<p>Just curious, do you all really think admissions officers really lurk around this website trying to spot out candidates? I feel like it wouldn't be worth their time, but people always seem to hint that Admissions officers get on here. I'm not really sure what they would be looking for though. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>During an interview (I won’t say with which school), the AO said that when he previously worked in the Admission Office at a college, he said that he would come on CC to give advice. He also said that he will still come on CC every now and then… He didn’t tell me for sure whether or not he “lurks” on the Prep School Forum, but I imagine he does! haha</p>
<p>A few other AO’s that I have spoken with, have absolutely NO IDEA what CC is. At least that’s what they told me… :)</p>
<p>Haha you asked them about CC?</p>
<p>The poster GemmaV identifies herself as an AO (at Hogwarts) and posts very valuable information from time to time. I believe she lurks a bit because she always seems to come to the rescue when someone says, “Let’s ask GemmaV…” I believe the poster Albion is also an AO, so they ARE out there. Whether they have interest or time to try to determine applicant’s identities is another thing. They seem to be genuinely interested in giving good advice and steering parents and kids in the right direction.</p>
<p>@ChoatieMom: Albion is a BS teacher, but not sure s/he is involved with admissions. </p>
<p>I think it’s preposterous to think these folks have the time, much less the inclination, to try to link up CC identities with applicants. </p>
<p>On the other hand, I think it’s equally preposterous that the vast majority of AOs wouldn’t <em>know</em> about CC; when you Google boarding school admissions, it’s practically the first site suggested.</p>
<p>@Helloel: No, not exactly. Most, if not all, of the schools I interviewed with, asked me “How did you find out about XXX School?”. For almost every school, I told them that I found out about the school on CC. Then, they always asked “What’s CC…” haha</p>
<p>Haha I see, I just said I found out about it from the internet.</p>
<p>That’s right. I’m faculty, not Admissions. I deal with admissions on behalf of my extra-curricular assignment which is along the lines of an arts director or varsity coach.</p>
<p>I always took the “AO’s are lurking to figure out who you are!!!” as less literal truth, and more of a more effective scare tactic to young teenagers to be extremely guarded about sharing personal information on the internet. I doubt professional adults are lurking for clues, but if a kid clearly identfied himself in a comment bashing Choate, or scorned a school as being only his last resort safety school, it is concievable that an AO could read it and recognize him. Unlikely, but not imqossible. </p>
<p>No one knows who is reading this board, and that is the real reason to alter or withold identifying details.</p>
<p>My guess would be that AOs don’t have the time or interest to look on here to try to figure out who is who, or whether they should accept a candidate based on something they may have posted. But I do think that AOs come on here to get a feel for what people are talking about. After all, this is their field, their business, and they are “marketers” who are trying to increase their school’s visibility, and attract applicants, and right here on CC is a way to get an insight into what their consumer is thinking. </p>
<p>I am a consultant and I come on here just to see what people are discussing, what trends there may be, what people might be having trouble with. But I don’t think anyone bothers to figure out who an individual applicant is.</p>
<p>I agree with newyorker22. Especially now, there’s no time. Just avoid overtly bashing one school and you should be fine- if the AO is from that school, he or she may be inclined to research your past posts and try to uncover your identity.</p>