It’s September, which means seniors are in the thick of application season -- deadlines, essays, and campus visits are in full swing. This is an exciting few months, but it can also be very hectic for families. During this time, I always get asked “what else can we be doing?” Students and families want to ensure they have done everything possible to make the most of their efforts. My first response is always “have you contacted your admission counselor?”
At every college or university there is an admission counselor responsible for the geographic territory in which you live. This person will be reading your application and basically serves as your advocate during the application process.
They represent YOU when taking your file to the larger admission committee. If they represent you, don’t you think it would be beneficial to get to know this person? You want to be more to them than just the paper your application is printed on.
During my time in Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech's admissions departments, I vividly remember certain students that took the extra steps to e-mail me, come to see me when I visited their high school or college fairs and some would even contact me after the process just to keep in touch.
College admission counselors get into this field (hopefully) because they love working with students. They want to get to know their applicants beyond what is listed in your extracurricular section. If you visit a school, why not ask to meet the person who reads your application so they can put a face to a name? This is not an interview; it’s just an opportunity to have a conversation and say hello. If you have questions during the process, who better to email and direct those questions to instead of an automated email address?
This advice also comes with a caveat: make sure to respect the counselor's time. Admission counselors at larger schools have pretty big case loads. They are busy and may not be available to meet you in person and that is okay. My advice is reach out, ask questions, ask to meet this person if they are available and take advantage of this important relationship. Not every applicant does this, but trust me when I say that it can make a major difference. This does not guarantee admission, but if you approach this relationship with respect, they will remember you when they read your application. So take advantage! You never know where this relationship could take you.