<p>Hey, I plan to talk with one of the adcoms of Columbia. However, I am not sure what the ideal questions are and how I can get my name into the database. Could any of you advise me on how to get these things done as well as on how to make the best impression with the admissions officer. Please reply soon, I have limited time to see the admissions officers. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>
<p>Ok.</p>
<p>The meeting with an admission officer is to let that person know you are interested in Columbia. That is what the visit is for.</p>
<p>You can get your name in a database by filling out a card at the beginning of an information session.</p>
<p>As for questions to the admissions officer, there is no set of questions that is good. This is your opportunity (one of your few) to talk with someone about your interests and passions. When I went, I discussed the music program as I play 4 instruments as well as the Core.</p>
<p>Ask questions that are relevant to what you do. This makes for the most honest and best overall meeting. 3 or 4 questions is enough. Don't take up too much of their time.</p>
<p>That night or the next day make sure you email the specific admissions representative and thank them for their time and their advice. You can ask another question here as a follow-up to the previous discussion, but it is not necessary.</p>
<p>Best of luck.</p>
<p>I never contacted my specific admissions officer, because I didn't have any questions. I could honestly not think of a single question to ask about my application. I had my essays written, had my app finished without difficulty, had my recs, my simple supplement, so what else did I possibly need? I also do music, but I didn't talk to any admissions people about it. I thought, okay, they will see the CD and see my activities and figure it out. I talked to two music teachers about my music and two music students, but besides that, I never talked to my own admissions officer. I only talked to Jessica Marinaccio really briefly when she came to my school in my junior year to ask her about applying to both Columbia and Juilliard and filled out one of those cards she had (and filled one out again when I went for tour and info session). She told me not to set my heart on it, because she said they accept almost nobody for that. I was going to act all unlike myself and say "it's too late, my heart's already set on it," but I didn't and just said "okay, thanks," or something. So don't worry about contacting that specific person too much, because it won't hurt you not to, if you don't feel you have good questions.</p>