College admission representatives are the human faces of your dream school. Not only are they super helpful throughout the college admission process—mostly because they know just about everything there is to know about a college—but they also have a say in whether or not you ultimately get into that school. (*gulp*)
You’ll probably meet at least one admission rep during your junior and senior years of high school. You might see them at college fairs, campus visits, information sessions/panels, and more. And you’ll also be told you should take advantage of their smarts and ask them your questions about their college or university and your potential place in it. But how are you supposed to talk to admission counselors when they might hold your whole college future in their hands?
Give yourself the best shot you can at getting into your dream school by learning how to tackle every interaction you may have with college admission counselors or other school representatives, from etiquette to handy reminders. Whether you meet them at a college fair, you’re asking a question over email, or you run into them during a campus tour, here are helpful tips for talking to and emailing college admission officers.
At a college fair
At college fairs, students (even parents) often come up to admission officers’ tables, take a brochure and maybe a little trinket with the school’s mascot on it, and then keep walking only to do the same thing at the next table…Big mistake. First, starting any sort of conversation with the reps at a college fair would be a step up from the average trinket-grabbing student. But to really make a good impression, shake their hand, make eye contact, and introduce yourself using your first and last name. But even though you should speak professionally, don’t feel like you need to be too restrained in conversation with them. College admission representatives are just as used to the kids who have been obviously taught what to say as they are to the kids who don’t make eye contact or really speak at all. So speak genuinely and be yourself.
Do you have any legitimate questions about the program you’re interested in at their college? (You know, not “Do you have a marketing major?” because you could Google that in 30 seconds.) Ask them! Just keep in mind that other people will have questions too, so don’t monopolize their time with 102 super personal questions, especially if they have a busy table. Additionally, before you even get to the college fair, you should do research on the schools you’re interested in so your questions for the reps can be school specific. At the end of your conversation, take their business card so you can follow up with a thank-you email right away (that afternoon or the next day). Just like any social interaction, the little things can make all the difference.
Related: How to Navigate College Fairs From Start to Finish
Over email
Although admission officers are friendly (you definitely need to be in their position) and a lot of them are pretty young (many are recent college grads themselves!), you still need to be formal when emailing them. After all, you want to show that you’re mature, articulate—and ready for college and the real world. Here’s the gist of what you should include in an email to an admission officer:
- A simple formal email starts with “Dear First Name,” often followed by a greeting such as “I hope you’re well.”
- You should get to your point pretty quickly, explaining why you’re emailing and how they might know you. (For example, saying something like “It was nice to meet you at the Regional College Fair last week.”)
- You should end with a “Thank you,” or “Sincerely,” followed by your first and last name. You might want to include your phone number too, as well as any student identification number, if you have one.
- Finally, you should be polite—and never pushy—throughout your message!
However, although your email should be on the formal side, it’s also a chance to develop a relationship with people who will eventually review your application. For instance, when I emailed a representative to change my application from Regular Decision to Early Action for the college I ended up attending, she happened to have the same name as me. I acknowledged our shared moniker briefly as I ended my first email to her, and she made a joke about it in response. I was actually on the lower end of the application pool in terms of GPA and ACT scores for that university, and although I’ll never know for sure, I can’t help but wonder if connecting with that one admission counselor helped secure my spot in their freshman class.
Also, if you are ever unsure as to who you should email, many colleges have different admission officers for each region of the country. A brief Google search or quick phone call to the admission office can help you locate the representative responsible for communicating with applicants in your specific region.
Related: How to Write a Strong Professional Email People Will Read
On a campus tour
Student representatives usually give campus tours, but if you interact with an admission counselor during your visit, most of the advice for talking to representatives at college fairs still applies. If you find you have a little more time to talk to the admission counselor, you might ask a few more of your well-researched questions. Otherwise, campus visits may feel less personal because they usually happen in large groups. A great way to stand out in this situation is to send a handwritten thank-you note to whomever you interacted with most on the tour, be it a tour guide or someone who works in the admission office. A thank-you note is earnest and shows you took time out of your day to show your appreciation for the school. Overall, it’s just a nice gesture, and it certainly can’t hurt.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to College Admission Questions
While being professional and put together when interacting with admission counselors is important, it’s also important to remember they’re human just like you. They made careers out of admission counseling because they want to see students succeed—they want to see you succeed. So however you’re corresponding with them, be genuine. Be yourself. Show them what it is about you that makes you special enough to attend their school—and they will be your advocate. Good luck!
Learn more about interacting with admission counselors and what they’re looking for in college applicants in our College Admission section.
