How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

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How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?
Kristina DooleyIndependent Educational ConsultantEstrela Consulting

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

The easiest way to connect with alumni from a school you are interested in is to ask the admission counselor with whom you are working. Many schools have alumni-admission programs that work to connect prospective students with graduates in their city or region. You can also ask to speak with someone who majored in an area that you are considering. Also, you never know what may come from connections you make during the admission process as soon you’ll be looking for internships and what better way to begin than with an alumni connection!

Erica WhiteCollege & Career CounselorMiddletown High School

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

I would contact the admission office. They typically have a list of alumni who are willing to talk to prospective students and serve as a liaison between the school and prospective students. Also, ask if the school has an alumni linkedin or facebook page.

For example, I currently work with a student’s parent who is a liaison for Clark University. He will come to the school and answer any questions and provide information to prospective students. It’s a great local resource!
Kris HintzFounderPosition U 4 College LLC

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Many colleges offer non-evaluative interviews with alumni, either on campus or local to the applicant. You can set up such an interview through the admissions office. The purpose of these interviews is to “sell” the school and help answer questions that an applicant may have, rather than evaluating the applicant.

You might also talk to your high school guidance counselor about students who have graduated recently and attended the college you are interested in. Friends of the family may also have children who are attending (or did attend) colleges on your radar screen, who would be more than happy to talk with you about their school.
Rohit GoyalIvy League CounselorHarvard University

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Through various dedicated clubs, Facebook fan pages, linkedin and other networking sites.

Kris HintzFounderPosition U 4 College LLC

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Many colleges offer non-evaluative interviews with alumni, either on campus or local to the applicant. You can set up such an interview through the admissions office. The purpose of these interviews is to “sell” the school and help answer questions that an applicant may have, rather than evaluating the applicant.

You might talk to your high school guidance counselor about students who have graduated recently and attended the college you are interested in. Friends of the family may also have children who are attending (or did attend) colleges on your radar screen, who would be more than happy to talk with you about their school.
Lin Johnson III

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

The best way to contact alumni is to leverage your own network, which includes relatives, friends, past classmates, teachers, community leaders and religious members. Perhaps, there is someone in your network from the specific college who you can ask directly about his college experience. If there is no one in your network from that particular college you’re interested in, you should ask people in your network whether they know someone from the college and would make an initial introduction for you. After the initial introduction, it is your responsibility to follow up and set up a meeting with the person.

There are a couple other ways to contact alumni. Most colleges have an alumni chapter in major cities. Active members tend to be more than happy to share their college experiences with you. Often, these alumni are the same individuals who interview college applicants near your hometown, so be prepared. Additionally, you can contact the admission team and ask them whether an alumnus near your hometown would share her college experience with you. Do not be surprised if the college says no or does not provide her contact information immediately.
Rebecca JosephExecutive Director & Foundergetmetocollege.org

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Alumni can provide all kinds of great info and access to colleges. First see if you or anyone in your family, community, or school knows alumni. If not, go to the college’s website and see if they offer alumni interviews. That way you will meet an alumni anyway. You can also attend local college fairs as many times alumni staff them. If you want more, you can contact the college and ask to be introduced to an alumni with your interests in your area. You can also use Facebook or twitter to track down alumni. Alumni, especially recent ones, can really help you learn about a college.

Reecy ArestyCollege Admissions/Financial Aid Expert & AuthorPayless For College, Inc.

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Do an Internet search. Call the school and ask for alums who live nearby or who would be willing to brag about their college experience. Ask around, surely someone knows or knows of alums.

Annie ReznikCounselor/CEOCollege Guidance Coach

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

The easiest way to connect with alumni from a particular school is to contact the school directly. Some high schools keep track of graduates willing to share their college experiences. Your college counselor might have some suggestions if you are hoping to talk to a current student or recent graduate of a particular college.

Yolanda SpivaExecutive DirectorProject GRAD Atlanta, Inc.

