<p>I’m getting e-mails from students at various schools that I got into… can you really ask them anything or are they just on admissions payroll?</p>
<p>I’d assume that they are performing a function either through a work-study job, or some compensated position. They may be reading pat answers from a script, or winging it.</p>
<p>I have known on occasion that a peer musician who is currently attending and is familiar with an admitted student be asked by an instructor, department head, program director to contact a student and attempt to answer specific questions or attempt to woo a strong student. </p>
<p>This is far more rare, and is done without compensation.</p>
<p>At UChicago, the admissions office just asks if any current students want to volunteer to call accepted students and see if they have any questions. You can ask any questions you want.</p>
<p>DD got some nice emails from Northwestern and some other schools the year she was admitted…mostly students who volunteered to answer questions, so ask away!</p>