In every brochure and on every tour they say to reach out and ask questions. Do they really want us to do that?
My school changed their grading scale and we are the first graduating class with the new scale (which lowers our GPA by comparison to previous classes). I know the info will be in the school profile sent to colleges but I feel like I could reach out and say “just fyi.” Would that be appreciated or annoying?
No, not really, and especially not for redundant info they’ll already receive, @Tuxrd2 .
I have never seen a viewbook that encourages applicants to reach out and contact adcoms. they are way too busy for that.
Ok thanks. Seems like all the colleges say it at one time or another and there was some talk of showing demonstrated interest by doing it. But sounds like it’s actually not recommended.
If you can’t find the answer to a question anywhere else (and you’ve scoured the school’s website), then email. For something like the new grading scale/fyi which you know is on your school report, then definitely no.
That makes sense. Thanks!
I’d ask here first, tbh.
You can put a brief comment on this in Additional Info if you want to.
The GC will indicate the grading policy/ grading scale in your school’s profile and as part of the SSR.
No need to contact the admissions officer for something like this.
The GC should indicate the grading scale changed. If you’re lucky, they may state what your current gpa wouldl have been on the old scale, for reference. But your transcript is what it is, adcoms will look at the letter grades and rigor. Ask the GC how they plan to handle this.
And just contacting with a question isn’t what shows the “interest” that can help an app. Think about it. If that were magic, everyone would do it. The best way to show interest is when you nail your app, have the match (not just stats,) and can answer a Why Us question.
I agree with others to not email AOs regarding your HS’s grading scale change. However, it is ok to email AOs with questions. The reality is that there are many students building relationships with their AOs. For students who effectively do this, it can be an advantage in admissions. And, there are schools that consider contacting one’s AO as ‘demonstrated interest’.
Of course, one should not ask questions that are easily answered by searching the school’s website, but there are many reasonable questions to ask. Topics one might contact an AO for include: asking for clarity about something on the website, making interview requests, or making appointments for when they visit your school (for the general presentation and/or one-on-one time, find out how your HS handles these). Don’t ask obvious questions, don’t email too often, don’t make grammar/spelling mistakes.
Figure out a way to begin an email exchange and/or conversation. AOs want to meet students in their geographies, and you can benefit from these interactions.
^Might be true for some colleges that have a manageable ratio of AO’s to applicants, but when the ratio is over 1,000 applicants/AO, there is not much time for chit chat, especially from October to end of March. One of the things that kids need to learn is respect and consideration for other people’s time. Absolutely take advantage of AO visits to the school or region and if you have a real question that cannot be answered with some self research. Of course if an AO reaches out to you, you need to be on that quickly and thoughtfully.
I agree with the prevailing opinion. The thing to keep in mind is that admissions officers are busy professionals. They are not looking for more to read (so don’t send questions that can be answered from the website, don’t send unnecessary information etc.) and they are not looking for idle chit-chat-- but they do want to be available to answer meaningful questions about the school that can help an applicant.
FWIW my D applied to LACs and did not email any questions etc. to admissions officers other than thank you notes after interviews and she got into her top choice school.
We visited a bunch of LACs, and they were generally very encouraging regarding the possibility of developing a relationship with our assigned admissions counselor. More than a few suggested that they considered it part of their job to help the students best represent themselves. While we only followed up with a couple of them regarding specific areas we needed clarification on, I have no reason to doubt their sincerity.
I personally wouldn’t reach out with the OPs specific issue without packaging it together with something more substantial. And obviously a larger school is both unlikely to consider such contact a positive regarding admissions, but also unlikely to be as well staffed to address it happily.
Ime, most kids don’t contact AOs. Sending an email doesn’t enhance your match. “Demonstrated interest” isn’t taking ten mintes to compose an email. It’s doing all you can to understand your match, from the info a college does put forth on their web sites, in course listings and dept requirements, the srt of kids it features, learing about the environment and atmosphere…not guessing. And certainly not going generic (you have my major, you have study abroad, Ilove the cmapus, etc.)
@lookingforward is correct and the idea that it’s a good idea to find a way to email adcomms is misguided. There are vanishingly few questions that it’s reasonable for a high school student to bug an adcomm with.
I’m going contrarian here, you can call AOs, many will have current students helping out on the phone lines as well. However this information you would not want to call on, as it seems that you think they can’t understand changes in grading systems. Your best bet is to get the GC to contact the regional officer with the info, if the GC is willing to do it.
You shouldn’t give your name when you call and as others have said, keep the question concise, but I’ve called AOs on topics. Now you may not get a helpful answer, one said, do well in your courses. They also don’t like answering questions on whether you should retake a standardized test.
We’ve been to info sessions at schools where they encouraged students to get in touch with their regional reps. Franklin and Marshall is one of them, for example
yeah, and they want you to send them cookies too 
i dont think it makes a difference but do if you wanna