<p>How do I go above and beyond to set myself apart as far as expressing interest goes? I am not one that normally calls people, and it's not like my parents are pressuring me to do so, but I feel like I need to do as much as I possibly can to push things my way. On the other hand if I called the admissions department, I am not sure what to say...</p>
<p>Thanks for all advice.</p>
<p>Don't call/email admissions unless you actually have a genuine question. Making up questions is just a waste of their time (and yours for that matter).</p>
<p>Visit the campus, take a tour, sign in if available. </p>
<p>For example, I know that Emory application asks you about any contact with the school.</p>
<p>For the most part, showing interest involves writing a passionate and well crafted essay.</p>
<p>Do a search on this phrase "demonstrated interest". Basically for some schools it matters, for some like the ultra selectives, it doesn't at all.</p>
<p>And NO don't just call the admissions office for no genuine reason.</p>
<p>Yeah, back when I was a junior I read in an admissions book that you should try to contact them and befriend them. Then I used my brain and my logic and concluded that that was a stupid piece of advice.</p>
<p>
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For the most part, showing interest involves writing a passionate and well crafted essay.
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That I think I can. I'm not looking to waste any one's time but with everything being mail based and available online, even calling to ask What kind of characteristics do you look for in applicants? seems like a waste. Yet, maybe I should pretend not to know about this forum and ask anyways. That at least was my thinking.</p>
<p>I'd be careful about asking them. It doesn't seem like a good idea. I mean, think about it. If you ask them what they're looking for, they might suspect that you'll mold your application in a misleading way in order to get in. It's pretty obvious that if a student asks what characteristics colleges look for, and the college person says, "Leadership, interesting personality, academic curiosity, and a good sense of humor," the applicant will probably craft his application to show those things and as a result won't look genuine.</p>