We received an email today asking us to write an email sharing unique insights about our student. Is this normal operating procedure? We have not been asked to do this by any other school. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
@cuswim We got the email too. It was a surprise to me.
We received it also. Have not received a request for the other schools my daughter applied to but did get a similar request from a school when my son applied to colleges 4 years ago. I think it is a wonderful opportunity to provide a personal insight into your student/child’s 4 year trajectory.
My parents received the same email. Do you think that is sent to each student who applied?
My mom got it too and I’m a Richmond Scholar Semifinalist
My mom received that email as well, I’m interested in finding out if it’s just something sent to every applicant.
Email states it is sent to every regular decision applicant. I received one too.
I would recommend sending a tepid endorsement of your child. That will give mine a better chance of getting in.
@EllieMaeClampitt - I started reading your comment and got to “tepid” and I was perplexed. Then I continued on… HAHAHAHAHA! Parents will do ANYTHING to get their kids ahead. 
We received one for our DD, and I won’t be writing a letter. Honestly, they know every parent is going to write a glowing recommendation about their child, reducing its value. I suspect this is an enrollment management strategy to make parents feel invested in the process of their child’s application more than a strategy to gather more information on applicants. Also if Richmond requires or recommends such a parental letter, they should have mentioned it at some point earlier in the process, the fact that they didn’t lends support to my suspicion that this is just a strategy to make parents feel like part of the process.
@Bigmacattack True, but most parents should be able to find something unique to say about their child. You are also correct that Richmond should not have sprung this last minute. OTOH, my sense is that a number of strong LACs just below the elites have seen a significant increase in apps this year, and are trying to come to terms with that. I think I would try to get beyond my annoyance, and send the letter, especially if it is one of your daughter’s top choices.
During our tours Richmond did state they request a letter from parents, I just wasn’t sure when we’d be asked.
It was a bit of a shock to get that email, but they were clear in their communication that the letter was not required. I can’t imagine anyone not having an insight on their student that doesn’t come across in a typical college app. Maybe it’s a “hook” for parents to become involved…maybe not. I rather like having a voice.
We have no intention of doing this, no other college has asked for this, and we do not like what it tells me about the school. My son’s application needs to stand on its own merit rather than anything we as his parents have to say. This is the time for him to grow up. This is not the time for mom and dad to keep holding his hand and try to persuade Richmond how special he is. Of course we all have insight into our children but this is college, not preschool.
I find these negative reactions (dare I say hostile) about the request for a parent letter quite surprising. I wrote a letter for my D and was happy to do so. I didn’t try to convince UR that the sun and the moon rise and set on my D, but rather, my letter focused on what she’s looking for in a university and the type of experiences/environment I see her thrive in. I was happy to have that opportunity because UR is the one school of the 5 she applied to that we have not visited. If, based on my letter, the school feels it’s not a good fit and they don’t accept her, they’ll save us a bunch of money making a visit for nothing.
Interesting how differently we all view things. 
Parents aren’t required to do it, so I don’t understand why there are complaints? This is an opportunity for the admissions committee to learn more about the applicant, and to understand the type of people they could possibly be welcoming to their campus next fall. I think it is comforting to know Richmond not only cares about test scores and numbers, but about the type of person you are. Who knows how much this affects the outcome of their decision, but it can’t do any harm to someone’s application. I am very thankful for Richmond giving my parents an opportunity to describe specific qualities that could make me unique and stand out.
I am pretty sure Rochester also provides the opportunity for parents to write a letter.
As far as I know my parents never got an email, and I’m a Richmond scholars semifinalist
My S was accepted to Richmond four years ago and they sent out the same letter than. So I believe this is quite normal. At that time my S also applied to SUNY Geneseo in NY and they asked for a parent letter too. Its all normal operating procedures.
I loved this opportunity! We simply wrote a very short letter about one character trait of our son that we admire that would not have been known by his application. If they think it’s important, great! If not, no big deal. We did not say anything that would already be conveyed in his application. I love the personal touch of a small college, and felt this reflected that.