Can Administrators Help Your Case?

[shortstack51]

As I've mentioned in a few places on the boards, I work for the admin at my school (which is in the 40s ranking-wise). One of the top administrators knows I'm applying and said, "If you need anything let me know" with a nod and a wink and went out of his way to emphasize that if I needed with the PhD program at my current school (which I'm applying to) to let him know. I'm not entirely sure what he meant by this and we aren't particularly close (and he's very busy), so I feel awkward going out of my way to ask him about it.

 

Has anyone else had anything like this happen?

 

I feel a little skeevy doing anything more about it. First of all, schools are already meeting/have met for the most part (though I know mine hasn't), and second, I don't want to strong arm any programs with an administrator. I always resent it when people are kind of grandfathered into programs based on knowing or being related to someone. On the other hand, if he can help me at all, is it stupid not to take him up on it? Since we're a top 50 school, there's a good chance that he's networked with people at some of the schools I'm applying to, and the process is already fairly arbitrary, so making my name stand out might be good. Still, it feels very weird to me, and my rec providers have all gotten at least one degree from at least one of the schools I applied to anyway.

[Usmivka]

In answer to the question posed in the title, more or less no (but they can definitely hurt it if you piss off somebody who isn't very professional). At best he'd be a character reference and able to expedite documents from your end. It sounds to me (particularly with the cliched gestures) that he was making a joke by implying influence that is obviously beyond him. Though you actually know the guy, so you'd be in the best position to judge.

Edited January 30, 2014 by Usmivka

[iExcelAtMicrosoftPuns]

I'm inclined to believe he just wants to feel important... Or feel more important than he is.

A simple: "oh that won't be necessary I'm confident that I'm a competitive applicant. Thanks for the offer though!"

Is what I would have done.

[shortstack51]

In answer to the question posed in the title, more or less no (but they can definitely hurt it if you piss off somebody who isn't very professional). At best he'd be a character reference and able to expedite documents from your end. It sounds to me (particularly with the cliched gestures) that he was making a joke by implying influence that is obviously beyond him. Though you actually know the guy, so you'd be in the best position to judge.

He was definitely being serious. After the wink he paused and said, "No, please let me know." I'm not quite sure what his range of influence actually is for admissions. I'm assuming not a whole lot, but I do know that he spends a lot of time communicating/coordinating with other people in charge of academics at other schools. Deans, CAOs, etc (academics actually only comprise about 1/8th of a university's total functions; the world of academic administration isn't a very large one).

 

Nonetheless, I guess I'll stick to my intended course of action, which is just to not do anything about it. I definitely don't want to annoy other departments anyway. @BowTiesAreCool (love the name) I should have said that in retrospect! I kind of just nodded blankly

[emmm]

I think it would have been fine to arrange a casual meeting and just get some general input from him on grad school and relative merits of different options/programs you are considering. I think people enjoy helping others -- as evidenced by this board :-) and his offer might have not been meant as more than that. Still, you were there, so if you felt there might be something in the offer that would make you uncomfortable, you were probably right to pay attention to that feeling.

[tingdeh]

I've been wrestling with this in my head recently. One of my letter writers is the Dean, who is a really good friend. He has never taught me, but we sometimes talk research, he has seen me and mentored me in my involvement at school, and he works in my general field of interest. Still a gamble because he cannot talk specifics of research, but more character. But I hope he is a harmonious balance with my two research advisor LOR writers.