<p>Each person has to find his/her own style in dealing with this sort of thing. It is important, especially at some schools, often the smaller selective but not ueber selective schools, to show interest, especially if you are not from that area. Admissions officers at some such school specifically told my son to drop them lines a few time, and touch base, because they want that. But to be overly contrived and push to the point of being obnoxious is risking becoming a feature on one of those admissions fun sites or examples of what not to do. </p>
<p>The main thing is that the personality of the kid should determine this sort of thing. A quick hello, and update a few times is fine, but the emails and notes should reflect the nature of the kid. Some are naturals for sending a flood of things, doing a song and dance as they are exuberant and want to do this sort of thing, so in such a case, well, that’s your kid. No way in the world would I have ever been able to push one of mine to do that because that 's not them, and frankly I wouldn’t be able to pull it off either. </p>
<p>My one son found it difficult to even come up with one missive and needed help. When he won an award at the end of the sports season, a quite prestigious one that came as a surprise, yes, I told him to let the admissions directors know as some had specifically told him to do so. it stuck in his craw to do so, but he did wirte a short note very much in character of the way, he was. His coach heard me telling him something about it, and immediately offered to send a note as well,to the colleges, which I thought was very nice. My one son found out that an admissions director that he met and chatted with was at a local girls’ high school meeting with those students, and he dropped by to say hi, and was ever so warmly welcomed. So you look for ways to reach out and stay in touch that fit the way you are.</p>