<p>Is possible to increase one's chances by keeping in contact with one of the school's admissions officers?</p>
<p>I know it sounds desperate but I was just curious</p>
<p>Sure, if you two genuinely had a connection and it shows in your interaction that you aren’t just doing it to increase your chances. It’s also nice to send a short thank you note if they interviewed you or did you some other favor.</p>
<p>But if you come off as desperate or as if you are sucking up, this will actually <em>decrease</em> your chances.</p>
<p>I don’t get it…why is it cheating if you know an admissions officer? Knowing them may not neccessarily mean that it’ll increase your chances of admission. The only way I could see how it would do so would be that the officer comes to know you as a genuine person and find that you definitely fit at that school. Of course, liek Keshira said, don’t suck up…that’ll just annoy the officers.</p>
<p>It is not cheating. Many adcoms encourage communications. If you become a nuisance or act too obvious that you are only doing it to improve your chances, it can cause a negative impression. For many schools, show of interest is a strong factor in the decision process.</p>
<p>Indeed. However, I also know that its a hook that is often applied and can result in capricious decisions. I know someone who got into Dartmouth and all because their high school counselor knew someone in admissions up there. Her stats were in the 25th percentile, barely for Dartmouth. It happens. No sour grapes here but we were certainly surprised.</p>
<p>On the other hand, just knowing someone and having good communications with them is not a bad thing, all other things on your application being equal. The very definition of legacy is often “knowing someone” to get you in the door.</p>
<p>If you do get in, make sure that you dont go around bragging about it, or acting like you got special attention. That is poor manners and could backfire.</p>
<p>Be gracious and grateful and humble. Be compassionate towards others who have bad luck on college admissions.</p>
<p>I remember with the clarity of a perfect diamond the things that people said to me and my kid last year as we went through this turbulent process. People who said inappropriate things and behaved poorly are no longer in our communication circle. But people who were gracious and compassionate gained huge browny points. And their reward is that they get to share with us the wonderful stories each of our children relate to us about their college experiences.</p>
<p>And NOTHING irritates me more than people who act as if their college admissions letters makes them a superior human being. </p>
<p>Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>Being friends could never hurt you. However, if you try to bribe them or something stupid like that, it’d hurt you.</p>
<p>The only bribes that work are A) Sex and B) very, very large sums of cash</p>
<p>Ever seen Risky Business ??? A= admission guaranteed</p>
<p>I’d rather try A too.</p>