I agree to some extent. While I don't think it will hurt you to not attend admissions events, I do think it can help to attend events (and therefore hurt you compared to other applicants that do attend if you think of it that way). The AdCom has a unique skill in that they are able to meet thousands of applicants and remember faces, names, etc. If they have met you in person before reviewing your application, they can put a face with the story. If they meet you through an alumnus, professor, etc., then even better.
lomei
For others who may also be worried about this, I asked Tammy whether the AdCom considers how much an applicant has done to learn about the program. She assured me that they do not track the number of admissions events that applicants attend, and that it is in no way factored into their final decision.
That being said, it's probably in our interests to learn as much as we can about the program. But I wouldn't go out of my way to attend unnecessary events to try to impress them.
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