We have submitted a few apps - this was the first time a school responded with an email directly to me (edited for privacy):
Dear Mrs. XXX,
I’m writing a quick message to let you know how pleased I am to have recently received YYY’s application for admission to Case Western Reserve University. I’m looking forward to reviewing YYY’s application in the coming weeks. I know you will play an important role in YYY’s college search, and I want to make sure you have my contact information in case you have any questions.
At Case Western Reserve, we strive to educate students in a manner that will make them successful not just in their chosen careers, but also throughout their lives. In addition to a top-tier classroom education, our students graduate with an edge—essential communication skills, city-smarts and experience in their fields. I’m confident this combination will prepare YYY for a bright future of meaningful achievement.
I invite you to learn more about the success of our recent graduates by reviewing the results of our First Destination Survey. This study outlines the career and graduate school plans of our recent alumni, as well as the skills they developed as part of their CWRU undergraduate experience. I encourage you to seek out this information from other colleges or universities YYY may be considering.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be communicating application status information with YYY. When appropriate, I will copy you on those messages. In the meantime, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or one of my colleagues at 216.368.4450 or admission@case.edu.
Best regards,
Bob
Robert R. McCullough
Director of Undergraduate Admission
Now I know this is an autoresponse - but I have to say, it was a nice touch!
Any other colleges/ school reaching out directly to parents - would love to hear about it!
Hamilton sent several very nice letters to parents when DS2 applied in 2015, made it harder to say no when his acceptance came. We did not get letter from CWRU when DS1 applied in 2013.
I don’t know, I think that’s kind of weird. I know that college exists in a grey area in which a student is technically an adult but in reality still developing, and still at least partially dependent on their parents (if not fully financially dependent). I could maybe see initiating contact once the student has enrolled already and decided to attend and grants permission, or perhaps if the student has been admitted. But at the point of application?
Yes, I recieved a letter directly from a college saying similar things, and also asking me to write an optional supplement for her. We had not noticed the option on the website (good lesson learned–really check that website!)
I LOVED writing the supplement. Not sure my daughter did, haha! It was a fun challenge too, because I tired to think of good, impartial things I could say about her character. Another college also urned out to have an optional supplement by a relative, so I used the same one, but tweaked it a bit for their prompt.
Your daughter might also receive some nice personalized acceptance letters.
I was surprised (but very appreciative) when I was asked into the room after my children interviewed at Case. It was a nice touch. I like the fact that they include parents. My kids are still minors, for one thing…
Is there a place for the parents to sign off on the common app? If not, I don’t see how these schools can contact the parent.
On the other hand, a school that did not include me in any financial discussion was dropped quickly from my daughter’s list. She’d ask for me to be involved and the school pretty much said they deal only with the student applicant, so when it came time to discuss schools, I had nothing to add. Dropped.
Son did his own applications (strong willed…) and once he went off to college (public U) was treated as an adult when he started while still 16. My impression is that it is a school-student relationship. I guess the schools are trying to influence students via their parents.
Cwru is a great school. We visited over the summer and it checks so many boxes. We get those emails all the time. Got a call today as well. Unfortunately the kid Is dragging his feet on the app matter how hard I push. He doesn’t even want to consider it. Good luck to you.
I appreciate CWRU’s nod to the parents. I get really annoyed at schools/counselors who want the parents to stay out of the process. I’ll be happy to stay out of the process if I don’t have to pay. But since I’m the one paying $280,000 , I’m obviously a stakeholder in the process and appreciate being recognized as such. I think the expectation of some people/institutions that the kids will have carte blanche with their parents’ money helps contribute to a sense of entitlement among the kids.
@stradmom - Snark aside, it is really “helicoptering” if a parent is working WITH a kid to make a decision that is akin to a $200,000 investment? I don’t think many of us would just hand over $200,000 to a 17 year old and expect them to make the best decision. I made my decision at 17 - which including signing on line for debt that I will be paying off for 30+ years. I WISH my parents had given a little more input on the process - particularlly the financial implications.
Agree @CValle. My kids were children when they applied. One D had turned 17 only weeks before she submitted. Neither was even a legal adult when they had to make their choice. Mine were lucky in that finances were a non-issue ( fully funded 529’s and trust for grad school if they so choose) , but it’s still a huge decision. A parent ships be part of the process.
Glad CWRU is including parents. Several colleges my S18 applied to have not and I agree with CValle. It is a huge decision in many ways. Only other messages I have are from places like UTDallas, where he didn’t apply, to make sure we knew there were large scholarships he is potentially eligible for so we should encourage him to apply.
