Personal connections can be a game-changer in highly selective college admissions. This may come as a surprise to many students and families currently navigating application season who have been led to believe that the process is entirely impersonal, arbitrary, and unpredictable. But the truth is that admissions officers are human, just like everyone else. They want to root for the underdog, despise braggers and boasters, and let their implicit biases impact their jobs.

Most importantly, they’re pretty busy people (especially at the height of the admissions season)! The last thing an applicant to a highly selective school should do is waste the precious time of their regional admissions representative with unnecessary emails. It’s crucial to respect their time and workload, no matter what. But is it ever okay to contact admissions officers?

The Right and Wrong Way to Contact a College Admissions Officer

There’s a right way and a wrong way to go about contacting college admissions officers. College applicants should not contact their regional admissions officers at the universities to which they applied Regular Decision to find out the status of their application. They should not be sending emails that go something like this: 

Dear Ms. Jones,

I was wondering if you knew whether I will be admitted to your university. I’d love to know at your earliest convenience. Thank you.

Sincerely,

John Doe

Oy vey. Do you think admissions officers want to be bugged like this? Do you really think they’ll answer your question while all their other applicants anxiously await their candidacies? What makes you think you’re so special that you’re entitled to find out before them? Do you like to cut the line at grocery store checkouts too? Probably so.

However, there’s nothing wrong with establishing a relationship or rapport with your regional admissions officer. Maybe you asked them questions after an information session at your high school. Perhaps you emailed a couple of months ago asking about a particular program or field of study. That’s ok. But there’s a major difference between asking a question about a school or a program and asking if an admissions officer can tell you whether or not you got in.

How to Read the Cues an Admissions Officer Sends Your Way

If you go about your contacts with a regional admissions officer the right way, they may very subtly give you your answer. Is their answer going to be, “You got in?” Probably not. But it might read something like this: 

Thanks for following up, John. Relax and enjoy your weekend.

“Relax” can mean a heck of a lot in this context. So don’t bug your regional admissions officer. It can adversely impact your chances for admission by making you seem like a nuisance. Is the possible reassurance that you might have gotten worth this risk? We didn’t think so!

Your College Admissions Advantage Starts with Ivy Coach

Are you wondering how we at Ivy Coach have so much insider knowledge on the inner workings of elite college admissions offices? Because our team of admissions consultants used to work in these very offices! For three decades, we’ve worked with students and families to optimize our clients’ odds of admission to highly selective colleges by harnessing the power of a compelling singular admissions hook. Instead of succumbing to the misguided strategy of presenting as well-rounded, turn to Ivy Coach to orient your application around the unique, weird, and often small pursuit, cause, passion, or discipline that sets you apart from other applicants.

So much of the colloquial knowledge surrounding college admissions is entirely wrong! We will provide you with insider tips on navigating the process, not least to avoid contacting admissions officers with unnecessary questions and disingenuous check-ins. Let us steer you in the right direction while avoiding the pitfalls plaguing students applying to highly selective schools.

Fill out our complimentary consultation form and we’ll be in touch with an outline of our services.