How to Impress Admissions Officers Digitally

• Be articulate. Express yourself in clear and effective language.
• Write in proper English (or any other language required). Review grammar, punctuation, and capitalisation rules.
• Be formal and polite. The admissions officer is not in your living room, but in his or her office. Act like you are there as well.
• Be responsible. Respect appointment times and deadlines and use appropriate language.
• Be positive.

• Remember that all emails may be considered official documents.
• Always use proper English, including grammar, spelling, capitalisation, punctuation, etc.
• Always start your email with a friendly greeting and end it with a polite salutation.

• Remember to complete online forms as you would official documents.
• Use proper English.
• Follow instructions precisely.
• Be concise. Know when to elaborate and provide supplemental information, and when to give just the facts.

• Review your privacy settings on all your online accounts. Make sure that visitors to your profile pages see only professional content.
• Engage with potential schools’ social media pages. These institutions love interacting with candidates and may even reward you for your efforts.
• Ensure that your engagement is always honest and courteous.

• Be punctual. Log in at least five minutes before the scheduled start time.
• Introduce yourself in the chat box with your name, country, and what aspects of the topic interest you most.
• Respect the webinar rules. Sometimes there are opportunities for engagement, and sometimes there are not. The expectations for your participation are usually outlined at the beginning of the webinar, yet another reason to arrive early and make a good impression by following the instructions.
• Be aware of the purpose of the webinar. Know whether you are supposed to ask questions about specific schools or to discuss a certain topic.
• Be fair to other attendees. Do not be the person that monopolises the question-and-answer session hoping to impress the facilitator.
• Do not be afraid to ask questions. Prepare a list beforehand, taking care to avoid asking questions that are readily answered on the school’s website or that were already covered during the webinar itself.
• Always offer thanks to the webinar facilitator before logging off.

• Address just one topic or ask one question per post. This makes it more likely you will get a clear answer.
• Direct your post to the appropriate person. For example, if there are multiple business schools represented and you want a specific answer from one, you can start your post with the commonly accepted “@” symbol to designate the recipient, such as “@London Business School, what is the average GMAT score per accepted student?”

• Prepare yourself for a face-to-face meeting and present a professional picture of yourself.
• Prepare your background. Pick a professional setting in which to conduct the interview or use a home setting devoid of clutter.
• Remove distractions. Mobile phones, pets, children, kitchen timers, traffic noise, and so many other sources of distraction can leave a sour impression with an admissions officer.
• Be punctual. Make yourself available several minutes before the scheduled start, letting the other party know you have arrived and are patiently waiting.
• Do your research and be prepared to speak articulately and intelligently about the topic at hand.
• Be patient and cooperative. Make the experience as easy as possible for the other party and be sure to test for any technical difficulties on your end before the session begins.