So I was deferred EA. The other day my principal called in myself and the two others who received National Merit Finalist simply to congratulate us, but he also said that if any of us wanted him to call any college and vouch for us on our behalf, he’d be glad to do so and to let him know.
That’s an offer I’m really thinking about taking, especially for Yale. But I don’t want to seem pesky or irksome. Is that a warped perception? Furthermore, it’s not as if my principal and I are best buddies and he knows all the intricacies of my life. I don’t even know what he would say to admissions.
Basically, good idea or no to have him call and vouch for me?
Maybe it is because we are a small high school but we were told that it is more impacting to have the guidance councilor send it direct to be put in your file. When the student updates things it can be seen as pushy but if the official of your school does it then it is standard procedure. This is an award and they tell you that if you receive any awards that you feel make you stand out that you can have your file updated with it. One thing to consider however is how many other kids are all updating their files with the same thing. It may seem unique in your school but it is not as unique in the Yale applicant pool. Yes it should be in your file but no it should not be something you consider a tipping point. They will know your scores regardless of the finalist part because they were already reported. For what it is worth, my daughter who obsessively checked every answer to make sure it was correct rather than finishing the test scored very well but was NOT a finalist and still was accepted. Congratulations! That is a great accomplishment for anyone.
@Memmsmom@anotherdude I think he wasn’t necessarily going to update Yale on the national merit finalist alone, but more as a general vouching for acceptance type thing. It’s definitely a tempting offer but I also feel like it won’t mean much in the long run. But thank you!
It really won’t mean a thing, particularly since he hasn’t worked with you directly and can’t add anything new to their knowledge of you. It was a generous offer but you shouldn’t take him up on it. Yale is one school that goes out of its way to tell applicants to think long and hard about asking them to read or look at extra materials. I’m sure the same applies to phone calls. Good luck and congrats on being an NMF!
Just as they ask for mid-year grades, they DO want to be updated on significant happenings. A GC or the Principal should fax in the update, for sure! Congratulations! Celebrate your success with your future school, don’t hide it from them.