Hi, I just received an email from a college. It basically sent an invitation for the application, listing out how I am a successful student and its rankings. That was not the college I wanted to apply, but it did not require me to pay any fee or essays, so I decided to apply.
But how much can I expect to be accepted? Can I consider it to be a safety because I received the mail, or is it just a typical email that goes to all to advertise? I am afraid to post the letter here, because the college might notify that it is me.
No, it’s not automatically a safety because they sent u an email. Email is free mass marketing.
It’s all a cynical strategy for schools to increase the number of applicants, to depress their admit rate and stoke the perception of their selectiveness.
It depends on the school. I’ve received free applications from Northeastern and Fordham becuase I have visited or interacted with their campus in some way. However I have also received emails from Westminer University and the like which offered free applications, and then kept badgering me to apply, even after its own application deadline ended. So yes there are some that want to recruit you, but are not a sure thing, and other ones who are extremely desperate for you to apply/come, they will offer to waive many parts of the application/give you deadline extensions/do many other things that I would be slightly critical of, especially if you never demonstrated interest in the first place. They pretty much send out those emails to whoever.
This is advertising and nothing more. My D is now at a very selective college. Interestingly, she has met several students who applied to a different, relatively unknown college using an application fee waiver, as she also did. She was accepted, and the three others were waitlisted. This other college has an accpetance rate of about 40%, so it most definitely doesn’t mean you are going to be accepted.