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

The first point of entry for contacting alumni from a school in which you are interested, is through the local and/or regional alumni association located within your city. Typically, you can simply visit the institution’s Internet homepage, and locate the name of the alumni association president or vice president–you may contact this person, directly. Alternatively, you may also contact the admissions office of the institution in which you have an interest, and ask the admissions personnel if they could connect you with alumni in your area, or if none reside in your area, alumni with whom you could connect via telephone, email, or otherwise, in order to ask questions about their on-campus and post-graduation experiences.

Cara RaySenior AssociateMontgomery Educational Consulting

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Contacting alumni can be a great way to learn more about a school you are interested in. Typically, you can find the contact information for alumni on the admissions section of the website of the college you are looking at. However, if you have any issues finding it there I recommend just giving the admissions office a call, they are often very happy to help!

Bill PrudenHead of Upper School, College CounselorRavenscroft School

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

The best place to start is at your own school. If there is any sort of alumni office they should have information about where former students went to college. Too, the college counseling office might have a list of where people went and you can use that to make some contacts. If your school does not have such an office or those kinds of resources, try some of the more senior faculty members. Many of them keep in touch with their former students and could offer some leads. Talking with alums of your own school can be particularly valuable for not only can they discuss their college experience, but their perspective is more like yours and that can be very valuable. Finally, you can go to the college directly. They often use alums as ambassadors or for alumni interviews, and are likely to know of some local people who would be happy to talk about their experiences.

Patricia KrahnkePresident/PartnerGlobal College Search Associates, LLC

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Short answer:

Via the admissions office, the Office of Institutional Advancement, regional Alumni groups, or the Alumni Relations Office. But why would you do that? Detailed answer: Alumni should not be a part of your college search process. Here’s why: 1. If they are older alums, they are completely disconnected from the truth of today’s college-going experience. They don’t know your generation, they don’t know you, they can be exuberant about the institution based on their own experience there, or they can be negative about the institution based upon their own experience there. 2. Their information is not real information. The information older alums receive about their alma mater is via the Office of Alumni Relations (or some such department), the Foundation (which reaches out to them for donations), and/or the annual report. These departments craft their messages to alumni in such a way as to keep the alumni engaged. This is so that they will continue to 1) market the college via their vocal college allegiance to the media, parents, and prospective students, and 2) donate money to the college. 3. The entire institutional ethos/mission may have changed since the alumnus attended. Today, institutions actively are reinventing themselves in order to remain fiscally viable in the highly competitive marketplace of higher education. The college of today is not the college of yesterday. 4. The college administration, staff, and faculty may have completely changed from the time an alumnus attended the institution. There may have been several different college presidents since the time the alum matriculated, and that means a potential equal number of administration turnovers, and entirely new ways of approaching higher education and its many parts. 5. If they are young alums, they may have a certain idea of the present campus atmosphere. However, again, their experience was their experience. You don’t know their personal strengths or limitations, including their ability or inability to successfully navigate admissions, financial aid, student life, or the registrar. 6. Alumni of all ages are being actively marketed to by the college in order to keep them engaged in assisting with admissions recruitment and financial support of the institution. I know of a Director of Institutional Advancement who insisted that the admissions office inform him of expensive cars in the admissions parking lot, which indicated to him a family of wealth. He wanted the department to give him the family name so he could begin a strategy to engage them from the time the student enrolled. 7. Never, ever meet with an alum for an admissions interview. This person could be terrific. But the fact is that you don’t know this person at all, and just because they represent the institution doesn’t mean they are a good person and are safe to meet with alone. If the college requires an interview, and they suggest you do it with an alumnus, politely decline and request a Skype interview.
Jessica BrondoFounder and CEOThe Edge in College Prep

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Schools with big alumni associations will have groups in large cities or areas. If you google “University X alumni” in your area, there is a good chance you will find an alumni association with contact info. These will tend to be older, professional people though. If you want to find current students who live where you do or just graduated ones, a facebook search is often a great idea. It’s a risk- free way of contacting someone, and you may have mutual friends or common ground that you can talk about.

