<p>Last night my son got a call from a college that he was admitted to EA. He wasn't home, so whoever it was left an 800 number and an extension for him to call back. What I'm worried about is what if they are calling to see if he's coming there or not? He did not qualify for a scholarship there (but I know he was VERY close) and that is the reason it is no longer in consideration. What if he actually tells thme that?!</p>
<p>They probably are simply calling to encourage him to come. Since he applied EA and was accepted, it's clear the college really wants him. It's normal for colleges to call their top accepted students, even those who were accepted RD. </p>
<p>More than likely the person calling is an undergraduate who has a work study job requiring them to call students who were accepted EA. The call gives your S a chance to get any remaining questions answered. From what I have seen,he should not expect a hard sell, just a supportive call from a student who hopes he'll be coming. If he hasn't made up his mnind, it's oK for him to say he's still considering the offer.</p>
<p>There's also a chance that the college is calling to offer him a scholarship. Someone who got the offer may have decided to go elsewhere, so the college may have more money available. :)</p>
<p>My S got more than one call from a school he was admitted to EA and is not planning to attend. It was always a safety for him. He received a call from an alum, from a current student (I think) and one other. They did not pressure him in any way, just wanted to "sell" their school.</p>
<p>He is not a talkative kid and was uncomfortable, but handled the calls. He asked me to deflect any further from that school, but there haven't been any.</p>
<p>They were not offering $, but if your S would be interested in the school if they did so, I'd certainly call them back. Otherwise, I guess a call-back is optional?</p>
<p>Mine got a call from the college pres, after they offered her big bucks. D. wasn't in, so the pres bent my ear for 15 minutes, gushing about her application essay and other materials (for the scholarship she was awarded, the pres. chaired the committee), and putting the hard sell on me! (I made it clear it was d.'s decision, and she did end up choosing to go there.)</p>
<p>At the main competing school, she got a call from the chair of the department, and repeated calls and e-mails from recent graduates of the department. They WERE effective, just not effective enough.</p>
<p>These are effective. My S renewed his interest in a certain college after a friendly student called him to see if he had any questions.....</p>
<p>The "just calling to see if you have any questions" seems to be the norm after an acceptance....</p>
<p>Mine has gotten numerous calls from students at her EA school. None have asked her if she is planning on enrolling. They were the do you have any questions type of calls. We also had another parent called to talk to us about the school. At first D was annoyed with all the calls. But now after experiencing a well run admitted student day along with the calls and a large scholarship it is staying near the top of her list. And this is a school that all along was a safety.<br>
They also sent her personal thank you for visiting after her admitted student day. So their marketing campaign might just end up being effective.</p>
<p>I agree that these marketing campaigns can be effective. In S' case, not the phone calls from his EA "safety." But from an EA which had been his second choice, he received letter from Dean of College of Engineering, letter from Dean of Admission, letter from Scholarship Committee encouraging him to apply for the small # of full ride awards (which he didn't get, but did get very large amt), invite to on-campus event for top 10% admittees in his field, emails with contact names asking him to contact any time, including IM screen names... </p>
<p>These were personalized letters, not handwritten but handsigned, and not pure "form" letters. These occurred both after application but before acceptance, and after acceptance. My S really responded to the sense that this place truly wants him, and it has moved to his first choice so far. The only contender is a HYPS where he went RD, and I'm not sure even if he gets accepted, whether the HYPS or the "marketer" will be where he goes.</p>
<p>Thanks everybody for your responses. I'm assuming it was just a student calling (especially since they called at night). I'll tell him to just be honest when he calls them back - whatever that amounts to.</p>
<p>I too like the personal approach, as long as it doesn't cross the line to a hard sell. My son is someone who could be persuaded by a school that acts like they really want him (in one case that is already happening) but I'm concerned that he won't look at the long vision and make his decision purely based on what school is best for him.</p>
<p>In the case of this particular school if he had been awarded a scholarship it would still be high on his list, but as such won't be in the running.</p>
<p>So far I've recieved 4 calls from one of the schools I got accepted to EA. The other school has called me twice. Plus I got congratulatory schools from the state schools I got accepted at. </p>
<p>Its enough to make ones head spin! </p>
<p>On the other hand, one of the state school's I was accepted to has since sent me three postcards urging me to APPLY. XP Makes me feel valued. NOT.</p>