<p>OP you’ve gotten a lot of sound advice here from parents who have been through this AND professionals. I don’t have much to add so I won’t. I would urge you to rethink some of the advise that’s been given. </p>
<p>I do want to speak to your original question regarding admission staff. Have you ever been treated poorly by someone and then been short with the very next person you spoke with? Ever had an argument with your spouse and the fussed at one of your kids? This time of year admissions offices all over the country are getting swamped with calls from students and parents wanting to know why Jack and Jill were not accepted. The callers are emotional and quite often rude, insulting, cry, even use foul language. Often times the person answering the phone this time of year is a temp to help with the added strain, or a university intern. They must take each call, handle it the best they can, take a breath, and move on to the next call never knowing what they are facing. It is a pressure cooker. People should try their utmost to be professional and polite, absolutely. Give the person a break for crying out loud!! Go in that office after decisions have been released, answer the phones for 10 hours taking the abuse with a smile on your face, and then tell us the employee was rude to your son.</p>