You're both absolutely correct, as a general rule it's a bad idea to assume something that works at one school will translate to another. So always be sure to read through past threads and gauge whether or not calls or letters seemed to work for good or for bad. For instance, Temple accepted absolutely no calls last cycle. Drexel lost both of my letters (continued interest while on waitlist) via e-mail, and seemed really pissed when I called and asked why they hadn't enclosed them in my file. (No bad blood there, just making a point - I totally understand in light of the fact that they receive record numbers of applications each year).
Nevertheless, when I had two friends clue me in on how they managed to score ii's, and when several other people, including one of my student hosts at the interview, told me about how they got off the waitlist after sending in letters, I felt like I couldn't pass on that protip.
So while you raise a good point, don't be so quick to discourage people from placing a quick phone call or sending a few e-mails to the good folks at Wake. It may irritate the admissions officers at other schools, but it's an expectation here, almost like an extra step in the admissions process, in addition to the AMCAS, the secondary, and the faculty interview. On at least 3 different occasions, I had 10 - 15 minute conversations with admissions/financial aid officers about football, or how cold the winters get in the northeast. If you play your cards right, and find a balance between appearing determined without being too desperate (I was about as desperate as they come), then it can only help you.
TL;DR
Just trust me on this one - give the office plenty of time before calling or writing a letter to check on the status, tell them how stoked you are to be a student here, and see where it takes you.
