<p>When expressing disagreement, please keep the conversation polite. As a reminder:
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<p>10 years ago, Chicago had a 40-45% admit rate and a ~33% yield. Today Chicago has a 13% admit rate and a 46% yield. Of the top universities, Chicago has been by far the most aggressive with its mailings over the last few years, and it has been rewarded handsomely for its efforts. </p>
<p>Gifts and mailings from a college are intended to keep it on one’s mind. There’s a reason they send such things to prospective or admitted students rather than matriculated ones, after all. I don’t think intparent is saying that a t-shirt singlehandedly convinces anyone to attend, but Chicago would not waste time and money if it had no effect. (Perhaps one could claim that Chicago alone among the top universities loves its applicants dearly and sends them shirts, scarves, and other goodies out of the goodness of its heart, but in that instance I have a bridge I’d like to sell you.) </p>
<p>I don’t think Chicago is necessarily wrong in this approach, however. I’m not sure you can criticize a college for trying to attract the best possible class it can get. Moreover, once Chicago becomes more firmly entrenched in its position and popularity, I suspect the mailings will begin to taper off.</p>