Heather TomaselloWriting CoachThe EssayLady, LLC

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

The easiest way to get in touch with an alumni of the school you’re considering would be to contact the university’s Alumni Association. They can put you in touch with Alumni, and probably other resources. Remember also that talking to currently enrolled students is a great idea. Some campuses will even pair you with an undergrad for a day or an overnight to shadow, which is a great way to get a taste for campus life, class size for freshmen, etc.

John Happs

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Start with the college admissions office.

adam baerWriter and Editor for Top National Magazines, Websites, and Newspapers

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

You might use the school alumni resources to see people who work in fields that interest you but do *not* formally interview students for the school. Ask these people to have a cup of coffee with you, or simply send them a note. The alumni asked by schools to interview prospective students are often encouraged to push (and perhaps overstate) the benefits of the school to encourage as many applicants as possible. It’s a business, and alumni interviewers are often coached on how to sway students with marketing propaganda that the school creates.

Mary Mariani

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Every school has alumni organizations that are usually willing and excited to talk to future students. Contact the alumni organizations and ask if there are any members who do “outreach” to future students. If you are interested in joining a sorority or fraternity, there might be alumni members who would also talk to you about the school. You can either contact the school or go to the national organization for references.

Steven CrispOwner Crisp College Advising

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

I am not really sure why you would wan to do this, but I would suggest going through the Alumni office. They should have a listing of alumni that would be willing to speak with you. If you are trying to get a perspective from a student I would try to contact a current student. The admission office may be able to get you in contact with students who have volunteered to talk to perspective students. You will also be able to talk to current students during an on campus visit.

Kathleen Regentin

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

There are several ways to connect with alumni: ask the admissions office if they have alumni representatives, contact the alumni office directly, use your own personal network and find out if you know anyone that went to that school (post a question on Facebook “I’m interested in going to XYZ University … message me if you know someone who went there.”). Many schools have groups on LinkedIN and Facebook — seek these out and see if anyone is interested in connecting with you.

Yana Geyfman

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

A student should contact the admissions office at university/college, because that office usually coordinates alumnae/i who help recruit students through interviewing, covering the college fairs, etc. A student should feel free to include their academic interests and/or other specific interests, so an admissions officer can find the best match.

Michael PuccioPresident/Advisor/Life CoachFuture First Advisors, LLC

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

This is a fantastic way to learn more about a school that you are interested in. I would recommend that you contact either the Alumni Affairs Office or the Admissions Office. While you’re at it, you might want to ask if you could speak with a current student, too!

Michael PuccioPresident/Advisor/Life CoachFuture First Advisors, LLC

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

This is a fantastic way to learn more about a school that you are interested in. I would recommend that you contact either the Alumni Affairs Office or the Admissions Office. While you’re at it, you might want to ask if you could speak with a current student, too!

Cheryl Millington

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

The easiest way to contact alumni is to ask the school’s admission representative for a connection. You can also ask your high school teachers if they know any former students who are attending the school you’re interested in. If you’re forced to find alumni on your own, one neat way is to do an advanced search on LinkedIn. Simply indicate the school’s name on the school field and a number of alumni profiles will show up. What’s also great about LinkedIn is that you’ll be able to see alumni’s resumes and perhaps target one or two working in the industry that interests you. Another advantage of LinkedIn is that you can have an unscientific view of alumni careers. You’ll have to join LinkedIn first, if you’re not already there.

Benjamin CaldarelliPartnerPrinceton College Consulting, LLC

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Very carefully. You can contact the the admission office and the alumni association which is advisable and can be helpful to learn about and earn admission to a school. The more “active” the alumni, which often means how much they donate or fund raise, the more helpful they can be. At the same time, a school like Harvard is not going to give you the names of members of the Committee on University Resources. If you know an influential alumni, like those on the COUR, well, or can connive to know one well, it can be very helpful. Remember, that people are usually not that interested in helping people they only know marginally and briefly. So…..early, often and with purpose.

Carita Del ValleFounderAcademic Decisions

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Start by reaching out to the alumni office/network that is managed at the university. They should be able to give you a list of members who are willing to speak with students interested in their particular school or program. You may also join certain alumni Facebook and LinkedIn groups.

