How to Network with Colleges
Your college application is like a sales pitch. You have to identify what the school is looking for, pitch yourself as a unique candidate with something special to offer to their student body, and, of course, make the school remember you. You have to network!
But how do you network with the schools on your list exactly? It may seem daunting, but putting yourself on a college’s radar is easier than you think.
Connect Online
This first task is easy. All you have to do is head to the admissions website for each school and get on their email list. Then, go to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. and follow the university’s page! Schools keep track of who is on their email lists and who follows them on their socials-- it’s a great way to demonstrate interest in a school.
Schmooze at Admissions Events
Research admissions events happening in your area or over Zoom and show up ready to network. Be sure to:
Come prepared with thoughtful questions to ask during and after the session. Read this article on demonstrating interest to get a sense of the kind of questions you can ask!
Follow up with a thoughtful email that expresses your gratitude for their time. This is when you can ask any further insightful questions and “pitch” yourself, or say why you are interested in attending that school.
Establishing a connection with the admissions officer in this way allows you to ask continual questions throughout the year, building a one-on-one relationship with that counselor. This will help you big time when it comes to admissions decisions!
Stop by the Admissions Office
While touring campus, drop by the Admissions Office to connect with the people making the decisions in person. Many schools have online forms where you can schedule meetings with admissions counselors, but just stopping by the office also works.
Come prepared with more specific questions and a personal but professional attitude, and you’ll be sure to make a good impression!
Click here for some more tips on how to rock your campus tour.
Reach Out to Professors
Connecting with professors that teach in your field of interest is another great way to network with a college. Even though professors do not have a say in admissions decisions, building a rapport with a professor, even if it is just over email, solidifies your personal connection to that school of interest.
You can then mention this relationship in your application essays, or follow through by shadowing that professor’s class when you are touring campus!
Seize Any Opportunity for an Interview
Some colleges require interviews for all students, while others have optional interviews. It is advantageous to seize any and all opportunities to talk with a college representative one-on-one.
Put in time and effort to generate an impressive list of questions, and follow up with another one of those thoughtful emails.
Your interviewer will then become another person in admissions that you can contact throughout the year, and hopefully, another person who will be on your side when it comes to decision making.
But networking is scary!
Networking can be very intimidating! But it is a key strategy in setting yourself apart from everyone else in the competitive application pool.
Don’t know where to begin? Schedule a free consultation with us, and we will help you devise an application roadmap, complete with your very own personalized networking strategy.