<p>I've seen several seniors on the chance threads noting, "I've gotten to know the admissions counselor at X college very well" and my question is, How? I've gone to several college briefings with my college Junior...there are literally dozens/hundreds of kids at each session. There's no chance for meaningful interaction after the session..she always writes a great thank-you email but I can't see that sticking in anyone's mind. We've also visited a few campuses but it's not like the regional admissions counselor is there when we visit...he/she is either on the road or very very busy. </p>
<p>Our D interviewed with adcoms in our city spring of junior year for 5 or 6 of the schools that interested her. She then emailed those people a couple times with short updates about activities or questions about the schools before running into them again at college fairs in fall. About half of them recognized her at the college fairs and the others pretended to recognize her. I certainly wouldn’t say she got to know them well, and I don’t think any of that made a lick of difference in her chances.</p>
<p>“Getting to know” an admissions officer for your region does very little. It’s helpful to have his/her email address in case you have some questions about the application process, but other than that, you won’t get any special privileges from speaking to him/her a few extra times. Don’t worry about it.</p>
<p>My oldest son did get to know the admissions counselor at the school he eventually attended. He first met her at a college fair. (sophomore year) He got her card and wrote a thank you note. The following year she visited his school for an info session that he attended and made it a point to introduce himself again. Another thank you note. Attended the same college fair the next year (junior year) and another thank you note. Another info session at his school (senior year) and an on campus visit. When he saw her there, she really had to laugh. Every time they met, he gave her his name and said to remember that he was the kid with the big smile.</p>
<p>Another son wore two different colored t-shirts from the college to which he was applying EA under his button down shirt at an info session. When he introduced himself to the rep, he made sure that he was noticed. The rep got a good laugh and actually took a picture of him. Don’t know that it helped, but he did get in.</p>
<p>My definition of getting to know someone “very well” is different than what is described above, and I think OP was wondering more along the lines of my definition. At best, the above descriptions might rise to the level of “can recognize the name or face,” but that’s not the same as knowing someone very well.</p>
<p>When my daughter was touring the school that she ended up attending, the adcom person who interviewed her also conducted the school tour. With an hour long tour for 5 students and a few parents, the adcom person got a pretty good idea of their personalities and interests.</p>
<p>It wasn’t her first choice of school, so kid and her friend were very relaxed and joking a bit during the tour, which meant that the adcom person was well aware of her quirkiness, but also her very strong commitment to her intended career and to doing mission projects and other campus activities. For some reason they really hit it off, and the adcom person emailed or called her directly every week or so until the kid committed. School isn’t highly selective, but her department was very selective.</p>
<p>When the financial aid wasn’t as good at the preferred school, the attitude of the adcom person made “settling for number 2” a whole lot easier.</p>
<p>Before we toured any school, we found the contact info for our rep and made arrangements to meet with them 1 on 1 following the tour. Each and every rep ended the meeting by saying please continue to keep in touch. So, my D periodically emailed the reps. Attended any open house in our area and made a point of saying hello. Met with the rep if they came to her school or local Starbucks. </p>
<p>So, I’m not sure she knows them well, but much better than most other kids.</p>
I’m sure it did help!</p>