<p>Oh--what's funny is that we also have:
[ul]
[<em>]Athens (pronounced "AY-thuns")
[</em>]London (pronounced "LUN-din")
[<em>]Rome
[</em>]Paris (they call themselves "Parisites" since "Parisians" sounded too "uppity")
[<em>]Frankfort (yes, I know the original's "Frankfurt"--we have spelling issues)
[</em>]Versailles (pornounced "VUR-sayells")
[<em>]Madrid
[</em>]Geneva
[<em>]Edinburgh
[</em>]Washington
[<em>]Glasgow
[</em>]Dublin
[<em>]Ninevah (they spelled "Nineveh" wrong, too)
[</em>]Jericho
[<em>]Corinth
[</em>]Moscow
[<em>]Oxford
[</em>]etc., etc....
[/ul]</p>
<p>You bring up relatively good points, but I still disagree. The likelihood that our hypothetical Kazakhstani is going to run across another highly qualified Kazakhstani while wearing their free Princeton shirt is low. But I do agree that Princeton is way low on the name-recognition factor; I almost didn't even visit it because I didn't realise how good it was. I will admit that I did mis-interpret the purpose of the free t-shirts, though. </p>
<p>As for international applicants, etc., though, I disagree. Even if you start more international recruiting, which I also agree would be useful to increase the diversity of Princeton, etc., what's really the likelihood of these officers finding a wide range of highly qualified applicants? Especially in border-line third world countries, like Venezuela and Kazakhstan, to stay consistent, how would an admission officer ever reach our Venezuelan villager? For the most part, they'd be in big cities, probably talking to the upper class ambassadors kids at the private international schools who are already aware of Princeton. </p>
<p>I think really this comes down to a differing of opinions about applicants. I really feel that the best 'hook' a person can have is confidence. I feel that if you have to constantly post stats asking if you're qualified, etc., then you probably aren't. Sure, I was worried about my application, etc., because of the competitiveness and the hit-or-miss nature of the Ivies, but did I have any doubt I was qualified? No. Yes, there will always be people who come from environments where they don't have parental guidance and active knowledge of "good" schools and the like, but if you broke it down, especially at Princeton, what is the percentage of those students? </p>
<p>I feel like I'm coming off really stuck up, which I'm not trying to, but I guess really I just don't get why app numbers need to "sky rocket." Yes, if we can increase the number of applications from highly-qualified, deserving kids who wouldn't be applying without more recruitment, then yes, we should - but I don't see the numbers 'sky rocketing' as a result of that. That phrase alone just makes me assume that Princeton wants to have 50,000 applicants because they've put the notion in people's heads that 'everyone has a chance' etc., and so un-qualified people are applying.</p>
<p>Bottom line: I'm for an increase in applicants if it's from qualified applicants who are going to raise the overall quality of Princeton. I'm against it if it means a deluge of un-qualified applicants that Princeton wants to apply just so that their admissions rate goes down.</p>
<p>oh SNAP! amused got YOU kebree! its ok, shes unfamiliar with her homeland now =D shes been gone in europe for too long. she cant even find kentucky on the map anymore! AHH! :-X its not her fault. its englands!</p>
<p>Very good post, Gianievve, no need to add my two cents.</p>
<p>princeton needs to increase its international status. for a lot of highly qualified international applicants pton does not have good visibility. hahvahd is much more well known internationally. So, I think pton does need to advertise itself more</p>
<p>advertising internationally is pretty expensive, and you get very limited gains. Spending thousands of dollars to go into some Albania or somewhere and getting maybe a few dozen extra apps just isnt worth it. So maybe a handful of alumni go back and talk about how great it was? This depends on them thinking its great and you cant depend on that. So I really dont think its worth it.</p>
<p>Arguably, Princeton needs a Presidential candidate to raise its visability and enhance its image.</p>
<p>For 2008, may I nominate Dr. William Frist, '74, Senator from Tennessee and current majority leader in the US Senate?</p>
<p>Good choice; I'm all for it. But hopefully Dubya will have a couple of campaign-free years to get things done....though I'm not going to bet on it. (John Edwards sent Christmas sards to NH voters, lol.)</p>
<p>EDIT: But on second thought, maybe we shouldn't start a political discussion...they inevitably wind up as flame wars and accomplish nothing...</p>
<p>yes, I sure do love political debate no matter how heated.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>just doing my part to dismiss the notion that liberals are wusses</p>
<p>Isn't it interesting how Dean Rapelye discussed marketing in today's Princetonian.<br>
Does anybody think she or her staff pay attention to this site?</p>
<p>Speaking of Rapelye....</p>
<p>She looks real.... lively... huh? =)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I'll let Princeton's Dean of Admission speak for herself:
[quote=Daily Princetonian, Friday, February 4, 2005]
Rapelye said. "If we can find that one student, it's going to make a difference for us, and its' certainly going to make a difference for that student. We're going to need more money [and] more staff members."
[/quote]
Looks like it is worth it afterall. Looks like they do care about the one kid in Albania, and the Venezuelan, and the small-town guy from Kentucky. And it also looks like Rapelye won't let "money" block the way. </p>
<p>Perhaps to a student, "advertising" isn't necessary or important - but to the Princeton Admission Board (the people whose opinion actually counts) "advertising" has become The New Priority.</p>
<p>After the big dropoff last year, Princeton and Rapelye hired a consulting firm to analyze Princeton's strengths and weaknesses and to develop a marketing plan.</p>
<p>Part of the concern was that with the intent to increase enrollment by 10% (to about Yale's current size) that the applicant pool would have to be larger to maintain quality.</p>
<p>
[quote]
small-town girl from Kentucky.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Fixed. We gotta keep Kebree in mind =)</p>
<p>I like Rapelye's proactive approach. Without a sophisticated marketing plan P has been fortunate with 2 record app years in the past 3. I hope she attacks both the elite preps (Princeton, unlike H, has been noticeably absent from the college fairs there) and the publics with equal vigor. One can only imagine what such a marketing campaign will ultimately produce. </p>
<p>Note to Rapelye: If your staff cannot attend fairs, use your alums. Their enthusiasm will impress.</p>