applications and other critical materials have reached the folder is appropriate. Just allow ample time for mail to be sorted.) But don't create reasons to write just to appear enthusiastic and, above all, don't treat any college staff member like your personal admissions advisor.</p>
<p>I see myself as a reach student for many of the schools that I applied to. Should I send an update about Academic Decathlon medals and Mock Trial Competition Recognition (both in County) or not? Also, if I should send an update, should I also send these via e-mail or snail mail? Thank you!</p>
<p>
[quote]
I see myself as a reach student for many of the schools that I applied to. Should I send an update about Academic Decathlon medals and Mock Trial Competition Recognition (both in County) or not? Also, if I should send an update, should I also send these via e-mail or snail mail? Thank you!
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Yes, that's the exact kind of info that is appropriate for an Update letter. Note, however, that if you're applying to hyper-selective colleges (e.g., Ivies and their ilk), then this Update certainly won't hurt you, but it may not have a big impact either, since your "competition" will include Intel finalists, published novelists, etc., and your own successes will be viewed as more routine. But you should definitely submit them anyway, and at strong but somewhat less selective schools they could carry more weight.</p>
<p>If you can get a snail-mail letter out right away, then it is definitely the best choice unless you already have an e-mail relationship (even a minimal one) with an admissions official (the staff member who interviewed you, who visited your high school, who represents your region, etc.). In that case, it's fine to send an e-mail directly to him or her. However, at this busy time of year, an e-mail message to the general admissions-office address might get lost in the shuffle. A snail-mail letter has a better chance of landing in your folder, tagged as "new material." To expedite the proper filing of the letter, on the outside front of the envelope, write, "New information for [Your name, your high school, your high school's city/town and state] Applicant to the Class of 2013."</p>
<p>But don't delay ... time is of the essence ... since many decisions are being made right now.</p>
<p>Thanks so much for all the detail, Sally. In terms of following up with a phone call to ensure that the snail mail material landed in the file, is 10 working days about right (assuming U.S. to U.S.)? If the office doesn't see it in the file, I would presume the next step would be to offer to fax it?</p>
<p>I have a question regarding keeping admissions officers updated. How would it be viewed if I snail mailed a copy of a significant community research project to the admission counselor who interviewed me? The projected involved roughly 300+ hours of work as the goal keeper coach for my Varsity Soccer team. The final project is a goal keeping instruction book (roughly 50 pages) that will be distributed to teams of all ages throughout the community to facilitate the development of future goal keepers. Is that considered significant enough for an update?</p>
<p>This thread makes me nervous. Will my chances hurt if I called the DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS of a certain (don't want to mention the name) art School? Also, its not only him I contacted, I mean I contacted like 5 admissions officer.....</p>
<p>I wass trembling the moment I talked to him...</p>
<p>
[quote]
... is 10 working days about right (assuming U.S. to U.S.)? If the office doesn't see it in the file, I would presume the next step would be to offer to fax it?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>mom in virginia: Yep, that's about right, though this is one of those times when "No" doesn't always mean "No," but really, "Not yet." Parents and students understandably panic when admission staff say, "No, we don't have your materials," even when mailed a couple weeks earlier. But often it takes a really long time for the stuff to get filed. And if you fax it, there's no guarantee that it will get from the fax machine to the correct folder. So if you wait 10 business days and are told that the materials haven't arrived yet, wait a couple more days before offering to fax or re-send.</p>
<p>Great Sally, thanks again.</p>
<p>Would it be appropriate to e-mail an admissions officer and let them know my SAT scores will be late? I have everything else in, but unfortunately my SAT date is two days before the deadline.</p>
<p>Also, I finished up a lot of college applications before I joined CC realized that playing an instrument and dancing were considered ECs. I left the EC field blank because I thought it was a space for school clubs and sports. Should I e-mail them about this? (I know this might sound like a silly thing to do. I'm doing the college app. process without a counselor, so bear with me. x.x)</p>
<p>Well, do you guys really think applicants should mail to admission officers in order to show them their interest? </p>
<p>But I am confused why would we apply colleges if we are not interested in them?</p>
<p>^possibly if you see the school as a safety</p>
<p>LOL this is UCLA, we don't do the whole "connect your way in" thing. That's on the south side of the city, at a little school called U$C ;)</p>
<p>Not to be harsh, but really: if you deserve to get in, you will. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Yipes...now I'm really confused. My daughter and I attended an Ivy legacy program alumni weekend. We were encouraged to introduce ourselves and our children to the person in charge of our geographic region and to "stay in touch." I felt odd about doing that since D is two years away from even applying, but I'm aware that some students are introduced to admissions officers by their guidance counselors years before admissions. D it at the top of her class but in a very large public high school. Guidance is swamped, and alumni weekend is coming up again. Is it pushy to start a dialogue with the admissions officer now?</p>
<p>PhilaMom--As my own mother (also a "PhilaMom" :) ) always told me, "Honesty is the best policy."</p>
<p>Your daughter can write this college's regional rep and say something along the lines of what you've told us here ... e.g., "I attended a legacy alumni weekend with my family where I was encouraged to introduce myself to my regional rep and 'stay in touch.' I'm very interested in [Name of college], but I'm also still two years away from even applying, so I'm not sure what sort of contact is appropriate. Please let me know the best way to stay connected without making your long to-do list even longer. This is all new to me, of course, and I'd appreciate any advice you can provide."</p>
<p>This way you've not only started the "dialogue," but you should also get the guidance you need on where to go with it.</p>