Just came across this Buzzfeed article- I know it’s probably not reliable but this sounded pretty legitimate.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/mollyhensleyclancy/heres-how-to-see-what-college-admissions-officers-wrote-abou#.tieA7Dao0X
Can any one confirm or deny this?
Interesting…would this work only for admitted students or anyone who applied at all?
I’m not sure. I’m hoping that some one who has tried to request FERPA access will reply to this thread.
Many of schools destroy the applications after the process is concluded for the year. So I would suspect many don’t have anything for those not admitted.
While many schools do destroy the data, certain colleges such as Hamilton, keep the application files so that you can choose to “reactivate” your application in the future in case you apply for a transfer. Still no comment on whether the process in the article can yield legitimate results
As a Stanford student, I can attest to the fact that this is completely legit. If you want a more reliable source, check out what the New York Times wrote about it http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/17/us/students-gain-access-to-files-on-admission-to-stanford.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=fb-nytimes&bicmst=1409232722000&bicmet=1419773522000&smtyp=aut&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&_r=0
^from above link…
There is a duplicate thread on the Parent’s forum here
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/17992879#Comment_17992879
FYI, if you are accepted, you get a handwritten letter/note from your regional counselor which usually includes something that they found interesting or liked
@Stanccepted: Do they do that for all admitted students or some?
@BetterThanBest - as far as I know, all accepted students receive a little hand-written note at the bottom of their official snail-mail acceptance letter (I think it came about a week after the e-mail???). That’s where ds’s was. It was not a separate note.
It’s for everyone (afaik), and it doesn’t come on the acceptance letter (at least it didn’t for me). It came written at the bottom of an official “we are excited for you to come join us” letter a good month or so after acceptance. Others got the same thing, it looks like most get the notes at the bottom of a followup letter
^hmm. Maybe that’s what it was @Stanccepted. I really don’t remember! As you said, some sort of follow-up letter.
Interesting. Can’t see the point in doing this if you were accepted though…
@CaliCash - I know two Stanford parents of frosh who are wanting the information in the hopes of gaining insights for younger siblings who will be applying in the next couple of years.
It is written in order to ensure the admitted student has someone to reach out to when they have questions or issues.
One month is way too late unless it is for an SCEA admit. The RD admits get within a few days at most because they only have 4+ weeks to make decisions.
@Hoggirl But what gets one person in will not get another person accepted. That’s basically trying to create a formula when there is no formula. It’s highly subjective.
@CaliCash - oh, I agree with you completely. That was their reasoning for wanting it - not mine.
So only admitted students are allowed to see this?
Still EXTREMELY interesting. I don’t think the process really is that subjective tbh.
These requests are just now starting to be fulfilled.
Here is an article from the Stanford Daily:
http://www.stanforddaily.com/2015/02/26/registrars-office-responding-to-ferpa-requests/
Here is an article that was recently in Time. Written by a a Stanford alum.