Hi—
I just received a nice “swag package” of sorts from a Top 50 LAC.
The package contained a personalized letter encouraging me to apply ED II, some school merchandise (hat/pennant, etc.), some candy, and a fee waiver.
I visited the school a few months ago, and when I did, I had a conversation with my AO. However, I’m surprised that I made that large of an impression.
Considering that the school has an acceptance rate of around 30-35%, should I take this to be an attempt by the college to drive up their yield, or does a package like this mean they genuinely want to see my application?
I want to say “both,” but I don’t want to get ahead of myself.
Let me guess. It was from Tulane? Don’t get caught up in the marketing or get flattered. This school is trying to increase their number of applications so they can turn more down. They prefer ED2 since it will increase their yield and the can admit less through RD.
There are several scenarios that can play out, but they all lead to giving power to the college instead of you making the best decision for you.
While it can be flattering to get some of the items, there were definitely some mailers
that left us wondering what the point was, and what were the marketing people thinking.
ED2 helps them drive up application numbers, lower acceptance rates, and potentially lock you into a binding agreement.
Most colleges have the ED2 and RD applications to review at the same time. So they can weigh their yield. ED2 admits helps them plan for the fall semester and strategically admit and waitlist from ED2and RD.
I don’t mean to bump an older (well, at least not a new) thread, but this school has sent me more mail.
Of course, they have sent me the normal promotional stuff, but they also have sent me…some weird messages. It’s worth mentioning that about three weeks ago, I sent in an RD application (they have a 30% RD acceptance rate).
Today, I get this letter and promotional card from them. It’s from the Office of Admissions, but the letter/card is specifically about their 2020 graduate outcomes. It came in this huge white envelope…although the letter and promo card really didn’t need that big of an envelope. So for the sake of simplicity, I’ll just assume that they ran out of a certain envelope size.
The letter itself starts off as the stereotypical promotional letter. You probably know what I’m talking about. But the letter finishes off with this:
"I hope you agree that (school) will give you the right start on your journey. I look forward to welcoming you to our community.
Sincerely," (insert printed signature)
I don’t like playing admissions astrology. But I’m starting to get annoyed with them—is this just a game of bait-and-switch?
…I feel like I’m reading way too much into this. Plus, with a 3.6/4.0, I’m not exactly a standout applicant to the school.
I think some T50s with set dates for releasing RD acceptances in mid to late March get anxious around now when they know their prospects have some great offers with merit from state flagships or EA rounds.
There was a small box that arrived with just stickers in it last year at one point. No letter, no social media # request. It would not have been cheap to do, but in the overall marketing/admissions budget who knows.
The sentence you bolded is certainly forward thinking and encouraging on their part. If you do not get in, it is very confusing language to use at this point. They are usually vague and non-committal at this point unless they are sending a “likely letter,” but that does not sound like this mailer.
Good luck! And keep a healthy sense of humor about some of the marketing pitches you will get in the coming months.
You are WAY WAY WAY overthinking this. This school wants you to apply. They are promoting themselves. This is marketing. It seems to me that they are doing a pretty good job of it and going above and beyond just sending an email. Frankly, I’m pretty impressed with their effort.
If you don’t want to apply, don’t apply.
I don’t understand this comment. What’s the switch? They know your demographic, and if yiu gave them more info (like college board having access to your test scores, or attending a session with a rep at your high school) they are carefully targeting who they want. They want you, and others too. There is absolutely nothing weird or alarming in anything you posted. The sentence you bolded is standard and means nothing other than “I hope you apply and get accepted.”
I did apply already (a few weeks ago). That had nothing to do with their marketing—I was just simply interested in the school.
I brought up the bolded sentence because no other school’s promotional mail had ever used that wording—with the exception of some private schools that accept >85% of their applicants.
But at the end of the day, I have many other great schools that I applied to, so you’re right—it’s best not to worry too much about one piece of mail.
DS had a couple of schools that sent info like this. One put him on the WL. But they want to get mind-share while it’s available.
Trinity also sent him info about a couple of special academic programs they had. While it had started as a school his CC had suggested he add, it ended up a real contender, so I am guessing it worked (even though he ended up elsewhere. )
The reality is that there’s often lots more to learn about a school even after you apply. Hats off to the schools that continue to offer that even after they’ve gotten an application.