Contacting the Admissions Office

mixer
Thu, 16 Aug 2007 17:55:47 +0000

I probably didn’t explain my reasoning and maybe it doesn’t matter anyway since each person has their own reasons and style which are all good. But, I’m not writing this to confirm or form a consensus either.

My reason for not visiting a bunch of schools is simple…you won’t get accepted to all of them anyway. So, why waste the money and time…especially if you live hundreds of miles away.

Now people may beat me for that reasoning, but I truly believe that, if you do your “homework” on selecting schools, then there will be numerous schools that you can choose from. Still, only a few will choose you.

Now that doesn’t mean a person should slack and not visit a school—if in the neighborhood—before acceptance. Plus, you can get a lot of information of the quality and character of a school from people and here on the NET as well as from dozens of books and guides. I also think that a local alumni interview is worth a lot more than people think.

As far as school tours. In my opinion, they’re all “canned”. Most of the ones (and I’ve been on many) are pretty formula. I can’t fault the great people doing them either. It’s just that when you do them day after day in a limited time, how can they be personalized? Still, if that’s all that’s offered, then go for it. On the other hand, try to get the inside view or feel of a school and its environment. Most of the time this will come by hangin with a student, staying overnight in a dorm…eating, etc. Another sure way, is to go into the Admissions Office and just ask to meet with an Admissions Officer informally. Try to get past the canned “how good we are” speeches and the front line people and…heck…talk about the weather, how they like their job, the school. Get their opinion. In this case, listening, is the best option, since people love to talk about who they are, what they do and what they like.

Hey…just like me.

mixer