Should I email admissions office and start to show interest? I have this one dream school that I have around the average grades and SAT’s to get in, but I heard they like students to show interest. I have been there twice for touring and want to have the best chance possible. Do you think they would remember or keep track of my emails to them to show that I do in fact have interest of their school.
What would you say?
Not all colleges consider level of interest as important in the admissions process. Google the college’s Common Data Set and look at section C7.
If the college considers level of interest, you have already demonstrated that by visiting. There are no extra credit points to be won by showing more interest.
If you have a question relating to admissions that cannot be answered by researching the website, by all means contact them. Don’t contact them with spurious questions asking, for example, about the party scene or gluten-free options in the dining hall. Doing so would make them remember you, but not in a good way.
Best way to show interest isn’t to be a pest. It’s to show in your app and supp how you carefully considered this college, your interest is so high you dug in and did an informed self match . That means, to what they want and look for, not just your want list. Let them see it. Don’t make silly mistakes or be trivial or generic.
You can email and repeat vist and it’s meaningless if you don’t put in the right, informed efforts.
If you have a meaningful question that can’t be answered from reading the website and that hasn’t been answered in an information session you attended then it is fine to send a brief email. But you need to respect the fact that admissions officers are busy – so do not email just to say hi or to ask a question that you can reasonably find the answer to on your own.
Visiting is the best way to show interest. You’ve done that, you should be good.
All you need to do from here on out is to make sure you open and read any emails they send you (often you’ll find good information there, sometimes tips for the application process) and if there is an information session at or very near your school you should go. Most schools have a touring schedule in their admissions section where you can see if they’re coming anywhere nearby.
At the info session make sure you fill in a contact card. Ask any legit questions that you have, but don’t make up bogus questions just to make them notice you.
Visiting is not enough. You could blow it in your app/supp. Eg, with a poor Why Us. Of course, the more competitive the target, the more it matters. Or if you’re local and don’t visit, it sends a poor message. But be savvy.