How to Impress a College Admissions Counselor
Create a Positive First Impression With the Application Committee
Sep 7, 2009
An admissions counselor reviews college applications, and often meets face-to-face with or at least has email or phone contact with applicants. Here are ways for students to make sure that they make a positive impression, from etiquette for contacting admissions counselors to steps that are simply common sense.
Establish Early Contact with the Admissions Office
A student should introduce himself and let an admissions office (better yet, a specific counselor) know that he is very interested in the school. This will help his name get remembered when he applies. ("Oh, yeah, that's the nice kid who sent an email back in September. This is his first choice. Hmmmmm...")
Be Sure to Proofread all Correspondence and Use Proper English
A typo (i.e. "I am very interested in your colledge") can lead to skepticism about the rest of a student's application. In the same vein, text message speak ("Can u send me info about ur school plz") won't sit well with a counselor. Regardless of whether the correspondence is a letter, email, or an online form, it is important to use proper English.
Follow the School's Instructions
Simple, right? Surprisingly, some students do not take the time to read basic application instructions on a school's website. Learn what a school needs and stick to their formula.
Be Persistent but Patient
Now, what does that really mean? It means check in from time to time about the application, just a quick note such as "Dear (Name of Counselor), I just want to make sure you've received all of my required application materials. Please let me know if you need me to submit anything else. Thank you, (Student Name)." What not to do? Call the office weekly to check in. And students should never, ever (unless a schedule absolutely doesn't allow it) let parents take the reins and handle most correspondence.
Show a Genuine Interest in the School When Visiting
Sure, it may be that a student is nervous when first meeting with an admissions counselor at a school. But even if a student is too nervous to answer questions, he should at least make the effort to appear interested in what those in the admissions office are saying. Eye contact, a firm handshake, and a smile go a long way in establishing a good impression.
Working with admissions counselors on the college process can be intimidating, but the reality is that admissions counselors work for students, not against them. Knowing how to approach them and the simple things that they are looking for will help greatly in giving them a positive impression of a student and his application.
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