I’m applying Early Action to Chicago. One of my teachers who submitted a letter of recommendation submitted it about two weeks ago (the other just today). Much to her surprised, a blanket arrived from the school thanking her for the recommendation. Is this unusual? Should I take this as a sign that the recommendation was great and/or that I have a solid chance of admission? I mean, the application deadline hasn’t even come yet and all my materials weren’t in yet (that other rec letter). Has this happened to anyone else? I’m completely unaware of something like this happening before.
Very interesting. I had not heard of that. Boy, does that school give out a lot of stuff. I really don’t know what it might mean but try not to read into it too much. That’s what I keep telling my D when she gets anything from a school. UChicago flew her there for an overnight and their open house on Columbus Day. She loved the school and will be applying but just because she received that wonderful opportunity does not mean that she is a shoo in. Good luck
Ha ha – a new angle on UC swag! They want your teacher to encourage you if they accept you. I am the divorced parent of a kid who got in EA a couple of years ago. They sent packages of swag to both parents’ houses. We ( parents) decided NOT to wear any of it until after she made a final decision – it felt like a not-so-subtle attempt to keep their name in front of her. But we wear it all the time now – even though she picked a different college. 
My AP Calculus teacher received a blanket last week too. Apparently it’s not very unusual.
My son is a second year. His recommendation writers received blankets 2 years ago.
Well I didn’t get in so…