<p>My daughter will be attending Clark University in the fall and I just received a letter from the Dean of Students asking us to compose a 'family letter'. </p>
<p>The letter states, "As you know, transition to college is a very big step and requires a great deal of skill and support. Towards this end, I am asking if you would... sit down with your student and write me ...a family letter... anything you think would be helpful for us to know in order to assist them during their college career."</p>
<p>I am lost as to what to say. My D has no special circumstances or health issues. Any samples, examples or suggestions would be appreciated!</p>
<p>I don't think that this letter is intended for special circumstances or health conditions but rather what is special about her family that the school may share with her to help ease the transition. I would look at it as a getting to "you - the family" letter. That would be my take on it.</p>
<p>I woudl most likely tell them a little about the family. Siblings, parent's history, grandparents if they have an impact. Family activities and interests. "The other part" of the student's background beyond just what they have seen in the application.</p>
<p>I would start with what worries me about my child attending this particular child. I know with each school my son was attending, I had different worries, ie. this one he would not fit in as well socially, this one was not as academically challening, this one was so far from home, etc.</p>
<p>I applaud Clark University for this individual approach to helping each student adjust to college.</p>
<p>Your post caught my eye because I've never heard of a college requesting a "family letter." Clark's request sounds weird to me. </p>
<p>Just out of curiosity, I browsed Clark's website for information about the "Family letter." The search function returned a Class of 2012 Summer Mailings list. Included in the June Mailings Packet #5 is the "Solicitation of Family letter." The fact that Clark solicits a "Family letter" indicates that parental submission is voluntary, not mandatory. It sounds to me as though Clark is fishing for private information which parents and students are not obligated to disclose. </p>
<p>If you voluntarily submit a "Family letter," you can expect it to be placed in your daughter's permanent file, where it will remain for as long as your daughter is a Clark student (possibly longer), and where it will be available for perusal by an unknown number of Clark personnel.</p>
<p>The private information you might be inclined to disclose to Clark this summer could end up being exactly the sort of private information you and/or your daughter will someday regret having disclosed. (By that time, of course, it will be too late.) I look at it this way: if your daughter has already provided Clark with enough private information to be considered for admission, then Clark already has as much private information about your daughter as it needs to know.</p>
<p>I hold a narrow definition of "family," and I am wary of any institution--be it an employer, school, or other organization--which touts itself as a "family." Clark promotes itself in this manner. Regardless, family is family, Clark is Clark, and Clark is not your daughter's new "family." </p>
<p>You could be "lost as to what to say," because your gut is telling you that there is something odd about Clark's request. Trust your gut. Privacy is an issue. Be careful.</p>
<p>I agree with TimeCruncher. Clark is either being incredibly helpful to the students or incredibly helpful to themselves. Keep in mind that anything you disclose could be used against your child in the case of judicial reviews at the school, academic suspensions, illnesses-particularly if there are mental health issues, learning disabilities, the list is endless. Kids go away to college and unexpected things happen, not always good things. Big businesses (like universities) are always looking to reduce potential liability. So be careful what information you give them. If it were me, I would skip it.</p>
<p>My first reaction to Clark's request was "how thoughtful" but having read TC's post, my feelings have changed. I think s/he is correct about the disclosure of info. As a rising Bryn Mawr first year with 'special considerations' I have had to disclose certain information to meet certain ends, but the person to whom I have disclosed said information has, effectively a dead end position with regards to transference of information--she affects housing assignments and various other accommodations on campus but does so directly so that no other department, including that of the dean (s), and director of Student Life, may see them. By disclosing info to the Dean's office, you are making it available to whomever in that office has access to those files. Be vague if you decide to write it ("X lives with A, B, C and D and has a golden retriever to whom she is very attached...").</p>