Patricia KrahnkePresident/PartnerGlobal College Search Associates, LLC

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Short answer:

Via the admissions office, the Office of Institutional Advancement, regional Alumni groups, or the Alumni Relations Office. But why would you do that? Detailed answer: Alumni should not be a part of your college search process. Here’s why: 1. If they are older alums, they are completely disconnected from the truth of today’s college-going experience. They don’t know your generation, they don’t know you, they can be exuberant about the institution based on their own experience there, or they can be negative about the institution based upon their own experience there. 2. Their information is not real information. The information older alums receive about their alma mater is via the Office of Alumni Relations (or some such department), the Foundation (which reaches out to them for donations), and/or the annual report. These departments craft their messages to alumni in such a way as to keep the alumni engaged. This is so that they will continue to 1) market the college via their vocal college allegiance to the media, parents, and prospective students, and 2) donate money to the college. 3. The entire institutional ethos/mission may have changed since the alumnus attended. Today, institutions actively are reinventing themselves in order to remain fiscally viable in the highly competitive marketplace of higher education. The college of today is not the college of yesterday. 4. The college administration, staff, and faculty may have completely changed from the time an alumnus attended the institution. There may have been several different college presidents since the time the alum matriculated, and that means a potential equal number of administration turnovers, and entirely new ways of approaching higher education and its many parts. 5. If they are young alums, they may have a certain idea of the present campus atmosphere. However, again, their experience was their experience. You don’t know their personal strengths or limitations, including their ability or inability to successfully navigate admissions, financial aid, student life, or the registrar. 6. Alumni of all ages are being actively marketed to by the college in order to keep them engaged in assisting with admissions recruitment and financial support of the institution. I know of a Director of Institutional Advancement who insisted that the admissions office inform him of expensive cars in the admissions parking lot, which indicated to him a family of wealth. He wanted the department to give him the family name so he could begin a strategy to engage them from the time the student enrolled. 7. Never, ever meet with an alum for an admissions interview. This person could be terrific. But the fact is that you don’t know this person at all, and just because they represent the institution doesn’t mean they are a good person and are safe to meet with alone. If the college requires an interview, and they suggest you do it with an alumnus, politely decline and request a Skype interview.
Mr C CoakleyPresidentAcademic Coaching Services

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

University alumni are usually excited to meet or communicate with prospective students. Many colleges and universities actually have alumni admissions counselors who are informed about the college, the admissions process, and, sometimes, financial aid policies. To speak with a local alumnus, contact your intended schools admissions office and ask if there are any alumni who work directly with admissions outreach. Also, you can search the university’s website to locate the “alumni office” and ask directly if a local alumnus is available to speak with you.

Before contacting the alumnus, be sure to prepare your questions in advance, as a courtesy to the person who is volunteering his or her time to you. Answers to questions easily found on the admissions website should be avoided (i.e. test scores, GPA requirements, etc.). Instead, focus your questions on academic experiences (interesting courses or professors), campus traditions (activities most popular with students), or, most importantly, the best places to eat off campus! If you prepare, the conversation will be so much more informative, and rewarding. Have fun!
Vicky MoIndependent College CounselorUniversity of California, Riverside

School alumni centers or organizations!

Every college should have a Alumni Association where you can either talk to someone and get information on alumnis, or you can find their information directly from e-mails or the website itself. If you are involved in organizations such as a fraternity or sorority from another campus or renowned clubs such as Key Club, they should provide alumni resources as well.

Vicky MoIndependent College CounselorUniversity of California, Riverside

School alumni centers or organizations!

Every college should have a Alumni Association where you can either talk to someone and get information on alumnis, or you can find their information directly from e-mails or the website itself. If you are involved in organizations such as a fraternity or sorority from another campus or renowned clubs such as Key Club, they should provide alumni resources as well.

Geoff BroomeAssistant Director of AdmissionsWidener University

Contacting Alumni

There are various ways to do this. The first is to contact the admissions office to see if they can connect you to their alumni network. You can also call the schools career development office and they can probably link you to several alumni that they work closely with.

