Emailing Schools Emphatically, but Tastefully

Hello friends,

Okay. So. I, like many, really wanna go to Stanford. Enough that, even now that everything is said and done in terms of my application and mid year report and all that, I’m still racking my brains to try to find out any sort of way I can increase my chances. I’m a Questbridge Finalist and in one of their emails they spoke about writing an email to the college (even outside the case of being a deferred applicant, just doing so as a standard applicant) to express continued interest, or particular interest.

I applied to Stanford early through the National College Match and wasn’t matched. For those of you who don’t know, that doesn’t mean I was deferred or rejected, it just means I didn’t get accepted with a full ride, and was placed into the RD round. I no longer care for the CA essay I used when I applied to Stanford (it was focused on having an independent drive, and while it’s true, well written, and it makes good points, I just really don’t think it gives an accurate impression of how or who I really am).

What do y’all think of perhaps sending them an email to clarify my personhood a bit through a refined perspective of my outlook on things? Like using that to lead into how passionate I am about going there. How grateful I’d be, and how I’d use it to a magnificent extent of accomplishment for the good of everyone. I want to avoid just sounding like I’m pandering excessively, or trying to slip in an extra essay, but I really feel like I could compose something that is articulate, tasteful, clarifying, concise enough to not be an essay, and that makes me a more attractive applicant.

Anyone have any knowledge or opinions dealing with this kind of approach? Any advice or information is appreciated as always. Sorry for long post, thanks ahead of time.

No. They don’t want you to waste their time groveling, amending, or anything but politely and very briefly informing them of an additional award or honor. It’s Stanford. They can expect you did your best on the app you submitted. You don’t get do-overs.

. Don’t annoy them with obsequious spam. Move on.

90% of admissions officers are too busy to read notes like this and will close the e-mail two seconds after opening it.

At best, the other 10% won’t care. At worst, they’ll remember you as the annoying kid who felt so insecure about his/her essay that he/she sent another.

If this sentence is typical of your essay then you have a problem.

You put in your application and you are done. Admissions officers are not looking for more to read at this point. Unless you have a significant new accomplishment, do not email them. The email you are proposing could hurt your application IMO.

I think a simple email stating your continued interest and updating them on your main EC is fine. But I wouldn’t try to rewrite your personal statement.

@whatthewhat I disagree. Stanford specifically states that submitting your application shows that you have a strong interest in Stanford.

Quite simply, I would not send an email if I were you.

If it is your top choice and you have no financial constraints, a brief note with mention that you 'd accept an offer if it was extended would probably not hurt. But that would be 3 lines.

Do you want to appear desperate? Leave it be.

Unless you have an actual accomplishment to add, don’t send it. They are pretty confident that their yield will be good – telling them you are really interested or intend to attend if accepted is a waste of time – and wasting their time this month isn’t good.

As a Stanford student, please don’t do that.

@TomSrOfBoston Thanks man