<p>ZS has been getting a lot of mail from colleges, many of which we aren't very familiar with. Yesterday she got something from University of Richmond and (I think) Drew University, both of which she would like to learn more about, so for her this isn't a nuisance but an opportunity. They each included a special log-in ID for her to use on their website. I'm just curious, is the use of those passwords a way for schools to track potential applicants or am I just a paranoid psycho? Or both.</p>
<p>Zoosermom, if you're paranoid, then so am I.;)</p>
<p>My D is also getting deluged with emails and snail mail brochures, also, in the wake of the PSATs. I just assumed that the colleges use the both the "password" and postcard responses as a way of tracking a student's interest in a school. BTW, my D also has heard been receiving mail from U. of Richmond and others that she wasn't aware of, but also a few that she's been interested in.</p>
<p>I mean I think it's great for someone like my daughter who might not engage in a search on her own, so I'm not whining, but I wonder about the passwords. Both of those colleges happen to be ones that have caught her eye, so that's nice.</p>
<p>If she logs in, they'll probably/definitely know. Sometimes they send in more stuff because of it, but if she ever gets sick of all the mail, she can just request they don't send anything else. I don't think it hurts to use them.</p>
<p>ZS won't need to use the ID to look at the website more closely. If she looks and likes what she sees, then she could use the ID to get more info. URichmond is a beautiful campus and has some nice traditions. DD didn't want to go South, but many of her friends were interested. </p>
<p>Those fishbowls for business cards at the cashier's desk that promise a free lunch, etc aren't just to get you to come back for a free lunch. They keep all that info for marketing. Same with non-profit raffles. It builds their data bases. URichmond may want to see which students have interest and where they're from to schedule HS and college fair visits. </p>
<p>I would suggest starting a new email address for college emails on a hotmail, etc account to keep it separate from the day-to-day. Track the spam and unsolicited email to see who is selling the address...</p>
<p>I don't recall special passwords or IDs being necessary to view the websites. But solicitations w/ "priority" applications or other special offers did require IDs or passwords.</p>
<p>" don't recall special passwords or IDs being necessary to view the websites. But solicitations w/ "priority" applications or other special offers did require IDs or passwords."</p>
<p>Welll my D is only a sophomore and all the mailings were tailored that way, so I don't think it's about an application just yet. Heaven help our mail man.</p>
<p>I know a lot of students who love Drew, Zooser. I don't remember too many specifics about your youngest, but she may like it. It's a small school in a small town, NYC is within reach, it draws a bit of an artsy crowd, and the school is pretty generous with scholarships and aid. Definitely take a look at it if it sounds like something she'd like.</p>
<p>The links in the emails should be specific to each student. But see </p>
<p>for one story of technical difficulties.</p>
<p>"I know a lot of students who love Drew, Zooser. I don't remember too many specifics about your youngest, but she may like it. It's a small school in a small town, NYC is within reach, it draws a bit of an artsy crowd, and the school is pretty generous with scholarships and aid. Definitely take a look at it if it sounds like something she'd like."</p>
<p>Thank you! We hadn't really heard of it much till a friend's daughter whom we admire very much got in and accepted the spot. Right after that, this mail came and it does have her area of interest, has a fencing team and is in a good location. Definitely something to look at, and would likely not have attracted her attention if not for the mail.</p>
<p>2cakes is right. Since the passwords came in the mail, I think it's very likely that the school is using them to measure its own marketing; if you log in with that password, then they know this student was attracted by XYZ mailing. not by telephone outreach or ABC mailing or whatever.</p>
<p>They're not necessarily doing anything evil with this information, but if you don't want them to have it, a new anonymous email account is a good tool.</p>
<p>My d. has been getting almost daily e-mails from Montana State that basically say, if you can prove you're alive, you're in. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>For schools which consider "demonstrated interest", this is often one of the areas they consider. I don't know if Drew or U of Richmond consider demonstrated interest; you'd have to check their CDS.</p>
<p>Zoosermom, my son goes to Drew and he had a priortiy application mailed to him for EA along with one from Fordham early Fall. We hadn't heard of Drew before but his teachers and counselors had and encouraged him to apply. Both let us know by Christmas and Drew gave us an idea of aid fairly early on also. I would encourage your daughter to apply, it is a nice school and does have a good fencing team from what I've heard and a strong theatre group also.</p>
<p>DD (and we) visited both Drew and U of Richmond. Neither campus appealed to our daughter, but both certainly have their strengths for many students. Both schools are in suburban locations. Drew is a train ride (yes...the train station is within walking distance of the campus) to NYC. U of Richmond is in suburban Richmond...to get downtown you would need a car. As I recall, Drew had some nice internship opportunities in NYC. I would suggest going there when school is in session. We saw both schools in the summer and that may have been part of the reason DD didn't really like them.</p>
<p>It's so great to have a resource to get this kind of information. It's also wonderful that threads segue by virtue of someone saying "hey you should know this too." Much appreciated!</p>