College admissions officers spend the winter and spring reviewing applications. What do they do in the fall? Many of them can be seen at a high school near you. Admissions offices typically divide the country into regions, with particular staff members responsible for each area. Private colleges generally send representatives to all corners of the nation during the fall; public institutions usually limit their visits to contiguous states. Some colleges visit the same high school every year; others will visit every other year; still others hold group information sessions at local venues in lieu of high school visits.

Keep in mind that the representative who visits will probably be the first one to read your application. Even if the family has already visited the college and had an interview, students should make the effort to meet the regional representative at their school. Colleges count contacts, and the more a student has expressed interest, the better his or her chances are for admission.

Might a thank-you note be in order after the visit? Great idea—few students ever do it. If you can’t attend the session, suggest writing a note or getting the representative’s email address from the college counselor. Colleges know that students can’t always get out of class—making the effort to follow up is what counts.

To meet with a College Representative on campus you must:

• Be a Junior or Senior.
• Sign up on the bulletin board outside of Sharice’s office.
• Obtain an appointment pass for the visit from Sharice, complete it and make sure you have a release from your teacher to miss all or part of their class period. *You should obtain this permission well in advance before the day of the visit.
• Show up on the appropriate day and time and bring your pass.
• All college admission visitors will present in the Commons unless otherwise noted.

College Visitor and Area Reception List for 2007-2008

Please contact Sharice Welch, Dean of Collegiate Development, at 301.576.2850 if you have you have any questions regarding the College Visitor list above.