The college admissions process is daunting and filled with uncertainty. Communicating with college admissions officers can go a long way toward alleviating that uncertainty. Here are some tips and tricks to keep in mind when doing so.
The Why
One of the primary reasons to contact a school’s admissions team is to request specific information about that school. For instance, you may be interested in a particular study abroad or research program, the transfer credit process, or the availability of courses taught by specific professors. Generally, avoid asking questions that can be easily answered with a quick internet search (e.g., what is the minimum GPA required for acceptance in an honors program?). College admissions officers receive hundreds of emails a day from aspiring students; asking broad or obvious questions risks coming across as disrespectful of their time.
You may also find it helpful to reach out regarding application-specific issues, such as inquiring about your status on an application waitlist, expressing continued interest after early admissions rounds, or asking about financial aid and scholarship programs. Again, the more specific the better but stay concise — if you can say it in 3 words, do not say it in 10. Additionally, unless you have reason to believe something went wrong in the process, avoid reaching out via email to confirm receipt of your application materials. If every single applicant did this, admissions officers would have no time to review applications themselves!
Other reasons to contact an admissions office include inquiring about a school’s disability accommodations, to request contact information for on-campus student organizations, and to express gratitude to a specific officer after an application interview.
The How
In addition to the advice above, always remember to keep communications professional, grammatically correct, and on topic when speaking to a university representative. When in doubt, ask a trusted adult (e.g., teacher, admissions counselor, or parent) to review your email before sending it out.
As you self-edit, keep the following in mind:
- Keep your subject line short and clear. Say “Research Program Inquiry – Biology Department.” Do not say: “Questions about conducting research in the University of Houston’s biology department”
- Introduce yourself, but keep it brief. Say: “My name is John Smith, and I am interested in studying biology at the University of Houston on a pre-med track.” Do not say: “My name is John Smith. I am 17 years old and live in Houston, Texas. The University of Houston’s biology department is my dream college because I want to become a pediatrician and help children struggling with deadly diseases like cancer.”
- End with respect and gratitude. Say: “Thank you kindly for your time. I look forward to receiving your response.” Do not say: nothing at all.
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