<p>Hey,
I just went to Columbia this Monday for an information session and learned a lot. It was my luck that the admission's officer that was talking to us was the one that handled my region. However, due to time constraints I was not able to speak with her. I just got a friendly nod as I left (since I asked questions before). I kind of feel stupid for not talking to her, because I know it would have made a difference.
I did manage to get her email address and I was planning on E-Mailing her before she forgot me(which probably already happened, since I should have done this earlier).
My question is: when contacting an admission's officer what do you say to them? I actually want to gain good relations with her so when she reads my name she would say: "Oh, I remember him! He is really dedicated."</p>
<p>dont take this the wrong way or anything, but i think what you’re trying to do might make you seem like a kiss-ass. i mean, i’m applying to columbia too (as are thousands of other people) and i wouldn’t do that unless i had a real question to ask or something of importance to discuss for whatever reason. think of it this way: many people get accepted without contacting the admissions officers (well not many people, those that actually get in lol). so idk what emailing the columbia rep is gonna do for you at this point… it might even backfire and reflect upon you badly if they think the only reason why you did so was to “stand out” or something like that. that’s why i think you should let your application speak for itself.</p>
<p>but that’s just my opinion. i’m interested in what other people have to say about this.</p>
<p>I don’t think there is anything wrong with sending her an email saying you went to Monday’s session, found it informative, that you received a very satisfactory answer to your question “X” and that you will be sending an application at a later date. Keep it short and to the point.</p>
<p>I think it would have been better if you had sent the note on Monday night.</p>
<p>To back up thatguy, I never spoke to my regional officer when he gave a presentation. I just submitted my app, and in February I got a likely letter. After I got the official letter of acceptance, he wrote a personal letter to me saying to the effect that he first read my file and was impressed etc. and urged me to accept the offer. So yeah, contacting the admissions office for a school of Columbia’s caliber doesn’t really matter.</p>
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<p>You’d have a better chance of getting into Columbia if you paid attention in your English class’s.</p>
<p>There’s no point in contacting them. If you contact her now, she’ll forget about you by the time the application reading period rolls around. If you contact her now and try to actually maintain a conversation through email until the application reading period… she’ll just be annoyed. </p>
<p>Spend the time you would spend writing the email writing your essays. It’s a much better use of everyone’s time. She’ll be more impressed by your essay by any email you’d write, and writing that essay will get your further in terms of admission than any email.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input guys.
And my primary purpose of the email isn’t to stand out. I have genuine questions to ask too.</p>
<p>sending an email (A) thanking them for the time, (B) mentioning a specific thing they said that stood out to you, and then (C) a question or two, will almost always come across very positively. they emphasize that in a lot of graduate admissions books. likewise, you’d do the same after a job interview - get their email address and drop them a note. wasn’t long ago you’d send a handwritten letter. these are the hallmarks of being polite and well-raised - you can’t go wrong.</p>
<p>just don’t overdo it with the questions or trying to sound smart.</p>
<p>If you have more questions to ask then by all means ask them. Just make sure they are “smart” questions. But don’t think it will make you stand out.</p>
<p>It is possible–even likely–that you will meet this person again. If your high school is on Columbia’s visitation schedule, this is the person who will make the visit. If you live in a major metropolitan area, there probably will be a fall reception for interested students and/or (maybe later) for applicants, and, again, your area rep will attend. At either of those occasions, you might have a chance for a personal contact that you could follow up with an e-mail.</p>
<p>schauhan, which info sesh person did you have??</p>
<p>If you have genuine questions whose answers can’t be found on Columbia’s website, then go ahead and email the admissions officers. They’re always happy to help (they must have answered 10+ questions of mine for the application process). However, sucking up or maintaining contact will not help you get accepted. One of the top students at my school had Yale as her 1st choice and her regional admissions officer said she “had all the qualities of a Yalie (or however Yale ppl call themselves).” Anyway, she got waitlisted when you’d think she’d get in. She’ going to Princeton now.</p>