<p>Senior S attends a competitive public boarding HS here in the South. Last spring we made the rounds of campus visits at top NE LACs, and he is applying RD to several. One of his favorites (which has had essentially no attention from students at his school in past years), sent a rep to visit the HS last week. S missed the visit; he had multiple music and sports conflicts which he apparently thought were more pressing (possibly because we had already visited the LAC campus). Last year this college did not send a rep; we think the visit may have been scheduled because S had expressed interest. To top it off, the rep had emailed S to remind. </p>
<p>We think S may have just thrown away his chances at this college. His scores and grades are in the ballpark and he attends an excellent HS, but his no-show at the info session certainly does not demonstrate interest. He IS interested, but he's a dreamy kid who doesn't always see the big picture.</p>
<p>So--all you veterans/experts out there: any suggestions on how to salvage this? Is a note to the rep in order? How should S explain? Should he request an alumni interview? Is all lost? Spouse thinks perhaps he should not apply at all. It wouldn't matter so much except that this school is his second choice. We are attempting to be supportive from a distance without helicoptering, at which we seem to be failing.</p>
<p>I think a nice email from your S expressing what you’ve just said: “Too many obligations. Hated to miss your session. I loved my campus visit last summer. These features about your school: A, B and C, have made you definitely one of my top most choices! Can’t wait to send you my app and have you evaluate me. I hope to see you on campus next September!”</p>
<p>That’ll get the rep’s attn more than his body being in the room for the info session. </p>
<p>Alumni interviews are not requested – they are granted if there is enough volunteers. Your spouse is plain wrong and your son should definitely apply. Your son may not get admitted but to link it to his missing this session is baseless.</p>
<p>Unless your son had a firm appointment that he missed, I would not even consider not applying. Yes, the rep emailed him to remind him he would be on campus, but that is not a firm commitment on your son’s part to meet with him. The fact that your son visited may simply have put your son’s school back on the radar, and showed that a visit might be worthwhile (maybe others will apply as well).</p>
<p>Have him send an email, as T26E4 suggests. The fact that he visited the school last spring shows more interest than a meeting with the rep at his school.</p>
<p>Does the college care about “level of applicant’s interest”? See its common data set, section C7, or its admissions profile on collegedata.com .</p>
<p>I agree, a short email to the rep expressing regret and having been unable to attend the session is important. It reaffirms your son’s interest, keeps his name on the rep’s “radar”, helps make his HS look good, teaches your son valuable communication skills.</p>
<p>The rep that came is likely to be the one who will be giving your son’s app the first read and will be the one whose opinion carries the most weight in admissions discussions. He is the “expert” on high schools in that region.</p>
<p>I agree that an email to the rep is needed - even required at this point. It’s a good lesson to everyone that ‘helicoptering’ is not all bad - lots of kids are very naive about the application process and what their priorities need to be. Had he showed up at the info session, talked to the rep before or after and reaffirmed his interest, it would have helped him significantly. Now he’s in damage repair mode. It’s a good lesson - hopefully, when it comes time for job interviews, or getting that research position with a popular prof, he’ll be more savvy.</p>
<p>Not applying because he didn’t meet the rep at his hs is drastic.</p>
<p>We had a similar conflict. Fyi, GC suggested D1 send an advance email expressing her regrets that she wouldn’t be free to meet and asking if there was another time, later that day, or a chance to meet elsewhere over the next few days. In fact, they met at the rep’s local hotel.</p>
<p>Yes, send a note. ASAP, because the rep was there last week. Getting this done should be a weekend priority.</p>
<p>Thanks so much, all of you–your replies really helped me put this in perspective. @ucbalumnus, I did check college data, which indicates the school does not consider level of interest. But I too agree that an email to the rep is the best way to try to make up for the missed opportunity to connect in person, and S will send one this weekend.</p>
<p>An email is nice - and I can’t imagine this will impact his chances at all. The only way it might - and might is the word - if "demonstrated interest is weighted. Most do not count it.</p>