In my situation, a p.o.i I had been in touch with didn't get to see my application (last year) as it goes through the grad school before it goes to the department and "as I wasn't in the bottom half, but not quite in the top 12% either",...this year, we've continued to be in touch and he said he was going to go ask about it now, before it went through the grad school. I have no idea what that means... I don't think he's on the admissions committee or anything, so it might not make any difference at all, but I was excited to be in touch with him all the same.