<p>I think it would be awesome, if you could start a chat room, set up a designated time, every month or week, depending on how busy you are. I would enjoy it, as I know other would too. It would probably have to be organized, and you would have to agree to it. But just an idea.</p>
<p>We have chats periodically before deadline (2-4 per month), but at this time of year, we don’t really have much time to spare. I usually sign into the chats and it’s an exhausting two hours because of the number of students who show up. </p>
<p>What’s more, the questions come so quickly that it’s hard to have a meaningful conversation about anything. We wind up dashing off shorthand notes answering questions as interesting as “what’s the average SAT score?” and “what are the dorms like?” and “wut gpa u need?”, which leave us a bit frazzled.</p>
<p>I turn on my Google Chat and AIM around deadline so I can answer last minute questions, but few students take advantage of that. I’ll revisit that idea in late March, when my days and nights aren’t filled with reading your lovely applications. </p>
<p>I really would love to chat…but with a smaller group of students than usually show up for our chat events.</p>
<p>I’ve participated in the almost all of the chats this year and as Dean J said, they’re exhausting. I don’t type for the day leading up to the chat because my hand starts to cramp about 45 min through. They’re essentially the same questions over and over again (kind of like CC if you’re here long enough. ;)) And honestly, a lot of the questions could be answered with a google search. The last chat I was in, in the first room, Study Abroad came up at least 40-50 times (no joke.) The question was “Does UVa have a Study Abroad program?” I just kept pasting the link for the website and people were satisfied. I think some people think that UVa “counts” the number of times they’ve been in contact with the admissions office so they just ask random questions to get a nonexistent tally mark. Some of the questions are worthwhile however, which is why I help out. :)</p>
<p>signit, it really does happen lol. Last time, there was a guy from China who kept saying things like “i luv u. fnd me.” “ur the luv of my lyfe.” “ur the gr8st stdnt evr.” so we get some nutjobs, some idiots, some brilliant thinkers, and everything in between. I think I remember some chats being held for admitted students last year. If I hear anything about those, I’ll post a link. </p>
<p>And if you have any questions, feel free to PM me.</p>