I want to change my name and move to another country

Let me explain.

I’m applying ED to a pretty selective college. A few weeks ago the admissions counselor visited my school and we got along just fine-- I asked good questions, he remembered my name and major, etc.

When I got home that day, I followed him on Instagram. I realize this was a mistake now, but to be fair he was on Public and I was on Private (meaning I could see his posts, but he couldn’t see mine, none of which are bad anyway.) I guess I’m so used to following people I meet on social media that I forgot about professional/personal boundaries.

Anyway, he blocked me this morning. Which means he found out who I was and decided I was a creepy, stalker-y prospective student. Which is kind of true, I guess.

I’m super freaked out about this because I don’t want to be remembered as THAT student, and also I REALLY want to get into this college. Do you guys think I’m overreacting, or are my fears justified? Has this happened to anyone else before? I feel incredibly stupid right now.

At this point, it is what it is. I doubt that it will be held against.you. So just move on. But this should be a lesson to applicants in this cycle.

Admissions Officers are not your friend, nor are they celebrities, so there is no reason to follow their personal accounts on social media (if they have an official college account, it’s different). He should have set up his privacy preferences differently, but that’s really neither here nor there. So, I’m not surprised he blocked you; he deserves to have a life outside of work to share with his own friends and family.

Yeah, I completely get that. If I was an admissions counselor I would do the same thing.

But you don’t think he would bring it up in committee, right? Or take me out of the running upon seeing my application?

You are over-thinking this now and your immaturity is showing. You made a mistake. Lesson learned. Do you plan on doing this to every school rep? No, right? So, get over it.

The committees are professional in how they approach students. They will do their jobs.

He will do his job with professionalism. Will they accept or reject you? No one knows.

Know this: If you have time to futz around following people on social media, you need to get a job or a social life.

Apply to your schools. Be realistic. You will get in where you fit.

Expect rejections because there isn’t room at many popular schools to take in every student.
Don’t take it personally; it’s like applying for a job. They can’t take every candidate.

You are being overly dramatic. I would expect that an admissions decision will be made in a professional manner based on your qualifications for the school. And hopefully lesson leaned – from now on don’t blur professional/personal boundaries.

Stop following him now and anyone else related to admissions.
Stop obsessing about it. I doubt it’ll be brought up in committee.

In case my message did not come across the first time, no, I don’t think that. You are overestimating the amount of time that an AO gets to present to the committee. It’s done. Move on. Best of luck.