Common Admissions Mistakes
There are many common mistakes that admissions counselors come across during our work with students. Many are minor errors or oversights that would not necessarily disqualify a student but may send up red flags for counselors.
Let’s talk about novelty email addresses. While a quirky email address may be appropriate for private use, it is often not a good look while applying for colleges or jobs. Mclovin2020xoxo@whatever.com is inappropriate when communicating with schools. This email won’t disqualify you from admissions review, but it also won’t go unnoticed. What this type of email suggests to me is that this student may not be serious about the admissions process or that they are not particularly mature. Just select a simple, straight-forward email address with your first and last name to use for all your more serious email communication needs.
Be responsive! If you are interested in a university, respond to their emails, answer their phone calls, and reach out to them with questions. Many schools are taking a more active role in student outreach and they keep track of your engagement. While be unresponsive doesn’t automatically preclude you from being admitted, schools do rank student interest behind the scenes. A responsive student will likely be marked as “hot” in the admissions systems, meaning you will get more attention from counselors. Meaningful interaction with recruiters and admissions counselors will help you both determine if you are a good fit for the institution.
Parent overreach. As a recruiter, if the parent or spouse was emailing me on behalf of the student, I became very concerned about both the student’s real interest in our programs and their ability to succeed independently. You can’t pack a parent in your suitcase and bring them to college, so co-dependence is not a quality that I want to see when recruiting students. As a parent, if you have questions you can of course make inquiries. However, my recommendation is always for students to take the reins in communications to the school. It demonstrates a student’s interest, commitment, responsibility, and maturity.
Always double check the name of the school, and do not misspell the name of the college or university. Do not accidentally put down the wrong school name (we know you are applying to different schools but be careful when emailing different institutions). And DO NOT copy multiple schools on a single generic email. Email one school at a time, double check the spelling, and make sure you are reaching out to the correct school. Finally, if you do not receive the answer that you want from a recruiter or counselor, please do not email everyone else in the department such as professors, deans, or general emails looking for another response – all inquiries will likely be forwarded to the same recruiter and they will not be happy that you are fishing for another answer.
The main point is you should try to communicate respectfully and punctually with schools that you are interested in attending. Ghosting a school is a bad move. While schools are not tracking you like the NSA, they do have analytics in place that can elevate your admission priority based on your level of engagement. Additionally, recruiters and admissions counselors do have influence on your ultimate admission. Depending on the school, some counselors will be reading your initial applications and making recommendations to the larger admissions committees, so treat them (and everyone else) with respect and kindness. Remember, admissions counselors will go to bat for “on the cusp” students who they have built a meaningful relationship with during the admissions process.
Sophie Roth
Hi I am Sophie Roth
Bach is a concierge college counseling service. Going to college is an investment of time and money, as with any other important investment it is wise to meet with experts to guide your decisions. Students who make informed, thoughtful, and intentional choices when selecting colleges will enjoy more success. Students who take ownership of the process for themselves will feel accomplished and empowered that they have made the right choice and will arrive on campus with confidence.
