Do recommenders get calls from AdComs?

Question

Is it common for an adcom officer pick up the phone and call my recommenders to cross-check information on my application? If it varies by school, what is it like at NYU and Cornell?

Does it ever happen? Is it 50-50? Does anyone know what kind of information an officer might be trying to extract from the recommender? Just cross checking facts, or is it just to get clarification on an ambiguous statement?

cricketbeatsrugby · Answer

They likely don't have time to phone up every person who submitted a recommendation, but maybe they would reach out if there was something odd about the reco letter.

asimov · Answer

I have never heard of cases where the AdCom calls the recommender. Some schools do perform background (kroll) checks to verify the information on the application is correct after you are admitted, usually during the summer before you start.

ariel · Answer

Not entirely sure about Stern, but Cornell won't call your recommenders during the admissions process. They do, however, perform a background check on each and every student in the incoming class (this usually happens in late July). During that background verification process, Kroll will call both of your recommenders (on behalf of Cornell) and ask questions about you and the recommendation they wrote.

Do recommenders get calls from AdComs?

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