It’s one thing to be open and welcoming, another to think they want any silly question and just wait for kids to contact them, so they can check off a box. “Mary called, Billy didnt.” They evaluate you for an admit based on your full app.
No one needs to advance inform admissions that the grading system changed. When the GC sends the school report and your LoR, she/he can note it.
I think the point is that they’ll be happy to answer a legit question-- NOT one that can be found on the website. Then again, I would imagine the websites are updated on a pretty regular basis, so that list of “not on the website, legit questions” probably grows smaller each year.
They do NOT want you to contact them to say hi and introduce yourself. They’ll get to know you through your application.
You all can keep saying that they don’t want you to introduce yourself, but it’s just not true in all cases. As @citymama9 said, we heard the same thing at F&M, and at least five other places.
Then go with your gut/
Colleges asked you to contact them to introduce yourself? Or they left the door open for a good question?
My guess is AOs - especially when making presentations - use welcoming language. It’s up to applicants to use some common sense in how to interpret that language, understanding the realities of the situation. Similar to how my foreign born friend was incredibly frustrated by some of the American idioms:
Friend: You Americans! You don’t mean what you say! My customers are always asking me “how are you?” and then it’s obvious they don’t really want to know.
Me (knowing exactly what he was frustrated about since I had asked him how he was): You’re right, Alain. They absolutely do not want to know the details of your prostate issue. In America, the phrase “how are you?” is not a literal question. It’s another form of greeting, not a query. Depending on your level of relationship with the other person, there are very few acceptable answers and none of them involve intimate medical details.
When an AO is talking to a group of students and uses the phrase “please feel free to contact us if you have any questions” consider it the AO equivalent of “how are you?” It’s a polite phrase that isn’t meant to be taken literally. Your call or email to introduce yourself or ask a question that you should be able to easily research is the equivalent of my foreign friend responding to “how are you” with details about his enlarged prostate. Help yourself by applying some common sense.
One of the classic, great SMH answers, @milee30. 
Like on the Jack Ryan show… something like “Feel free to call anytime…but make sure you really need to”
I was on a college site the other day, it may have been Northeastern, and someone was available for a live chat. They answered one of my questions and then directed me to a department contact for my other question.
@milee30 Great answer, except it’s not the correct one. Multiple colleges were very clear and welcoming in prospective students reaching out to either get to know their admissions councelors or asking whatever questions they might have. A couple of them acknowledged doing so was a way of expressing demonstrated interest.
In our case we limited that to seeking out our assigned counselor for a couple questions because only one twin had registered for the visit but both liked the school and we wanted her to know. Asked a question about designing your own major at the same time. In another case we reached out with questions about portfolio requirements because the website wasn’t clear. They acknowledged the possible confusion and were happy to help. These are some of the reasons we applied mostly to small LACs - the personal touch is not without value or appreciation.
Yes, if you need extra special attention, it’s good to apply to colleges that are prepared to supply it. Know yourself and the colleges you’re targeting and use your best judgment.
The AO from Drake emailed, called and texted my son numerous times in his effort to recruit him. He was not an athlete or any kind of typically recruited individual. I think this is really dependant on the college in question. Our area AO from Furman said if you are wondering whether to apply test optional or submit your ACT/SAT just email me and I will let you know. He said he wanted to get to know his area applicants. I would still take the advice of others who say to provide legitimate information or ask questions that answers cannot be easily found.
OP didn’t ask about specific colleges or for anecdotal thoughts. And if every kid decides to introduce herself, they’d be overwhelmed. The best way to gain from an interaction is when there’s a relevant conversation. Or some interesting chat. Let them want to see your app, even root for you. That’s not asking any old question just for (as CC mistakenly thinks) the sake of seeming “interested.”
If you get a chance to introduce yourself in person, sure. But you demonstrate interest by knowing enough about the college to understand your match (what they want, not just what you want) and show it in the app. I.e., your activities are relevant, your essay underscores the attributes they like, you can answer a Why Us in a meaningful way. If you’re truly interested, you do these things, right?
And if you can’t present well, the tours and emails won’t tip anything.
So this isn’t about niceness. Its still about applying and getting an admit.
The schools that claim showing interest is important do want contact, but that can be accomplished by attending open houses, or campus tours. If you ask questions, make sure they are intelligent questions. And if asking at an open house, make the question more broad - rather than ask about a change in your school’s grading system, ask how they use GPA - do they look at weighted or unweighted, do they recalculate, stripping classes like PE? The answers would be useful to everyone in the room, not just you. But as noted by others - don’t ask if their website or literature already provides the answer. When in doubt - ask in the college specific forums here.