<p>I have read several places on the CC boards of people who knew their admissions officer. They said they frequently spoke with the admissions officer and that it does make a difference for your application. Is this true? Does being in contact with your admissions officer make a difference on your potential acceptance chances? If so, where do you find the contact information for your specific admission counselor? is it someone local?</p>
<p>I have been in contact with my admissions COUNSELOR for my area. I’m not sure if there is even a way to talk to an admissions officer. If it was possible, I’m sure it could significantly increase your acceptance chances. Look around on the college’s website to see if you can find any information.</p>
<p>I think I miss read it, and it is counselor. Is that beneficial for chances or just helpful for questions? Either way I’m interested… How do you get in contact with your area’s admission counselor. Is there one for specific schools, or is it just general?</p>
<p>Many colleges divide up the responsibilities of the admissions staff by geographic region. If you check the college’s web site, it might tell you which person is responsible for your area.</p>
<p>For schools that place weight on your level of expressed interest, the fact that you have exchanged some emails with the AO assigned to your area, or that you have spoken with him/her at a visit to your school/town, might help signal that you have a sincere interest in the school.</p>
<p>Another way it could potentially be useful, even if demonstrated interest isn’t a selection factor (which it isn’t at many of the most competitive schools), would be if you had a conversation or exchange of emails that was substantial enough that the AO remembers your name and something about your story that might be interesting. The admissions people have to read so many applications, they probably do all run together after a bit. If the name on your folder is one that the AO remembers after reading the stack, that might be useful.</p>
<p>(Unless he/she remembers you as the pest who kept calling and emailing for no particular reason.)</p>
<p>Just to be clear, admissions officers and admissions counselors are different, correct? As in, the counselors are not the ones who make the actual decisions? But yes, talking with the counselor should only help you, because I’m sure they can influence it a little bit at least.</p>
<p>Yes, you are correct.</p>
<p>The people my daughter spoke to were admissions officers. The serve on the selection committee. She met them when they came to visit her school, or when she visited campus.</p>