Dear gentle reader,
Yet another fall season is upon us—a time when young students will visit schools and meet admission counselors in the hopes of being admitted to the colleges of their choice. One must never forget the art of etiquette, as it’s always important to put your best foot forward.
Emails
Emails are the primary mode of communication between prospective students and their admission counselors. Perhaps because of texting, some of these exchanges have become quite informal, sometimes even including emojis. Don’t simply launch into your question. Start with a formal salutation that includes the counselor’s full name. For example, Dear Anne Aubert-Santelli. This is gender and relationship neutral. Then, introduce yourself briefly (it’s particularly helpful to know what school you’re from), before you ask us about research opportunities or courses you should be taking. Of course, don’t forget to sign your email with your first and last names. Please note that we don’t track demonstrated interest at USC, though we’re happy to connect you to resources or answer your questions.
Phone Calls
If you speak to your admission counselor directly, it’s always nice to follow their greeting with one of your own, such as, “hello, I’m so glad to connect with you.” Be sure to introduce yourself by name and let us know the school you’re attending. If you leave a voicemail, make sure you provide as much information as possible and repeat your phone number twice.
College Fairs
College fairs are a great opportunity to connect with a lot of admission counselors and, sometimes, alumni or current students. As you wait in line, be aware and respectful of those around you. When you arrive at the front, it’s perfectly okay to say you’re just taking literature. We won’t be offended. If you have questions, introduce yourself. It’s helpful not just to know your name, but also what grade you’re in—so we know where you are in the college admission process. One big conundrum is whether or not to shake the admission counselor’s hand. We won’t be offended if you don’t. If you’re sick or something’s going around your school, definitely don’t. But take your cue from the admission counselor. If they put out their hand, feel free to shake it. If they’re holding something (such as a water bottle or business cards), chances are they would prefer to forego a handshake. Keep in mind that admission counselors are often visiting schools for multiple days or weeks and don’t want to get sick. Finally, make sure you ask thoughtful questions. Don’t ask us to compare schools or ask “gotcha” questions in the hopes of throwing us off.
College Tours
Tours can last anywhere from thirty minutes to two hours, and sometimes take place after a lengthy presentation. We get that it can be exhausting to walk around for that long, especially if it’s hot, cold, or raining. But be mindful of the group by following the leader closely. Also, don’t have conversations in the back, which might prevent others from hearing the tour guide. Finally, and this is a bit nitpicky, try to avoid wearing another school’s merch. If you’re visiting a certain school, you don’t have to wear their t-shirt. But maybe don’t wear another institution’s either.
Presentations
Presentations are an important part of the work we do as admission counselors. Whether presenting on campus or during a high school visit, our purpose is to provide you with general information about USC and details about our admission process. We know it can be hard to sit still in a room while someone talks at you, but try to remain engaged. If you’re visiting a school, come ready with questions, because we’ve often dedicated five or ten minutes of our time with you to answering them. If you’re at a school visit, I encourage you to ask questions during the allotted time instead of approaching the admission counselor after; others can learn from your questions. Plus, the admission counselor might not be able to answer your question because they have to jet off to another school. If you have a specific, personal question, just email them afterwards. Last thing: if you happen to get to a school visit early, it’s lovely if you offer to help us pass out materials (and to collect them at the end).
Good manners are important in any part of life—and it’s no different in the college admission process. Know that admission counselors are not going to give you a demerit for wearing another school’s sweatshirt or not asking questions, but it’s just nice to have a respectful relationship going both ways.
Written by: Anne Aubert-Santelli, Associate Director – USC Office of Admission