<p>Will it do me any good to call the admissions office (I'm a junior)? I've seen that some of you have done that. Does my name go on record? What should I ask about?</p>
<p>Only the seniors who are worried about their apps have called. It's an interesting idea, though. I wonder if they'd get annoyed or if you could have a nice conversation. You can request info online, though, and they'll mail it, and you can pick stuff up on campus when you visit, too.</p>
<p>I don't think they'd keep your name on record. But if you visit, I believe they do track that.</p>
<p>What I'm really asking about is the significance of name-dropping. I've spoken with a few alumni and I remember the names of the AdCom and the tour guide when I went to campus. Should I find some way to get those names in?</p>
<p>I would recommend going in person over spring break and meeting with either your area adcom or another adcom. If you have a solid list of 5-10 questions about the school, they will see that you are generally interested and your name, even if not written down on paper, will be remembered.</p>
<p>I personally met with the Director of Admissions, my area adcom and the adcom from the nearest region to mine. All were extremely patient and willing to take the time to meet with prospective students. It was helpful to get their impressions of the school and have them answer some of my personal questions. </p>
<p>When you do meet with them, try to explain your personal acheivements in the form of a question. A personal example was "I play 4 instruments, including two double reeds, and I was wondering what the performance opportunities would be for a prospective music minor?" That way, they remember personal qualities about you that would trigger when reading your official app and remember that you came in to speak with them.</p>
<p>Just my 2 cents.</p>
<p>Try not to be a suck-up, because this is approaching sucking-up, and don't call them if you don't have a real question. Don't make a pointless call and ask a pointless question just to name-drop. At this point, the website would be far more helpful to you than a phone call. You're at the beginning of the app process. I never once made a phone call to Columbia, and I got in ED, so whatever. Read up on your interests in the Columbia handouts and on the website until you have a serious question. If you're on top of things, dates and basic info and department info, you won't ever have to call them and that's definitely not a bad thing. And if you have a question about a department, don't call the admissions people: call the department. But you probably need to think some more before you have a good conversation with the department. Don't rush into it and make unnecessary mistakes.</p>
<p>I was at an info session w/ Jessica Maricciano, and one guy was like, "I don't have the best of grades, but I'm quite a personality..." I nearly laughed my head off! And then he started talking about transfer applications, even though he's a high school senior. (already thinking about not getting into columbia). Then there was another guy who was a total suck-up. He told her all about why he loves Columbia, all his questions were phrased so carefully and showed that he loves Columbia. He even told her that he already sent his application in (early October). The same thing happend at a Yale info session. It was so revolting, and I almost threw up.</p>
<p>I don't really want to suck up, and I've never been one to do that. I usually say what I think. However, in this case, I think I'd do what it takes to get in. If others do it, and I want to stay up with them, I'll have to play by the same rules as them, which might inculde "sucking-up." I went last April, and took the tour and talked around some. I live in Colorado, so I'm not going to be able to go out there again.
The AdCom who was giving the info session was named Heidi. The tourguide was a pretty interesting frenshman engineer named Alison. Do any of these names sound familiar?
What were the names of the people you met?
Does anyone have the names of the AdComs for each region?</p>