It begins with the PSAT when countless students check the box to receive college solicitations. You send emails, and letters, and packages, and even t-shirts begging us to come to your school. You tell us how fantastic it is; how your college has passionate teachers, diverse students, tens of thousands of clubs and activities, and research opportunities in every classroom. But you never truly wanted us.
You deceive tens of thousands of students into believing that your school is “meant” for them, that it is the perfect “fit”, so you can lower your acceptance rate and look more “prestigious.” You crush the self-esteem of thousands of our nation’s brightest students as they are rejected from school after school to perpetuate your selfish aim. Furthermore, you even have the audacity to expect pity from the students you have scammed and rejected. “With nearly twenty candidates for every available space, the Board’s task in selecting the Class of 2018 has been extremely difficult…how difficult and painful it is therefore to deny so many” you tell us.
You bury us in ads, elate the hopes of thousands of students that can never get admitted, and expect pity from the rejected. Its a cruel, selfish, and deceptive game that you play–a game that leaves many bright high school seniors as the losers.
This is going to sound harsh but:
University is a business. They want you to apply. That’s money in their pocket. Secondly, if you or other applicants had done any amount of research into these schools, you would realize that your chances of acceptance were slim to begin with.
They did not scam you. They rejected you. They offered you a chance to apply to their school. I have yet to see one college brochure that has begged for a student to come to their school. The fact is, these colleges want the best. They want the best academic, athlete, musician, journalist, debater, activist, or someone they see the potential to become great.
Just because a school didn’t see that potential in you or another student doesn’t mean you don’t have it nor does it mean you’re doomed for failure.
Rejection hurts. I’m not looking forward to it next year. But remember that it’s unreasonable to assume that you or anyone else would be one of the 1800 Seniors receiving a spot out of 35k+ applicants.
There is a way to market and a way not to market. Students who take the PSAT, which is designed to help sort students academically, can’t be blamed for thinking the college brochures they receive were sent based on their scores (and chances of being accepted), not as part of a blanket advertising campaign. We tossed all of the brochures that came in the mail and searched for colleges based on interests and compatibility, but not all families do it that way.