Margaret TungStrategistYale University

Don’t be bashful and be polite

Most alumni who register to be part of their college alumni networks are more than happy to talk to anyone who is interested in applying to their alma mater.

When you introduce yourself, give them one or two sentences about what you’re interested in and why you think that might make you a good fit for the school. Ask a couple questions about their experience to give them an idea of what you’d like to talk about–hopefully the email will lead to a phone chat, if not a pleasant coffee date. Don’t ask TOO many questions in the email as that might overwhelm the alumnus/a. You also want to be conscious of their time–they might be too busy to read a lengthy email, but they’ll be more than happy to carve out some time on the weekend to sit with you and answer any questions you might have for them about the school.
Dr. Bruce NeimeyerCEO/PartnerGlobal College Search Associates, LLC

You may need to do some personal leg work.

The first thing you can do is to contact the admissions office for assistance in doing this. If there is a formalized process, they can put you in contact with the most appropriate alumnus for you based on any specific criteria that you may have about the person such as their geographical location, chosen career etc.

If the admissions office is unable to assist you, reach out to the alumni office to see if they could informally help you with getting in contact with one. If may not be already set up but I think they would be pretty happy to make the connection for you. Last, I would speak with your high school guidance office. They know where many of the students have enrolled from former classes or may even know the alumni in the community for a school that you are considering. In this instance, your local connections might be the best bet! Just keep in mind that the alumni with which you speak via the admissions office are usually hand selected and will love the school. On the flip side, digging up an alumnus on your own may produce someone that has an ax to grind about the school. As with any source you consult in this process, remember that their feedback should be on of many sources that you consult to make your decision in addition to your own in-person experience with the school. Only through many sources are you going to get a more true sense of the school.
Dr. Bruce NeimeyerCEO/PartnerGlobal College Search Associates, LLC

You may need to do some personal leg work.

The first thing you can do is to contact the admissions office for assistance in doing this. If there is a formalized process, they can put you in contact with the most appropriate alumnus for you based on any specific criteria that you may have about the person such as their geographical location, chosen career etc.

If the admissions office is unable to assist you, reach out to the alumni office to see if they could informally help you with getting in contact with one. If may not be already set up but I think they would be pretty happy to make the connection for you. Last, I would speak with your high school guidance office. They know where many of the students have enrolled from former classes or may even know the alumni in the community for a school that you are considering. In this instance, your local connections might be the best bet! Just keep in mind that the alumni with which you speak via the admissions office are usually hand selected and will love the school. On the flip side, digging up an alumnus on your own may produce someone that has an ax to grind about the school. As with any source you consult in this process, remember that their feedback should be on of many sources that you consult to make your decision in addition to your own in-person experience with the school. Only through many sources are you going to get a more true sense of the school.
Dr. Bruce NeimeyerCEO/PartnerGlobal College Search Associates, LLC

You may need to do some personal leg work.

The first thing you can do is to contact the admissions office for assistance in doing this. If there is a formalized process, they can put you in contact with the most appropriate alumnus for you based on any specific criteria that you may have about the person such as their geographical location, chosen career etc.

If the admissions office is unable to assist you, reach out to the alumni office to see if they could informally help you with getting in contact with one. If may not be already set up but I think they would be pretty happy to make the connection for you. Last, I would speak with your high school guidance office. They know where many of the students have enrolled from former classes or may even know the alumni in the community for a school that you are considering. In this instance, your local connections might be the best bet! Just keep in mind that the alumni with which you speak via the admissions office are usually hand selected and will love the school. On the flip side, digging up an alumnus on your own may produce someone that has an ax to grind about the school. As with any source you consult in this process, remember that their feedback should be on of many sources that you consult to make your decision in addition to your own in-person experience with the school. Only through many sources are you going to get a more true sense of the school.
Robin WhitingGuidance CounselorGeorge P. Butler Comprehensive High School

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

You could contact the Alumni Association for the college/university you are interested in and ask if they would put you in contact with an alumnus who could answer your questions. There might even be someone local who would be willing to meet and discuss your questions in person.

