Are these emails legitimate?

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>Hello, I'm a senior and I am getting these emails from colleges lately: </p>

<p>"I've already started an Academic Achievement Application in your name, Brooke! Your high school record shows me that you have big college potential -- and I think St. John's University will help you reach it.</p>

<p>I've also decided to offer you these additional application advantages with the goal of making applying easy:
•No application fee
•A nonbinding four-week admission decision
•Priority financial aid and housing consideration
•Waived essay and recommendation requirements (though I encourage you to submit a short personal statement so I can learn more about you)</p>

<p>Very few students from your area are eligible for these extra perks -- and you're one of them!</p>

<p>As a student at St. John's, you'll receive personalized attention from acclaimed scholars (over 90 percent of whom hold a Ph.D. or other terminal degree in their field), be challenged by over 100 programs of study including accelerated three-year bachelor's degree and five-year bachelor's and master's degree programs and you'll experience the traditional campus of a "Big East" school with easy access to New York City.</p>

<p>Submit your Academic Achievement Application today! I look forward to reviewing it!</p>

<p>Sincerely,</p>

<p>David Follick
Director of Admission
St. John's University
8000 Utopia Parkway
Queens, NY 11439"</p>

<p>And I've been getting similar emails from other colleges. Are these emails legitimate? </p>

<p>Thank you! </p>

<p>Brooke</p>

2

<p>I’m sure they are legitimate in the sense that I’m sure they are coming from the schools they claim to be representing, from people who actually exist. And many schools do offer fee-waivers and streamlined application forms for students, usually students that present testing records that meet some minimum requirements on their radar. In general tho’ these marketing efforts cast a really wide net for applicants and aren’t much of a guarantee of admission. Look at the individual schools’ general admissions requirements for SAT/ACT/GPA, ranking, etc. If you fall within those you have as good a shot as any! </p>

<p>PS. I personally don’t buy the line about priority FA and housing…but you never know!</p>