<p>Hi, my kid is a junior so we're early on in the process, but my contact so far with the admissions office at Macalester has been a turn-off. The woman just seems so flat and aloof and like she couldn't care less about scheduling the tour and interview. This is in comparison to other admissions offices who have been SO friendly, call to follow up, etc. Its just a disappointing first contact especially since Mac sounds like a great place.</p>
<p>that surprises me. the admissions staff is a really friendly bunch and i remember being very impressed by their helpful attitude throughout my application process.
this is absolutely the craziest time in the admissions office. juniors are making visits as well as admitted students, meaning that the office is full of people everyday. probably the person you interacted with was just having a bad day or was overwhelmed.
i wouldn't base your opinion of mac, or any college, on an interaction with one admissions official. admissions departments are part of a school's administration and is separated from student life. i think you'll be impressed by the friendliness here when you visit.</p>
<p>i agree. Tomorrow is the biggest sampler of the year, upwards of 250 students could be coming, with their parents, and the office is dealing with hosting those kids (trying to find 250 students willing to host this weekend is tough, there are a lot of activities thursday and friday), arranging for their parents, and assigning classroom visitations at a time when professors are starting to wrap up or have presentations.
sorry your first contact wasn't as great as it could have been, but Macstudent is right, , the administration is separate from the student body, which is especially friendly now that we have lots of outdoor weather. I hope your luck with Mac improves</p>
<p>I'm going to agree with both of them, and suggest that your contact may have been due to the insaneness of admissions right now. Please still come visit, I'm sure you'll have a very different experience.</p>
<p>I recently visited Mac. When I was scheduling my visit, admissions, unlike all the other schools I was in contact with, was quite unfriendly. But don't worry!! As it turned out, Mac was my favorite school I visited!!! The ppl on campus were very friendly!!</p>
<p>I had worked for another LAC's admission office as a student and not every contact with every family is going to go great. More often than not, when I saw people get upset it was helicopter parents who were trying to ask for more than the schools could offer or trying to schedule things last minute during busy visit periods. Some people can get very upset when you tell them you can't do something.</p>