Corey FischerPresidentCollegeClarity

There are a number of ways to try to contact alumni

1) Some colleges will put you in touch with a local alumnus once you apply (possibly for an interview). 2) Call the college’s Alumni Office and ask them to give your name, phone number, email address to a local alumni or alumni in your field of interest. They will not give you the contact information, but they will usually be willing to call the individuals to see if they would be willing to get in touch with you. 3) Network. If you know someone who knows someone who went to the college, don’t be afraid to ask for their name and number.

When you meet/talk with the alumnus, be sure to have done your research and have good questions prepared. You do not want to find yourself drawing a blank, nor do you want to ask questions that are easily answered with a little research.
Suzan ReznickIndependent Educational ConsultantThe College Connection

Contact the school first.

It is not your job to reach out to alumni. Assuming that you might be interested in an alumni interview, you need to request them. Often an interview will only be offered after your applications has been submitted. Schools prefer to ensure that they would not be wasting their alum’s time, unless you are serious about their school. But you cannot be sure of the schools’ policy unless you reach out to admissions. Then you may be given the contact info or the alumni might be contacting you first. While alumni interviews do not “count” much in your admissions decision; it can give you some needed insight into a campus. And it would put you on the radar of a college, especially if you have not yet had the chance to visit.

Deborah HellerDirector of College CounselingBeacon School

Alumni Contacts

The place to start if you are trying to contact an alumnus from a particular college is with your guidance counselor. They should have a list of previous students from your school who went to that college. These will be students who are currently attending the college and who are alumni of there. You may want to contact someone who currently goes there as they will likely have a better idea of what is happening on the campus now and you may be able to set up an over night visit with them. While alumni are great resources for info about finding jobs after college and how the degree helped them in terms of entering the workforce.

Alan SheptinOwnerSheptin Tutoring Group, LLC

Alan Sheptin, Sheptin Tutoring Group, LLC

There are several ways in which to do this: 1. Call the college’s alumni relations office, and find out the secondary school chairperson of the region. 2. Contact the admissions office, speak with the admissions dean of your region, and find out the contact person. 3. If you know of an alumnus in your area, contact him/her and have that person help you find out the name of the alumni rep in the area.

Donovan BlakeLead ConsultantGriffin Blake Educational Consulting

Helping Hands

You should contact the alumni office of the school that you’re interested in. Ask them if there is an alumni chapter in your area; more than likely there is one. Contact the alumni chapter and they would love to answer your questions. In addition, the alumni chapters often offer scholarships.

王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Alumni are asked for conducting interviews for perspective students. if the purpose of contacting the alumini is to get more information about the school, you must keep it in mind that schools change over time.

Sarah ContomichalosManagerEducational Advisory Services, LLC

How to Contact Alumni from Schools of Interest to You

Many colleges use their alumni to interview applicants. In most cases, the an alumni in your area will contact you once you have submitted either the school’s supplement (Common App) or Part I of the application. If you already know an alum, you may contact them on an informal basis to ask for information or advice, otherwise it is best to follow the protocal listed on the college’s website or check with the Admissions Office.

. .

Talk To The Admission Office

Most college admission offices have a group of alumni located throughout the country that help the admission office with select recruiting events, interviewing, and fielding questions from prospective students. As such, you first should contact the admission office at the school(s) you are interested in and ask them if they have an alumni contact that you could get in touch with.

Sincerely, Mike Chapman, Owner Chapman College Admission Consulting www.chapmancac.com
Laura O’Brien GatzionisFounderEducational Advisory Services

Contacting Alumni

I am always a big proponent of going through the admissions office. There is never any harm in demonstrating interest in a school–and one way to do this is to send queries through the college admissions office. Ask the admissions officer responsible for your geographic area to put you in touch with alumni who reside close by to your town.

王文君 June ScortinoPresidentIVY Counselors Network

not necessay unless you have a specific plan

Colleges normally care about parent’s education background including alumini associations with the particlar school. Alumni are asked for conducting interviews for perspective students. if you have a family member who can recommend you alumni for counseling purpose, yes, you may take on the opportunity.

