Enthusiasm: how much is too much?

Prep School Admissions
1

I have two questions regarding this:

  1. When does expressing enthusiasm directly to a specific school or two cross the line and become excessive?
  2. Is enthusiasm-- or in the excessive case, some may call it desperation-- a good thing?
2

It’s good to be enthusiastic, but don’t annoy the AOs.

3

maybe you want to offer up some specific examples and then I am sure you will get plenty of opinions…

4

DO:

Show interest in the schools that you are interested in. Schools like to know that you have interest in them. Attend open houses, fairs, etc and make yourself known. Introduce yourself to the AOs with a firm handshake. Make sure they can remember your name. Send occasional emails if you have questions that can’t be answered by a review of the website. Follow the Twitter feed of the school you are interested in. Send in a handwritten note of what you were impressed with by the school.

DON’T:

Send emails weekly with updated grades. Stalk the AOs at the grocery store. Send in voluminous extra letters, or copies of every certificate you’ve received since 1st grade. Send a Facebook friend request to the AO staff (FB liking the school web-page is OK however).