<p>They sent letters to the parents of RD applicants. My daughter’s mom got one for example.</p>
<p>Interesting that the rec is an option for RD applicants but not ED applicants, which suggests that offering parents an oppty to comment has a positive effect on yield.</p>
<p>Well, I don’t know if that’s true, cause like I said: my mom definitely wrote a recommendation and I definitely applied ED I</p>
<p>I think it’s a myth that something that “can help” an application would put an applicant at a disadvantage if missing. I’ve been told by trustworthy sources that each piece in an application should be meaningful, and the admissions staff would rather something be missing than just thrown in for the sake of it being there (rather than for the sake of what it is). They do have a lot to read.</p>
<p>I have a sneaking suspicion that the letter’s point is twofold: one, it probably does give them a sense of the student from the parent’s perspective, and that can be valuable, even if the parent is not especially good at expressing herself (perhaps especially if the parent is not obviously skilled at self-presentation). Two, I think it does give a parent a role in the process that he might not have otherwise–it makes the parent feel valued, not a feeling he might otherwise enjoy in this grueling process. So it helps the school, and gives the parent good vibes for when the decision must be made whether to attend Smith or some other school that didn’t value her input. A subtle compliment to the parent, that might bear fruit in yield.</p>
<p>I wrote a one page parent rec a few years ago for D2 who was waitlisted (D1 was a first year then). I’m convinced that it helped to get D2 accepted. Letter was factual and to the point with a small bit of mild humor (at least to me). I thought it was a great idea and still do (but I am probably biased as I like to write).</p>
<p>I was curious. Are all applicants asked to complete the parent recommendations? I didn’t get asked. By the way, I’m an international student.</p>
<p>“I wrote a one page parent rec a few years ago for D2 who was waitlisted (D1 was a first year then). I’m convinced that it helped to get D2 accepted.”</p>
<p>If this is true, how could the absence of such letter NOT have been a disadvantage. I suspect, however, that marysidney’s point two is most accurate (and also relates to dmwaters’ and other parents’ sense of having enhanced their daughters’ applications).</p>