Here is a course of action you can follow to get on your Admissions Counselor’s radar. Please tread carefully. YOU DO NOT WANT TO STANDOUT FOR THE WRONG REASONS! That means:
- Be polite.
- Respect their time.
- Proofread your correspondence.
With these guidelines in mind, we encourage you to connect with the Admissions Counselors at the schools you apply to. A common mistake is to only reach out one time. It is better to make contact multiple times as described below. Knowing that you will contact the counselor more than once helps you keep your correspondence brief and to the point, which is to everyone’s benefit.
- Make the Decision. Reach out to the Admissions Counselor once you decide that the college is among your top choices.
- Find the Contact Info. Locate the name and contact information for the Admission Counselor as described in our How to Find Your Assigned Admission Counselor post.
- First Contact: Choose an Appropriate Strategy. Some students will contact their counselor before visiting the college to arrange a meeting. This can be a wise move at small colleges where staff members work with fewer students. But if you do this, be sure you prepare for the meeting. Ask in-depth questions—questions whose answers cannot be found easily on the college’s website. Address topics that speak to your interests. Be respectful of the person’s time, limiting the meeting to five or ten minutes. At larger colleges, do not expect the counselor to be able to meet with you. Instead, send him or her an email after your visit. In either case, explain what you appreciate most about the college. Be specific to the institution so the counselor knows your interest is sincere.
- Second Contact: Follow Up After You Apply. Reach out to your representative once you have submitted your application. Let him or her know that the college is high on your list (if not your top choice).
- Optional Contact: Early Decision / Early Action Follow Up. If you are deferred during Early Decision or Early Action, which means that your application will be reconsidered in Regular Decision, reach out to your counselor to find out if there is anything you can do to improve your chances. He or she may be able to give you clear direction, such as telling you the Admissions Committee wants you to retake a certain standardized test.
- Third Contact: Provide Updates. If you have applied Regular Decision and you have updates to share after you have submitted your application, you may want to check in with the counselor in February. Share any new information that you would like to add to your application.
- Optional Contact: Wait-Listed Follow Up. If you are wait-listed during Regular Decision, make contact every few weeks, from early May into June, to express your continued interest in the college.
