I’ve been thinking of talking to the admissions officer one on one about certain things on my application i’d like him to know. The reason being is that one of the essay prompts that the school provides is if there is something on your application that you would like them to know about, then feel free to write about it. Personally I feel it’s a trap to ‘write’ about it per say, and I feel it would be a lot better to just talk to him on a personal level about it. The only problem I have is if this makes me look too desperate, or would it make me look like I care enough about my application? I’ve heard mixed answers, such as admissions officers enjoying talking to students, up to admissions officers absolutely hating talking to students. Virginia Tech is the school i’m applying to if it matters. Thanks.
The reason you’ve heard mixed answers, is because some admissions officers enjoy it, and others feel overburdened as it is and would not be happy about it. I’d actually say, better safe than sorry, and suggest that you not risk getting one of the latter.
I have been in constant contact with my regional admissions officer as well as admissions. IMHO I believe it is better to get your name out there and create a strong relationship so when they review your application it rings a bell, etc. It may not help, but I do not see how it can hurt, especially if its a top choice and you want them to know you WILL attend if accepted.
Admissions officers are swamped right now. I don’t think many would appreciate a call to answer a question that is on the application.
If I were an adcom, I would feel like I gave you a chance in that application essay so why are you bugging me now with this paranoid sense that it was a trap? Then again, I am not an adcom. They may be nicer than I am when I’m busy.
The reason that I want to discuss my application is because I made significant improvements throughout high school, especially junior and senior year grades, as well as getting a high 1400 on the new SAT. I guess I just want them to know that I’m not the person I was my underclassmen years, but who I am now. My GPA is a little low(around the mid 3s), and I don’t want them to see that number and put me aside. Not to mention that I found out that my school doesn’t count senior year grades on the application transcript, which messed up my GPA to what I expected them to see. Does it seem pointless to still talk to them?
^^^^ That is something you should be able to make perfectly clear in your application.
So you personally don’t feel that the essay prompt is sort of a ‘trap’, and prefer the essay rather than talking personally?
@Drayaud - you can simply use the “additional info” section in the common app to convey these. These are not special / significant / unique episodes. Or, you could use your essays too. Even if you personally convey to AO, they will find it difficult to convey to rest of the adcomm without you mentioning it in your application. Finally, your forward progress will be clearly visible to them on your transcript anyways. But if you feel like, go ahead and email your AO. Don’t annoy him / her with too much contact.
Essays are not traps – they are the chance to tell your story.
That’s a perfect topic for the essay! In fact, some variation of that is an excellent CA essay if you can talk about what prompted the improvement, not simply that it happened (as they can see that). Schools recalculate GPA so if they have the grades, you’re fine. Make sure your school submits your updated grades.