@1NJParent Candid is ok. I think S19 and D21 want to like the AOs. They both believe that these are the people who the school has chosen to represent them. They sent them out to find new students. If the AO isn’t friendly and knowledgeable, that says something. I do think the attitudes of the AOs can match up with the school. U Chicago loves to be snooty and flat out say in their presentations that so few of the kids there will get in…and you know what? School is like that there. Intense. Not forgiving. The AOs from S19’s school were very representative of what the school is like as a whole. They were serious about academics but also warm and welcoming.
D21 met with a Lehigh AO at school in a small setting last week - just a few kids. She thought the AO didn’t have anything interesting to say and didn’t seem enthusiastic. It’s off the list. She wants to hear why she should apply to a school and she just wasn’t getting that from him. I think AOs can have a big influence.