<p>I'm really interested in the arts and science, and I am sending supplements in those two areas to colleges. I have heard some people who have met with department faculty during visits or have exchanged emails with them.</p>
<p>So, the question: is it too forward and annoying to contact a school's department to ask for advice and give them a head's up that you're applying, so they know to look for your supplement/application/additional resume? Has anyone had any experience with this?</p>
<p>It is entirely appropriate to contact the department you intend to major in. If you plan a campus visit, you should try to tour that department and/or meet with the department’s student advisor. You will learn a lot about the department and will have a better idea about whether you really want to study there.</p>
<p>Since most departments don’t read your applications (except for some specific scholarships), there is no point in being a pest. Aim for polite and interested, rather than neurotic or pushy.</p>
<p>Contacting them to tell them you’re interested doesn’t make sense, but contacting them to find out more is perfectly fine. Sometimes the departments do have a say in admissions.</p>