By Mike Conklin, Admissions Counselor
I often consider the sense of relief college applicants must feel when they finish submitting their applications. To have completed the personal essays, supplemental forms, interviews, résumés, and all those other silly things we make them do must be a wonderful feeling.
I also think about the sense of panic that must follow—after all of that hard work, there is nothing left for them to do but wait, and waiting can be the hardest part. So, what many college applicants do is natural: they request and provide updates, ask questions, and attempt to stay in touch—and I appreciate that. I do what I do because I like to interact with students, but I particularly like interacting with students who are willing to pick up the phone.
Though I do believe e-mail is at times an appropriate form of communication, there are many questions and concerns more easily addressed over the phone. The challenge with the growing preference for e-mail is simple: there are a lot of students applying to Rochester and only so many counselors available to respond to the hundreds of e-mails we receive each day. And, I’ll be honest, after staring at a computer screen reading applications all day, I’d much rather respond to a voice than additional text!
Don’t get me wrong—I will read and respond to every e-mail in my inbox, and I try to do so within 24 hours, but I’ll admit that I much prefer to answer your questions and concerns over the phone. So, if you want to get in touch with us, especially if it is urgent, think about giving us a call.