<p>I'm sure this question has probably been addressed many times before, but I'm unable to find an old thread.</p>
<p>My counselor has been constantly emphasizing how important it is to email regional representatives at colleges, and that being in contact with them will at least somewhat increase your chances of being admitted, especially at smaller liberal arts schools. The idea is that you are showing a "genuine interest," I suppose.</p>
<p>Honestly, I find it a little hard to believe. It seems like they'd be so busy that there's no way they'd remember you.
Can anyone speak to this? is it a valid strategy?</p>
<p>^i have gotten the same kind of advice as well but i don't really know what to do. aren't they to busy to remember me if i email them? if i do email them what should i say?</p>
<p>Don't just e-mail them for the sake of e-mailing them. I've found that in my college search/applications, I didn't need to e-mail them. I read a book that said that there was no reason not to e-mail them, and that I should take the opportunity to e-mail them in order to "win their hearts," but what is there to say? You don't want to e-mail them to just say hi, just as you wouldn't e-mail your friend to say hi. If the school website doesn't have a link where you can talk to/read about past students, try e-mailing them and asking if you can contact someone. I asked Carleton College that once, and in a few days they sent me a letter for an alumni interview! </p>
<p>I don't know how you can show "genuine interest" by e-mailing admissions officers. It can make you appear desperate to get in (e.g. if you constantly e-mail them after applications are due).</p>
<p>If you have a genuine need to e-mail them (and I honestly can't think of one), e-mail them. You can leave a better impression by meeting them when they visit your school, college visits, and college interviews. I saw my Reed College representative several times: first at a Colleges That Change Lives fair, then when she visited the school, and then at the interview. I felt warm and fuzzy when she said, "Hi, nice to see you again!" It made me feel good inside that someone actually remembered me (or at least faked it very well)!</p>
<p>Colleges admit the applicants they want the most (for reasons that may be unique to each school); this extends to the members of the adcom. So if you are an applicant they want, they'll remember you without an email, but it's hard to know in many cases if they want you. Now (the heavy reading period) is not a particularly good time to send a pointless "hello" email; it may be more annoying than anything else. Don't email your rep to ask about your app status; use the general admissions address for that.</p>
<p>I also cannot think of a good reason for emailing your rep now, but if you have a good question before apps are due, the reps are the ones to contact, and they might even remember that you asked a good question.</p>
<p>I agree with vossron. Try not to avoid e-mailing the admissions office about your application status; they're so busy. A lot of the colleges keep stressing that. They nicely say "Please, please, please don't e-mail us!" They usually give you a website and a user ID and password so you can check on your own. And don't worry if they don't receive it for a while; the process takes a while.</p>
<p>Vossron's statement that if you're an applicant they want, they'll remember you is interesting. I didn't think of that.</p>