<p>Please don't think I'm posting just to brag. I just really need some context.</p>
<p>DD has applied to a SLAC in the midwest. Think St. Olaf or Belloit, but it's neither of those. DD interviewed with an admissions counselor about 2 weels ago. He said DD sounds like a good match. He also knew at the time that DD was probably a national merit finalist (which she turns out to be) and that will probably be offering more scholarship money on top of that.</p>
<p>So this guy knows there is no tuition gold to be mined here.</p>
<p>Yesterday, he emailed DD out of the blue, said he was impressed with her application essay, and again said he thought DD was a good match.</p>
<p>What I need to know is if this is normal behavior, or if it's likely that he really is singling my kid out as someone special? I'd like to believe the latter, but I'd hate to be fooled if this is just business as usual.</p>
<p>They need good students in order to attract more tuition gold from others, so they probably would be willing to pay up for your D. He is recruiting your D.</p>
<p>Our DD interviewed with an adcom. He told her at the interview that he felt she would be a great addition to the school. He followed up with an email when he returned to the college campus. We waited patiently…and she did get accepted (but not with much money attached). Good luck to your daughter.</p>
<p>Don’t let it turn your head or your kid’s head. Even if he is impressed with your kid and they admit her with some merit, don’t think for one minute that college admissions is not big business. Your D may have something they want – my guess is test scores well above their average, which in turn helps them market themselves as a more elite college. Which also means your kid could be at the top of the academic pool at that school – and that has pros and cons. It may be that she really likes the school, it is strong in her major, and she decides to attend. But remember that she probably will never see the admissions guy again if she attends the school… rapport with him isn’t what she should use as a basis for her college choice.</p>
<p>St Olaf brings to mind Carleton & they can be generous with merit for someone they want.
Its a great school, and you can always study abroad if the winter gets too harsh.</p>
<p>A friend of Ds attended Carleton & it was a tough decision but they offered more than Swarthmore.
They might interpret the PROFILE differently for certain candidates.
Macalester seems more appealing just because it isnt so isolated.</p>
<p>Well, it is “business as usual,” you can be sure of that. Everything they do is calculated. It sounds to me like this admissions officer is genuinely impressed with your daughter and would like to admit her and have her attend, and he’s signaling that to her to keep her interested in the school, probably expecting that she’ll get other offers… But he’s one AO; they’re not always successful in persuading the committee of what they want, either on admissions or on merit awards (the latter sometimes being decided by a separate process from admissions). So while it’s encouraging to think your daughter has an AO in her corner and possibly willing to go to bat for her, there are no guarantees here. Under the circumstances, I’d be cautiously hopeful, but not put all my eggs in that basket.</p>
<p>They must have been giving need based aid. Carleton does NOT give merit aid except to NMF. And Swat gives a very small amount (mostly to people in certain counties in PA). My kid was accepted to both last year, so I looked into it pretty carefully.</p>
<p>I realize Carleton doesnt give merit, but it is up to the school how they interpret financial information, since for the most part they are using their own money.
Some colleges may choose to use FAFSA EFC for instance instead of the information collected by PROFILE.
My daughter chose to attend a prep school with a very personable AO and while we had limited contact with him after admission ( the more so because he died ), he was representative of the school.</p>
<p>While it is definitely a good thing as opposed to not hearing at all, DS has been in fairly continuous phone and email contact with his SLACs, (initiated by his admissions rep.) both before and after his EA acceptances. He has good stats and has received great merit but is not your 36ACT 4.7 kid. I believe it’s just enrollment management, but has been very helpful in getting quick answers to specific questions, visit coordination etc. Continued Good Luck!</p>
<p>DD was a merit scholar and got several of those letters from SLACS. It did not mean merit aid (though most of her application were no merit aid schools). </p>
<p>Absolutely, Admisisions “fall” for certain candidats. My son interviewed at one of those schools, and when he got home, an early accept was awaiting him. He let them know he loved the school; and they decided to let him know they loved him too. Sure, some of this is business but there is a personal element to admissions too, especially at some schools where the admissions folks get to meet the student.</p>
<p>I know some kids I’d love to have at my college if I were an admissions officer. That completely separate from the apps and stats. If they applied and also met what it takes for admissions, yes, I 'd want to send a not or something to let the student know that s/he was so wanted at that school.</p>
<p>I had a very similar thing happen when I applied to schools (albeit four years ago!) - I got an email from a well-respected East Coast LAC that gives out some merit aid (but small amount only for truly top applicants). The admissions officer said she really liked my Common App essay. Ultimately, I was accepted to that school, but did not get any merit aid. So, probably a positive sign, but doesn’t necessarily translate into merit $ in my experience. </p>
<p>After I interviewed at my first choice college, I emailed my interviewers (an adcom and a prof) to thank them (something I would have done anyway but that it happened to be the tour guides recommended) and while I got a “thank you for the thank you” from the adcom I got a long email from the professor saying how impressed he was by me and how he hoped to see me next year. I got in with generous merit aid, and considering that the interview was a big part of my admissions decision, I’m assuming that he had a part in it.
This may be a recruiting technique only or he may be truly obsessed and impressed, but either way this may easily turn out good.</p>
<p>I think it’s both–business as usual and a cool thing. My son had a similar experience with a number of the LACs he applied to and there were several adcoms who called and emailed often enough that I felt like we knew them personally. Most did come through with substantial merit offers (having nothing to do with NM).</p>
<p>As for the potential issue of being at or near the top of the applicant pool, I wouldn’t worry about it (unless the student body is REALLY below your child’s range). My son has been really challenged at his school even though judging by test scores he would appear to be one of the “smartest” kids. He assures me that he isn’t, and he is having to work hard for every grade. He is, however, getting a ton of wonderful opportunities that might not be available at a larger, more competitive institution. </p>
), he was representative of the school.</p>