Erin AveryCertified Educational PlannerAvery Educational Resources, LLC

Alumni 411

Reach out to the Alumni Office or the Career Services office at said college of interest. Also, you may reach out to the local alumni association in your area.

Helen H. ChoiOwnerAdmissions Mavens

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Many colleges have alumni associations which you may contact. You can access those associations via the school’s main website. In addition, if you contact the admissions office, you might also be able to find alumni who volunteer with the admissions office to act as liaisons between the school and prospective students.

Mark CorkeryHead College CounselorInternational College Admissions Network (I-CAN)

Steps to Finding and Meeting with College Alumni

1) Talk to every adult, friend, brother or sisters of friends to learn who knows alumni of the colleges to which you are targeting for admission. Make appointments to meet with them to discuss your interest in their alma mater. Everyone has resources and connections. Use your network — everyone — that you know and ask them if they know anyone that graduated from the colleges you are considering.

2) You can also contact the admission office of the colleges as well to get lists of alumni who have given their office permission to give out their names and contact information for students like you who are considering their campus. 3) Attend college fairs at your high school or in the surrounding area. Admissions officers cannot attend all the college fairs in the country, they utilize their alumni networks to man or woman the tables at the fair. Asking at the table for some of their time either at the fair or afterwards to answer your questions, this is an instant connection, adding them to your list of contacts for the schools you are interested in. 4) Meeting with alumni and referencing these meetings can add to your application. It shows a higher predictability of your attending if they admit you. Colleges today are looking for every way to predict if you would attend if they admit.
Nancy MilneOwnerMilne Collegiate Consulting

Alumni Connections

The admissions office will typically keep a list of alumni who are willing to talk to prospective students. Typically these will be recent grads who can relate to your phase in the search process. Keep in mind that you will do best just to listen to what they have to share. While it may feel biased, you can be sure it is sincere, as these folks are volunteering their time to talk to you. Make sure you have a list of questions to keep the dialogue going and in a direction that is useful to you. Recognize that there is a difference between an information interview and an evaluative interview and proceed accordingly.

Tam Warner MintonConsultantCollege Adventures

Meeting alums

All colleges and universities have alumni networks. Call the admissions office and ask them to connect you with alums in your area.

Susan HanflikEducational ConsultantSusan Hanflik and Associates

Contacting Alumni

To tap in to the alumni network in your area, call the admissions department. They have a list of willing alums who are happy to talk to incoming students.

Helen Cella

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Contact the school’s alumni office

Scott WhiteDirector of GuidanceMontclair High School

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Most high schools use Naviance to keep records like this and the school counselor can provide this information. if not, usually the admissions office has this information handy.

William Chichester

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Google search an alumni chapter of the college of your choice in your hometown. For example, if you are from Fairfax Virginia and you wanted to go to the University of Virginia, you should Google “University of Virginia alumni Fairfax” and see what comes up. If the alumni chapter has a website, find out who the officers of the club are and reach out to them via email to set up a 15-30 min informational interview where you ask the alumni about the school and their experiences.

Joyce Vining MorganFounder and college counselorEducational Transitions

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

Contact the admissions office to request the names and contact information of alumni in your area. You may be forwarded to the alumni office, which is fine, but the college should be eager to have its graduates speak with you. The college may also suggest the best way to contact their alumni.

Natalie Sanchez CamposOwnerNext Step LLC

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

If you don’t already know alumni, contact the alumni affairs office at the school(s) you are interested in attending. They have a wealth of knowledge and can guide you in the right direction.

Natalie Sanchez CamposOwnerNext Step LLC

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

If you don’t already know alumni, contact the alumni affairs office at the school(s) you are interested in attending. They have a wealth of knowledge and can guide you in the right direction.

Mandy ReillyCounselor

How do you go about contacting alumni from a school you’re interested in?

You can find the contact information from the college or universities alumni relations office. sometimes they will assist in helping you contact members of the alumni who have studied in your major or had similar interests.